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Motivated Moms chore list - Page 12

post #221 of 350
8/5/10 at 12:50pm
i've just been doing this since monday and love it already! i've been getting most of the chores done, though not always. my husband is cool with doing a few things everyday too, i think he likes having the choice, and being able to check it off when he's done, instead of just having a naggy wife

i got the format with 2 weeks on one page. i just put up a bulletin board in the kitchen, next to the calendar, and hung up the sheets on it, and tied a string to attach a marker and pen to the board so i can easlity check things off without searching for one (pens and such go missing sooo fast in this house, something eats them i think). i have a grocery list written there on a scrap of paper, and i plan on pinning the bills and so on to the board as well, and take them off when they've been paid.

it feels good to be getting organized, and CLEAN, not just tidy. i realized that i have never washed any windows, and we've owned this house for almost 2 years . i wiped the tops of the door and window frames when i was dusting and you would not believe how dirty they were.

i'm also starting to declutter and such as time permits, as this new chores habit is getting me motivated in general, and suddenly i feel like i do have the time and energy for it afterall!

although geeze, today was a big one, eh?!
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post #222 of 350
8/5/10 at 2:14pm
I have found I have a lot more motivation to keep everything nicer since I started this too We have gotten a lot of decluttering done too which I am sure helps! I need to get my butt in gear today though because I have a few things leftover from yesterday that need doing...
post #223 of 350
8/5/10 at 2:20pm
I don't think I got any of Wednesday's list done... well, maybe one thing. Things like "clean the dining room blinds" have never happened in my house, but when I went over there I saw all the little stickies from my toddler playing with them at meal time! Yuck! I think I might end up rearranging mine to have more of these chores fall on the weekends because I don't really have a lot of time after work to do them all. Especially when I haven't seen my son all day I feel like I'm ignoring him and just cleaning. If only he was littler and I could just strap him to me while I worked I guess I could do that now and then I'd be able to check off the exercise box! I just don't think he'd go for it!
post #224 of 350
8/7/10 at 11:06pm
Just wanted to say that my dining house is already looking a lot cleaner, even with the normal toy mess that creeps into the middle of the living room.

Also, I cleaned the middle shelf in the fridge, and I almost started to do the others but then I realized that I could just leave off after that was done and it would be totally ok. So I did, and I felt good about it too.
post #225 of 350
8/8/10 at 12:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sasha's Mama View Post
Also, I cleaned the middle shelf in the fridge, and I almost started to do the others but then I realized that I could just leave off after that was done and it would be totally ok. So I did, and I felt good about it too.
That's what I really love about MM....I now can do one or two small jobs and not feel like an epic failure!
post #226 of 350
8/8/10 at 1:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sasha's Mama View Post
I don't think I got any of Wednesday's list done... well, maybe one thing. Things like "clean the dining room blinds" have never happened in my house, but when I went over there I saw all the little stickies from my toddler playing with them at meal time! Yuck! I think I might end up rearranging mine to have more of these chores fall on the weekends because I don't really have a lot of time after work to do them all. Especially when I haven't seen my son all day I feel like I'm ignoring him and just cleaning. If only he was littler and I could just strap him to me while I worked I guess I could do that now and then I'd be able to check off the exercise box! I just don't think he'd go for it!
How old is your toddler? I handed my 3.5 yo a long-handled microfiber duster and pointed him at the blinds, and he cleaned part of them. I took off the handle and he dusted his own bookshelf, too. OK, neither job was perfect, but when I told him it was "my turn" he let me touch it up. He likes to swiffer too. I think he likes to carry around big sticks.
post #227 of 350
8/8/10 at 8:01pm
He'll be three in September. You're right, he's big enough to get some small tools to help. He really likes helping me cook (stirring mostly). I keep meaning to get a small spray bottle so I can put some water in it and he can squirt & wipe.
post #228 of 350
8/8/10 at 9:17pm
I just downloaded my copy. Yay! I'm using it as my template and sort of doing decluttering and reorganization using House Works, the book by Cynthia Townley of OrganizedHome.com. Great stuff! DH and I keep cleaning up chaos and then 10 minutes later it's chaos again. We're both in it to try to keep things more livable - especially since we've got a baby on the verge of crawling and hardwood floors!

Re: kids helping. My 4-year-old LOVES to spray and wipe, clean toilets (!!), help cook and he even mopped most of the living room today with help from DH. He likes to set the table, and we're trying to get him to put his dirty clothes in the hamper, keep his shoes by the door, hang up his coat on the coat rack and trying, trying to get him to put his toys away when he's finished playing with them.
post #229 of 350
8/15/10 at 10:58pm
bump! `cause I need to get back to it, and nurse the house back to wellness after our vacation (if you can call a trip to the inlaws vacation! certainly it was not restful!)

what do you folks do about vacation time? do you do the chores you missed or just ignore them, assuming they will come around again soon enough?

