#41 Create a chore system that works for the whole family {52 bites}

This weekend we have a few plans:

Run a 200-mile relay
Don’t sleep
Attend 4 church services
Attend a baptism
Say goodbye to 1,500 people
Host 40 people for a BBQ at our house

I don’t know, does that seem like a lot? I’m not sure how we managed to have Hood-to-Coast and our farewell Sunday at WCC land on the same weekend, but there we have it. It’ll be a blast. Thankfully we have dear people around who will run their legs, watch kids, make food, wash dishes, and hold us upright if we fall asleep.

When everyone pitches in it’s amazing what can get done.

None of these things would be possible alone. We are only 2 of a team of 12 runners. There are dozens of blessed, generous saints who serve tirelessly at RENEW BBQs. This week as I made lists of all that needed to happen for this weekend, it felt overwhelming. But thankfully, when everyone does their part, it’s really reasonable.

I’m learning continually how this must happen in our homes.

I’ve used CHORE CARDS (above) in the past, which were really helpful for us. Now the kids’ morning routine is (fairly) ingrained in their minds. The thing I still struggle with is the vast amount of work still leftover that can’t be done by the kids. Any other moms feel like that?

So, I’d say there are 2 important steps to mastering this family-chore idea:

1. Divvy up all responsibilities between family members

2. Be ok with the fact that it’s always a work in progress and will never work perfectly.

3. Embrace the fact that even when everyone else does their part, life still involves a lot of work.

#2 and #3 are where I’m focusing right now. A few weeks ago I sat down and did our 2012-2013 Master Plan for homeschooling curriculum, schedule, chores, etc. It was so helpful to sit down and put it all in one place. Even though we don’t follow it to the minute, it still provides a great guide for our days. I’m sure you all have much more ingenious chore-plans and calendars for your family, but here is what I include in case it can be helpful at all. If you’d like to actually see a copy of ours, I’m happy to share, just let me know. Didn’t want to bore you to tears with our daily schedule.

Daily schedule (including Letter Lessons)
Morning routine and evening routine
Homeschool subjects for each day (Tue: reading/writing, Wed: Spanish & history, etc.)
Ideas for kids’ play-time each day (they don’t need this much anymore)
Menu Plan (for the most part, we just rotate 10 meals)
Housework for each day (Tues bedrooms, Wed bathrooms, etc.)

Having this all on one excel sheet, in my notebook, gives me some direction each morning when I’m blurry eyed and wondering what on earth I’m doing that day.

So household experts, your turn: What does your chore-system look like? Do you have a Master Plan notebook that contains your brain? What does that look like and what have you learned over the years? I’d so love to glean from you! Thanks so much for reading … and please pray for us as we run!!!

3 thoughts on “#41 Create a chore system that works for the whole family {52 bites}”

Pingback: Dependurance: Hood to Coast. | deTheos

I loved the simplicity of this post, as it is such an important concept, I’ve discovered quickly as a Mom of two little ones (ages 4 & 3). I say the simplicity, as you’ve laid out all that most of us, as Mothers, know needs done – yet aren’t throwing “year long chore charts”, with all of the household duties that need to be done daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, 2x p/ year & annually. Don’t get me wrong – I think those charts can be incredibly for so many (& maybe some day – it’ll be great for me too). But at this season of life, I feel nothing other than complete anxiety when seeing those, not to mention feeling a bit like I’m doing this whole Mama/Wife gig ALL wrong.
Of course, it’s important to me to keep our home tidy, safe, nutritious meals prepared – but I’m not sure how some mamas keep up with these chore charts (ex. Organizing all closets 1x p/ month, washing windows monthly, etc.).
I sometimes wish I could (or maybe it’s that I can – yet, just don’t want to …. Eeeek! Is that worse?), but know it just isn’t realistic.

I have the sweetest saying embroidered & framed in our home (that I found at a thrift store & it’s absolutely one of my very favorite pieces of “art” in our house… I find myself reading it several times a day, & it’s oh so true….
“cleaning & scrubbing can wait till tomorrow… as babies grow up we’ve learned to our sorrow… so quiet down cobwebs… dust go to sleep… I’m rocking my baby & babies don’t keep.”

I’d LOVE to hear the 10 meals you rotate, if you’re willing to share!
I feel in a definite dinner meal prep rut – esp w/ fall approaching. I won’t be able to continue my quick & easy summer stand-by’s (chx pasta salad, quinoa patties grilled w/ veggies, kabobs – anything can become a kabob!, etc.!) 😉

Hi Kari,
I haven’t responded too quickly on this post. But I am interested in seeing your Master Plan! This is my 2nd year of homeschooling w/3 boys, and with the other things I’m involved in…Bible study, HS CoOp, Awana, Kids activities…I’m struggling with keeping everything and everybody on the same page!! Its all aswirl in my brain!!! I’d LOVE to keep it all in ONE place on PAPER, so I can keep my mind fixed where it needs to be…”dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, (so that I can be) fixed & stable in the shadow of the Almighty” !!! LOVE that promise:) Thanks.

Comments are closed.