21 thoughts on “Chores”

  2. My apologies for my husband………in our household I get HIM to do it, thus making it more fun for me.

    How’s this for a fair exchange; he unloads your dishwasher and you clean our fridge?

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  4. I totally get the lack of immediate gratification unloading the dishwasher seems to offer — but for me, it’s actually quite cathartic because when i get done putting everything away, it’s away! The “mess” i’m eliminating is the clutter of dishes and junk inside the dishwasher. I know that seems mental, but just thought I’d share the perspective, in case it helps you as you deal with your dreaded chore. We all have them. The one I haven’t outsourced is laundry. For some reason, I can tolerate doing my daughter’s — and I can even tolerate washing, drying and folding ours, but I cannot deal with putting laundry away. My basket will sit for days, taunting me, until the threat of dirty clothes getting mixed in with the clean spurs me to action. :-)

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  7. Time yourself each time you do it and see if you can beat the time before. So it’s like a race with yourself.

    I think I may have been watching too much Olympics…..

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  8. Just do what I do: use disposable plates, cups, and flatware and only serve take-out. Toss it all when you’re done. I’M KIDDING!!! What kind of carbon footprint do you think I’m capable of here? Seriously, recycle.

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  9. all funny and good. I think because I too have been watching lots of Olympic coverage I’m going to try Jen’s idea. Maybe I could calculate calorie loss as well.

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  10. Sorry–no ideas here–just wanted to tell you I am RIGHT THERE WITH YOU! In fact, nothing is worse than procrastinating the job and then having dirty dishes from dinner that have to be put in, but guess what–it’s full of clean dishes! Ugh!

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  12. I hate doing any kind of chore, but especially dishes. I must empty the dishwasher because if don’t, all of those dirty dishes, pan, and bottles are going to sit in my sink for god only knows how long. I hate washing dishes by hand (super #1 hate), so it gets me motivated. Also, if I remember to use the clean dishes from the dishwasher when I need to grab a plate, fork or glass then there are fewer things to put away. I also like to see how few trips I can make to each cabinet or drawer, safely of course.

    My husband takes everything out, put sit on the counter, then puts it away. Maybe it’s the clutter factor that moves him along. He does this with the groceries as well and it drives me nuts. I think he does this in anticipation that I will ask him to stop giving me the very little help that he does now. Not a chance.

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  14. I like the music suggestion, and the husband/kids suggestion. Both great ideas. I think, though, it’s all in the routine. Find that time that is (and always will be) dishwasher unloading time.

    I usually run the dishwasher after dinner, get the kids bathed and tucked in, play with the puppy, and collapse on my bed with the TV turned to some ridiculously boring re-runs. The next morning, AFTER I’ve downed my first cup of coffee, I do the unloading. I try to do it as loudly as possible to see if I can rouse my husband (so he can deal with the early-morning puppy play time).

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  15. I also stack things all on the counter. If you need instant gratification, Daphne, this is the way to go. Make big mess…clean up, all put away.

    And, I also do this with groceries! Don’t be mad at your hubby, Heather. It’s a process. Everything in front of me at once, so that I can see what needs to go where. If it gets done, I can’t see the need in letting the process bother you. Go fold laundry or something!

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  16. when my kids were little and I had live-in help the joke amongst my friends was that we went back to work full time so we did not have to empty the dishwasher.

    i guess that is a lame solution, huh?

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  17. I do what Heather does. We open the dishwasher when it’s done and take what we need from the clean dishes. When emptying time comes along, it’s that much faster.

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  18. Wow, I’m so glad to see it’s not just me. I, too, don’t mind loading the dishwasher; can’t stand to unload it. Don’t know what it is, either.

    My solution won’t help you, though – it is one of my daughter’s chores. :)

    When I do have to do it, I make a “game” out of it by getting all the plates together by size and then the forks, spoons, etc. Works for me.

    Daughter is leaving next week for college. I’ll have to figure out which child to assign it to next.

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  21. 1. I stack dishes on the counter and then put away the stacks.

    2. I take the silverware caddy (that inserts into the silverware drawer) out and set it on the counter above the dishwasher so I can load it up before I put it back.

    3. I keep my everyday utensils in a big jug by the stove so I do not have to organize or arrange those when I put them away (they are a matching set of spoons/spatulas/ serving utensils and such so they look good out)

    4. I keep the dishes drawer and cup/glass cubbard right next to the dishwasher so I do not have to go far for everyday stuff.

    5. I turn on the dishwasher before I go to bed and then unload it before my morning coffee….I’m not really awake yet so I do not feel the pain for the boring task.

    That is one of my least fav things as well. Anything to do with dishes, really. So I took some time to think about making as painless as possible.

    Hope it helps!

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