Comments on: A Day in the Life of The Happy Housewife http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/ Where Martha Meets Real Life Thu, 17 May 2012 01:53:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: suz http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2853 suz Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:42:03 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2853 Very good advice. Something I have noticed also (sorry if you or a commenter have mentioned this already) is that kids seems to love doing things at the same time each day. So if you get in the habit of doing homework at 5pm it becomes habit and they willingly do it (usually!). Very good advice. Something I have noticed also (sorry if you or a commenter have mentioned this already) is that kids seems to love doing things at the same time each day. So if you get in the habit of doing homework at 5pm it becomes habit and they willingly do it (usually!).

]]> By: Sherry http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2852 Sherry Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:13:36 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2852 Thank you for posting this and all the great links. Many hands make for light work. :D I have my children cleaning their own rooms and bathroom along with doing dishes and their laundry. They could probably help out with even more, too. I really like the "If THen" chart. That is neat! Thank you for posting this and all the great links. Many hands make for light work. :D I have my children cleaning their own rooms and bathroom along with doing dishes and their laundry. They could probably help out with even more, too. I really like the “If THen” chart. That is neat!

]]> By: Stephanie http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2851 Stephanie Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:22:58 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2851 Thanks for the book and website resources. And for the encouragement that things get easier/more organized as kids grow older. I have a 2-year-old and a newborn...and sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by breastfeeding, diaper changes, bathtime, bedtime, trips to the potty, etc. It's a crazy, but wonderful "season" of life. I'm doing my best to enjoy every single moment. Thanks for the book and website resources. And for the encouragement that things get easier/more organized as kids grow older. I have a 2-year-old and a newborn…and sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by breastfeeding, diaper changes, bathtime, bedtime, trips to the potty, etc. It’s a crazy, but wonderful “season” of life. I’m doing my best to enjoy every single moment.

]]> By: genesis http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2850 genesis Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:27:47 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2850 Wow I can't wait to read more of the posting on this, I am only a mother of one (hes 2 and a half and I will be 20 in sept) Our family is so unorganized and its hard even with one to keep up on the cleaning. Hes good about helping with loading the wash mashine, he realy likes doing that.He also picks up all his toys and helps me cook and do the dishes. Hed sweep if id let him, but I like to sweep I let him vacumme tho! Can't wait to read more! I think it is great that your children are so helpfull! You have a beautlifull family Wow I can’t wait to read more of the posting on this, I am only a mother of one (hes 2 and a half and I will be 20 in sept) Our family is so unorganized and its hard even with one to keep up on the cleaning. Hes good about helping with loading the wash mashine, he realy likes doing that.He also picks up all his toys and helps me cook and do the dishes. Hed sweep if id let him, but I like to sweep I let him vacumme tho! Can’t wait to read more! I think it is great that your children are so helpfull! You have a beautlifull family

]]> By: Monique http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2849 Monique Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:04:17 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2849 I'm ordering an "If Then" chart today!!! I have been trying to come up with my own "Thens" and they are often a miss what I'm trying to teach them or even why it's important. I’m ordering an “If Then” chart today!!! I have been trying to come up with my own “Thens” and they are often a miss what I’m trying to teach them or even why it’s important.

]]> By: Person (also known as Mommy) http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2848 Person (also known as Mommy) Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:27:00 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2848 What a great idea! It will be very interesting to see how you do things with such a large family! I can definitely see how it would be different than things are with my young little (medium? I don't know what three kids counts as) family. We have a 5 year old, a 13 month old, and I am 8 months pregnant. Our son (5 year old) is required to participate in housework, but he chooses what he does based on what he observes are the needs of others. Our focus in housework is more teaching him to be thoughtful of others, respectful of belongings, and show love through service to his family (as we show through service to eachother). The practical part of what he does is learned as he goes and is really far less of an issue to us. For instance, we are less concerned that he sweeps the floor with maximum efficiency than we are hoping that he notices that mommy needs help and offers to do it without being asked. If he goes the whole day without offering to help then we'll work with him at the end of the day--"what can you do before bed that will help mommy and daddy?"--but usually he just does it on his own now. Of course, if we had 7 kids I'm sure our focus would change :) I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your series! What a great idea! It will be very interesting to see how you do things with such a large family!

I can definitely see how it would be different than things are with my young little (medium? I don’t know what three kids counts as) family.

