The Chore Swap-Day 1

To start our Chore Swap, my husband and I had some basic preparation and final negotiating to do before we could begin.  I had to show him where all the cleaning supplies were and he had to show me where all of the tools were and exactly how to use them.  I have mowed the lawn, hedged, planted, and fertilized before but I have never used the edger.  We also have an electric mower and putting the ridiculously heavy battery in that thing takes muscle that I just don't have yet.  Once the battery is in, I am good to go.

Final Negotiation

My husband wanted to know if I would do the few indoor "dog-upkeep" jobs that he has on the family chore chart.  So, yes, I will vacuum the couches and floor rug twice a week.  The majority of the housework seems to be dog-related but we love her, so, we do it. He wanted to know (half-kidding) if I would still clean up after myself when I make a mess in the kitchen?  Really! His foot is still jammed in his mouth and steam is still coming out of my ears.  I said, of course, because I am kind and considerate and I always clean up after myself. That's just who I am. He asked if we could enlist the kids.  The kids already have a set of chores but of course, they could always help out more. 

OBSERVATION #1
What I noticed immediately is that the kids do not have any outdoor chores on their chore chart.  They make their bed, clean their bathroom or dust their bedrooms, do their own laundry, help with the dog-hair battle by swiffering once a week, and vacuuming the couch once a week.  They help clean sliding doors and help with odds and ends like dusting blinds or cleaning walls. From time to time, I have asked them to help with weeding or picking up the dog lawn gifts but there is no official outdoor chore assigned to them on a weekly basis.  This should change and I suggested that this should change immediately but no one else agreed.  Mike felt that would not be fair because up until now he has not had much help and I should experience yard work solo.  I think he has just missed out on that child labor opportunity but why should I? I reminded him that he was the one who asked if we could enlist the kids. The kids are about to go on strike and would rather have indoor chores than pick up poop or pull weeds.  So, it appears that even they feel outdoor chores are less desirable.  We will be changing the chore chart. The kids will have more outdoor chores. Effective immediately... after this experiment. Absolutely.  They have one month to prepare mentally for this change.

OBSERVATION #2
I am already anxious about the inside of the house.  I already have the incredible urge to start cleaning.  I can see dog hair accumulating and feel that the floors beneath my feet are far FAR less than squeaky clean.  It's that time of the week when the house is in need of a good cleaning.  I love to start my weekend off with a clean house. I know, with two young children and two hairy dogs, the clean surely won't last long but it's calming for me, cleansing and detoxifying.  But...I can't.  I have to let him do it at his own pace. I can't ask him to do it when I want it done (per our negotiation). So, I will bite my tongue and go outside, mow the lawn and then sit on the patio and patio furniture that I cleaned.  Maybe I'll have a cold beer when I'm done. The yard will be my new calming oasis.