Washing Machines & 5-year-olds
I was encouraging my friend Melissa this morning to teach her sons, 8 & 6, to do their own laundry. (Well, I just mentioned the 8-year-old because I knew she would be hesitant to let even her older son near the machines.) This friendly advice, from me – her children’s Godmother – was received rather lukewarmly. Now you have to picture this: Melissa in the basement with the laundry chute open and clothes backed up to the second story and the rest of the clothes knee-deep around her. (You know if she reads my blog I might be in trouble here! 
) With four very active kids and clothes rivaling books for space in her house, she is ALWAYS doing laundry.
So . . . I was just giving her sociable suggestions based on my experience with the mountains of clothes our family generated with only two children. Then I made a mistake. I told her the following story:
When JB (our oldest son) was five, I decided he should be in charge of his own laundry. “You dirty it – you wash it” is my my motto. We placed a stool by the washer and I carefully explained the system:
- dump all your dirty clothes on the floor
- sort into two piles – dirty and REALLY dirty (this kept church clothes from being mixed up with “I was digging for buried treasure in the mud, Mom!” pile. Yes, I know that piles are usually sorted by whites, colors, etc. but if the whites are coated in mud it is hard to differentiate . . . )
- dump load #1 into the washer
- dump in one capful of detergent
- set on: large, cold, regular
- pull knob
- CLOSE THE TOP OF THE WASHER
When the repairman came out to replace the part JB had ingenuously discovered, he confirmed that JB was indeed correct in his guess.
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Comments
Posted by mjpuzzlemom
He will be 11 on 2/20. This is such a big help to me. I can even get him to start his sisters load or move it from washer to dryer.
from a Scrabble friend.
Posted by CandyFoote
I think that is great advice!
My kids do laundry!
Candy
Posted by stacey
Oh, how funny. My 3 oldest do laundry ages 11, 8 and 6. Everyone takes turns. If you are on the kitchen zone you have to put clothes into the washer/dryer. Living room zone has to sort/fold. Then everyone puts their own away. Of course we don't let the 6 year go unsupervised, unless it is taking clothes out of the dryer. But I know someday we will turn him loose on the world of laundry.
Tell Mellissa her biggest problems, possible unwanted pink underwear, putting to much clothes in the washer, and forgetting to add the soap. All have happened at my house, but easily fixed.
Posted by UndertheSky
This is such a funny story. I am trying to figure out just how he accessed the part! :+)
I hope you are well and I hope to see you on the conference trail this year!
Warmly,
Kate
Posted by kphillips5
Exactly why I pick the chores carefully. I updated so come and look.
Karen
Posted by kimahrens
Maggie,
Thanks for your comment on my blog. Wow! I have been visited by the great Maggie Hogan!!! I feel privileged.
I'll have to tease/encourage Melissa to work w/ the boys to do laundry. My son, 6, hasn't been taught the washer, but he has been instructed on the dryer. The washer, perhaps, is ready for him, but I am not. Visions of basement flooding....
I sure hope I get to meet you someday!
Posted by JenIG
you, my lovely friend, give fabulous advice. so when are you coming down here? you MUST plan to make it out here in Oct. Laurie Bluedorn is gonna be there, and I think jay from cleveland is gonna be there and all sorts of interesting people like Marsha from DrewsfamilyTx. It is gonna be the party of the century!!!!! Make Melissa come too. and her kids. i like that little BeccaLoo
Posted by H0MEFree
We always did our own laundry. Our mama was a single working gal. She was so busy.
Problem- kids generally hate doing laundry.
We threw our clean and dirty clothes all over the floor. When laundry time came we would grab all the clothes on the floor to wash. When it went through my mom would shriek "you never wore this!!!" LOL!
And don't get started on sorting and color bleeding! LOL!
Posted by TerriCamp
Hey Maggie....'member me? My latest blog was on laundry too! How funny is that! I do require my kids to do laundry, although I have never resorted to the two pile thought. I don't know how it happened, but some of my kids do NOT want to get muddy. Go figure!
How are you doing girlfriend?! I called you....left a message....waited by the phone for....oh let's see...10 days....decided I needed to finally get out of the house, so I went to Barnes and Noble. I decided to pull out a cot and stay there...cinnamon dolce and books....what could be better?
Posted by Anonymous
Ha! Not sure I am ready for that...the laundry certainly is in a pile-but not brave enough to let my wee ones jump in. ;-) Guess I will need to muster up the courage to attempt that. ;-)
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted (working on a new adoption (#7 and maybe 8) from Guatemala!
come visit us, we love new friends!
Posted by Anonymous
Ha! Not sure I am ready for that...the laundry certainly is in a pile-but not brave enough to let my wee ones jump in. ;-) Guess I will need to muster up the courage to attempt that. ;-)
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted (working on a new adoption (#7 and maybe 8) from Guatemala!
http://overthemoonwithjoy.blogspot.com
come visit us, we love new friends!
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