We have a 5 year old, a 13 month old, and I am 8 months pregnant. Our son (5 year old) is required to participate in housework, but he chooses what he does based on what he observes are the needs of others. Our focus in housework is more teaching him to be thoughtful of others, respectful of belongings, and show love through service to his family (as we show through service to eachother).

The practical part of what he does is learned as he goes and is really far less of an issue to us. For instance, we are less concerned that he sweeps the floor with maximum efficiency than we are hoping that he notices that mommy needs help and offers to do it without being asked. If he goes the whole day without offering to help then we’ll work with him at the end of the day–”what can you do before bed that will help mommy and daddy?”–but usually he just does it on his own now.

Of course, if we had 7 kids I’m sure our focus would change :) I’m looking forward to reading the rest of your series!

]]> By: Rebecca http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2847 Rebecca Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:19:29 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2847 I love that everyone has dusting, and as the child gets older, they get more jobs. I grew up as one of the oldest of 6 with one developmentally disabled. Somehow, perhaps it was a fluke, my twin sis and I are great about cleaning, but the younger ones horrid. They aren't so young now (youngest is 18) and lets just say cleaning is a hard habit to gain if you don't learn it early. How old do you start your kids out with chores? I have my 14 mo old help pick up toys when we are done playing, but I don't consider that a real chore. I love that everyone has dusting, and as the child gets older, they get more jobs. I grew up as one of the oldest of 6 with one developmentally disabled. Somehow, perhaps it was a fluke, my twin sis and I are great about cleaning, but the younger ones horrid. They aren’t so young now (youngest is 18) and lets just say cleaning is a hard habit to gain if you don’t learn it early.

How old do you start your kids out with chores? I have my 14 mo old help pick up toys when we are done playing, but I don’t consider that a real chore.

]]> By: Angela http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2846 Angela Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:53:48 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2846 THANK YOU for sharing this great information with us. I have OFTEN wondered EXACTLY what the lady in the e-mail was wondering - how do you do it? You are amazing and I can't wait to read and learn more! I can't thank you enough for your insight and the things that you share with all of us. My life has been enriched greatly since reading your blog - THANK YOU! Angela :-) THANK YOU for sharing this great information with us. I have OFTEN wondered EXACTLY what the lady in the e-mail was wondering – how do you do it? You are amazing and I can’t wait to read and learn more! I can’t thank you enough for your insight and the things that you share with all of us. My life has been enriched greatly since reading your blog – THANK YOU!

Angela :-)

]]> By: dogear6 http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2845 dogear6 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:15:48 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2845 My daughter was one of those "poor poor" children whose mother made her do household chores. Her friends mothers and my own relatives were aghast that I had her doing chores before she even started school. Similar to MB above, by the time she went to college she did fine on her own. In fact, when she got her own apartment her dad put together a tool box for her. . . and she knew how to use it too. My daughter was one of those “poor poor” children whose mother made her do household chores. Her friends mothers and my own relatives were aghast that I had her doing chores before she even started school. Similar to MB above, by the time she went to college she did fine on her own. In fact, when she got her own apartment her dad put together a tool box for her. . . and she knew how to use it too.

]]> By: Amy http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-housewife/#comment-2844 Amy Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:45:42 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=4482#comment-2844 I'll be looking forward to posts on this. Your kids are slightly older than mine. I have a 11, 9, 5, 5, 2, and 1 year old. The last two years have been a whirlwind with homeschooling. We added a baby both years. Things seem to be getting easier now. My 11 year old is a huge help. My almost 9 year old is getting there but needs lots of reminders to keep on task. I'm sure in a couple years when I have more older kids it will be easier. I am counting down the days for my oldest to turn 13. Maryland has a law where you have to be 13 to babysit. It will be so nice to have her watch 1-2 siblings if I need to make a quick errand. I’ll be looking forward to posts on this. Your kids are slightly older than mine. I have a 11, 9, 5, 5, 2, and 1 year old. The last two years have been a whirlwind with homeschooling. We added a baby both years. Things seem to be getting easier now. My 11 year old is a huge help. My almost 9 year old is getting there but needs lots of reminders to keep on task. I’m sure in a couple years when I have more older kids it will be easier.

I am counting down the days for my oldest to turn 13. Maryland has a law where you have to be 13 to babysit. It will be so nice to have her watch 1-2 siblings if I need to make a quick errand.

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