4 year olds helping - mine LOOOOVES spray bottles. I just use water to clean most things, so she can help with that part. she was helping me pick up today, though, and I guess I have a little to teach her in that department, as food, socks and drawing stuff all went into one box together, lol

okay, off to put away the mountain of clean dishes so I can do something about lunch.
post #230 of 350
8/16/10 at 2:36am
I assume you are meaning you have missed them because you have been away on vacation...but I suppose the house would not get messed up while you are not living in it?

I haven't been on holiday since starting this, but I assume I would just pick up from the day I get back...I wouldn't bother playing catch up unless something really needs doing badly!
post #231 of 350
8/16/10 at 9:47am
If I were on vacation I would just start in on the proper date and let it come around to everything again, unless I left something particular in horrible shape and it was bothering me.

I'm jumping back in! I haven't been following the program for a while, as I've had a super busy summer. But I'm excited to be back!
post #232 of 350
8/16/10 at 7:07pm
okay, I am gonna take that as permission to ignore the ones I missed, then, great! I was thinking mostly of the occasional chores like cleaning all the glass in the living room and whatnot, which, since it is not like it would have gotten done before I started this MM thing, can probably wait until they come around again like y`all are saying.

right then, onward. it is tuesday here now, so I shall clean the glass in the bedroom like a good girl. and hopefully plan the weeks menus since I didn`t get to that yesterday or the day before.
post #233 of 350
8/16/10 at 8:37pm
So . . . . scrubbing the toilet was on the list today, and I still haven't done that one. The whole family--3-yr-old, 1yo, and dog--crowd me in the bathroom, and DS love to splash in water, including toilet water, so he'll really push his way through! I suppose that a motivated mom isn't always a got-it-all done mom.
post #234 of 350
8/18/10 at 4:45pm

alterate to utility room?

After reading most of this thread, I just signed up for mm and got started with today's chores. Beauchamp - Thanks for the discount code, it brought it down to $3.

I'm a flylady dropout for the same reasons as many of you, so am hesitant to think this will solve all my problems but I figure that every little bit helps! I also find it totally overwhelming to write up a master list myself, so would rather use hers and just tweak it as needed.

We recently did a major clutter overhaul, thinking we were putting our house up for sale. We found out our house won't sell for enough to cover our mortgage so are staying here for now, but at least got rid of a LOT of clutter, which helps keep things tidier around here.

Anyway, I was working on today's chore list and dont' have a utility room with windows. Does anyone know what rooms she has covered over the year? I'd like to replace the utility room windows chores with a different room in my house but don't know which will not come up in the chores. I have 1 bedroom for my toddler, 1 family bedroom for us and our 11mo old, a change room (our master bedroom is now a "change room" with the change table and all of our clothes), we have 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, living room, play room, guest room, laundry room, cold room, furnace room, workout room, front enclosed porch, back porch & yard/garden, and a garage which is dh's domain. Wow, that's a lot of rooms (and one of the reasons we wanted to sell and move to a smaller space!). We also have 3 flights of stairs since we are in a 4 level split. There is a bathroom & bedroom in the basement that we rent out to my bro-in-law and if he moves out next month as he's planning then I have that to clean too. :P

Thanks all! It's fun to be using a list again.
post #235 of 350
8/18/10 at 9:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShellieC View Post
I have 1 bedroom for my toddler, 1 family bedroom for us and our 11mo old, a change room (our master bedroom is now a "change room" with the change table and all of our clothes), we have 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, living room, play room, guest room, laundry room, cold room, furnace room, workout room, front enclosed porch, back porch & yard/garden, and a garage which is dh's domain. Wow, that's a lot of rooms (and one of the reasons we wanted to sell and move to a smaller space!). We also have 3 flights of stairs since we are in a 4 level split. There is a bathroom & bedroom in the basement that we rent out to my bro-in-law and if he moves out next month as he's planning then I have that to clean too. :P
Holy cow! And I thought I had a lot of rooms to clean!

We have 4 bedrooms, including one with ensuite, 2 bathrooms, laundry, 2 flights of stairs, 2 hallways, 2 kitchens (yes 2!), dining room, living room, office, and spare room (for guests really, but mainly ironing and storage plus chairs right now), plus under the house storage area/DH's workshop, and a double garage.

