Thursday, September 15, 2016

{JEI}: Do Small Things with Great Love


Welcome to another week of Just Enough Info with The Zelie Group. This week we are discussing all about chores. I don't know about you but whenever I think about all the household chores and daily to-dos, I think about Saint Teresa of Calcutta. One of my most favorite quotes of her's is "Do small things with great Love."

 I'd love to introduce you to the other hosts of the JEI: Just Enough Info Linkup:

Jessica (myself) – Pinot Noir and Prayers | Instagram | Facebook
Alicia – Sweeping Up Joy | Pinterest | Facebook
Kirby – Under Thy Roof | Instagram | Facebook

Warning the images in this post CAN NOT BE UNSEEN! Here are my answers to this weeks Just Enough Info Questions:

1. What chore should you be doing now instead of answering this question?




Well this is a loaded question! We are preparing to travel to attend my cousin's wedding in Kansas this weekend and boy are there a ton of chores I should be doing right now! This includes but trust me is not limited to laundry, dishes, grocery shopping and packing!  I mean you have to have clean clothes to pack on a trip right? And you probably don't want to have a sink full of dirty dishes making your home smell amazing while you are gone for a weekend. The biggest thing I really need to get done is grocery shopping! Not so much that I stock the pantries before we go but so that I get drinks and snacks for our trip. We are a very frugal family and it saves us a ton to bring food instead of stopping at fast food locations every couple hours. Plus it is much healthier to eat food prepared from home than the greasy mess from the traditional fast food locations. Now that I am thinking about it, I should probably clean the boys bathroom. I don't know how it is in other families but I am starting to believe that my boys are attempting to create artwork from their tubes of toothpaste and soap. It covers their entire bathroom! I clean it at the beginning of every week but by the end of the week it looks just like it did at the beginning. The never ending cycle.

2. Do your kids have chores? If yes, what’s your chore system?


Yes, Yes and Yes! Both of my boys have chores. I think it is important to teach my boys that teamwork, responsibility and accountability are necessary to grow into responsible and hardworking men. Little Man is responsible for: cleaning the litter box, taking out the trash, making his bed, and cleaning his room. Goalie is responsible for making his bed, sleeping in his own bed every night, picking up his toys and emptying the bathroom garbage can. Everyone in the house is responsible for putting away their folded clothes, putting away dirty dishes, completing homework and being respectful throughout each day. 

We utilize a chore chart and monetary reward system to incentivize the boys to complete their chores and they are reminded frequently to do what is right. We also give extra cash when it is evident that it is deserving. For example, I received a message from Little Man's teacher earlier in the week that he has the highest grade in Math in his entire class! Goalie also impressed me while we were shopping earlier in the week and he didn't get upset when he was told he couldn't get a toy. He simply put the toy back and continued with us throughout the shopping trip without another word about it. Both boys earned extra for these great milestones. This reward method works for our family the best!

3. If someone gifted you a housekeeping service, would you use it?



Oh goodness! I would LOVE to use a housekeeping service! The only way I would ever use one is if it was gifted though. I am way too frugal to spend the money on it even though the relief of stress would be so amazing to know I could come home to a clean and sparkling house. Everyday is normally a mad dash to complete most of my everyday chores in between other responsibilities so everything looks "half-done." A gift like that would save me an enormous amount of time... even if it was only for one day. I would use the free time to take a nice long nap or enjoy a bottle of wine while I read on my patio. It would be like HEAVEN ON EARTH!

I am so blessed. I have an amazing husband that works hard, I have two amazing boys to love and grow with and I have a great job that allows me to work and still be available to be with my family as necessary. I would be lying is I said I don't get overwhelmed with juggling a work schedule, sports, doctor appointments, fun family activities and household chores because I do! I have to plan my menus so I know I have time to cook and that I have the ingredients necessary to make dinner. This doesn't include laundry, dishes, sweeping, mopping, the bathrooms or anything else that needs a good cleaning. I am sure it is the same for every other family but a girl can dream right? 

Well that is my take on Just Enough Info this week. I would love to hear your thoughts!


Please Join us and Link Up with your answers to this week's questions about Chores:

1. What chore should you be doing now instead of answering this question?
2. Do your kids have chores? If yes, what’s your chore system?
3. If someone gifted you a housekeeping service, would you use it?

Next week we will be discussing Mom Self-Care and here are the questions:

What is your mom beverage of choice? 
What do you do to relax? 
When was the last time you got away with girlfriends or alone (and the grocery store does NOT count)?

I can't wait to see how everyone answers this week.

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1. Please follow each of the party hosts in at least one way.

2. The blog that you are linking must be Family Friendly.

3. Link the individual post, not the main page of the blog.

4. The post that you are submitting must be on topic.

5. You are welcome to link up to 3 posts, old or new. Do not link the same post more than once.

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4 comments:

  1. I read an article once that argued that why moms are always so tired is because we're always trying to get back to state zero. Dishes need to be washed again, people need to be fed again, floors need to be swept again. It doesn't often result in feeling like you're moving forward.
    It's the part that's so hard!

    Also, I love your fall decor!

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    1. That sounds like a great article! That is exactly how I feel. I can never seem to get it all done so I always feel "behind". This is especially true since I started working again! And thank you for noticing my decor! My boys like that I change it up :) Plus it makes me feel festive!

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  2. I hear you about things being "half-done" all the time. I'm so easily distracted in completing tasks (usually by the kiddos), that it's hard to make any progress.

    Toothpaste. Soap. Don't get me started. You can read about our crimes against soap if you're interested. :) http://www.sweepingupjoy.com/seven-quick-takes-the-good-the-bad-and-the-crusty/

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    Replies
    1. Yes! That is the story of my life! LOL I am catching up on my posts from this weekend and I am working on that email I promised last week too! I will be reading your latest post too :) God Bless!

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