Clean Kitchen, Clean House

When I was first married, I loved cleaning my home! I even took an extra day off work each week to really get it all done. But, as my number of children increased, my available time to clean decreased as did my enjoyment of cleaning.

However, over the years I have learned that while cleaning may be more challenging than it was when it was just me and Solo, there are ways to minimize the stress and anxiety that comes from having a messy home that you can't ever find time to clean.

First, if you've been around here a while, you probably know that we use the ZONES strategy for divvying up chores. I've used this method for so long and will never go to anything else. Basically, the kids have one zone (loading dishwasher, cleaning counters, etc.) they are responsible for every day, and they stick to that task for a long time (like 6 months to a year), then they train the next child when we switch.

All of the kids have a zone that covers a part of the kitchen area because I have learned that when that is clean, the entire rest of the house feels 90% better. As the central hub of our home, the clean kitchen sets the tone for the rest of the house. So, if you're struggling to stay on top of things, I get it! I've been there! Maybe, start with the kitchen and see if that helps ease the pressure a bit.

Remember, you've got this!