What exactly is a utility room? I have never heard of that expression before except within a hospital context??

I was a bit naughty yesterday when I read that on the Wednesday list (it's Thursday here now); I just thought well I don't have a utility room so that's 2 less things to do! I guess I should really have substituted an other room!
post #236 of 350
8/19/10 at 10:50am
I don't have a utility room either. I think it's another way of saying 'laundry room.' Newer houses frequently have a 'utility room' of some kind. Those of us in older houses get a corner of the basement with a sink. I just replaced those chores with other ones that were on last week's list that I didn't get to. I figured it was a second chance to do them!

As far as all your rooms go, Shellie, I think that the rooms covered in MM include: living room/family room (always together on the list), dining room, master bedroom, bathroom(s), children's room(s), hallways/entryways, kitchen, porch and utility room. So you'll probably have to be a bit creative with your assigning of tasks to your various rooms.

Anyone know if "dust kitchen cabinets" ever comes up on the list? Mine are scary.

Oh, and what is it with Thursdays, anyway? I'm exhausted just LOOKING at this morning's list. I think I need to start doing one of Thursday's tasks on each of the previous days, because Thursday is just way too much for me to handle.
post #237 of 350
8/19/10 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Comtessa View Post
I don't have a utility room either. I think it's another way of saying 'laundry room.' Newer houses frequently have a 'utility room' of some kind. Those of us in older houses get a corner of the basement with a sink. I just replaced those chores with other ones that were on last week's list that I didn't get to. I figured it was a second chance to do them!

As far as all your rooms go, Shellie, I think that the rooms covered in MM include: living room/family room (always together on the list), dining room, master bedroom, bathroom(s), children's room(s), hallways/entryways, kitchen, porch and utility room. So you'll probably have to be a bit creative with your assigning of tasks to your various rooms.

Anyone know if "dust kitchen cabinets" ever comes up on the list? Mine are scary.

Oh, and what is it with Thursdays, anyway? I'm exhausted just LOOKING at this morning's list. I think I need to start doing one of Thursday's tasks on each of the previous days, because Thursday is just way too much for me to handle.
It does seem that every Thursday has a lot more work than the other days. I feel the same. Sometimes I try to do 1 or 2 of Thursday's tasks on a lighter day.
post #238 of 350
8/20/10 at 3:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PoetryLover View Post
It does seem that every Thursday has a lot more work than the other days. I feel the same. Sometimes I try to do 1 or 2 of Thursday's tasks on a lighter day.
There certainly does seem to be a lot to do on Thursdays.

For example 'clean refrigerator door shelves', in my case we have 3 fridges, and each one has at least 5 compartments/shelves in the door that need cleaning, a total of 15 shelves!

I only managed to clean one compartment of one fridge! LOL

Oh well it was better than none.
post #239 of 350
8/26/10 at 10:55am
Thread Starter 
It's time to get back to it!!! We are back from vacation and kids are in school!

BUT, I do hate Thursdays with MM. Oh well, no one else is home so I am turning on music and setting the timer to see how long it takes me. Probably isn't as bad as I think.

How about the rest of you Motivated Moms? How is it going?
post #240 of 350
8/26/10 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, I am done and a cup of tea is brewing. Wow, what a great feeling!

It only took me 1hr and 10m to finish my morning chores. Not nearly as bad as I thougt. I did leave some things for today from earlier days on purpose, not playing catch-up. Also, my dd19 will be cleaning the microwave and dusting the main living areas today. I require her choose at least one thing a day to help with.

What I did in my 1hr 10m timeframe:
*made bed
*dried and put away load of laundry (started washing machine before getting kids to school)
*took out kitchen trash
*wipe bathroom sink & counter top
*changed dishcloth & bathroom hand towel
*dust master bedroom including corner office area & ceiling fan
*vacuum kids bedroom including under beds & behind furniture
*vacuum master bedroom including under beds & furniture
*vacuum & sweep wood floors in main living area (kitchen, living/dining rooms, and hallway) including behind and under furniture
*mop wood floors in main living areas
*quick tidy as I went picking up papers & little lego or other toys

Note for perspective: I live in about 1400sqft 3br house, have 1 kids bedroom (the other is for adult child which she can clean or not) and only 1.5baths to clean. First thing in the morning, I start a load of wash, feed pets, take vitamins and empty dishwasher among the other stuff to get kids off to school.

That leaves for the evening chores:
cook dinner
wipe kitchen counters
clean kitchen sink
run dishwasher
read with kids

I just love MM's. I feel so good about today. Anyone else?