I admit that over the years I have had a frustrating relationship with laundry. It requires a delicate balance in order to get it done in just the right time so no one runs out of socks or clean underwear. Anyone who has sent their child to school with a "used" pair of underwear or a quick Frebrez to a shirt knows the very real emotion of feeling like a failure as a parent... and the pressure of maintaining that right rhythm to the wash cycle.
Years ago a friend shared this cartoon with me and it is still a keeper. A real image of how it sometimes feels...
This cartoon is how my daughter and son started to learn about Greek mythology. Sisyphus was the guy who was condemned to have to roll a rock up a hill only to have it roll back down. It was his eternal punishment to have to repeat this cycle over and over.
I am not sure if it was before or after viewing this cartoon that I came to a new realization about the family wash. I always felt like I was fighting to get it done. Let's face it, it will never be "done" as it is a perpetual process that requires devoted attention in order to care for one's family.
And I will add that my husband and I have a goal that we do not want our kids to be "the stinky kids" in school (as much as it depends on us, of course). And for clarity purposes, my husband does a mean load of laundry and helps out frequently. So I guess it would be a thing we do for our family. But poor Brian seems to have a tougher time figuring out how to sort the socks, jeans, and underwear now that Anna is almost my size. He is at a disadvantage since he doesn't wear those items. It is always amusing what things end up in each of our rooms after he sorts.
And I will add that my husband and I have a goal that we do not want our kids to be "the stinky kids" in school (as much as it depends on us, of course). And for clarity purposes, my husband does a mean load of laundry and helps out frequently. So I guess it would be a thing we do for our family. But poor Brian seems to have a tougher time figuring out how to sort the socks, jeans, and underwear now that Anna is almost my size. He is at a disadvantage since he doesn't wear those items. It is always amusing what things end up in each of our rooms after he sorts.
When it comes to laundry, I have come to realize that I just need to keep it in flow. That's my laundry mantra-- keep it in flow, keep it in flow. As long as it is working through the process and in some stage of becoming clean it seems to be all good. I may not have it completely done, but if there is something clean to wear we are GOOD!
It looks a little different in my house with this view of flow and not killing myself to have it all completed and put away. One day Joshua yelled to me from the upstairs, "Where is the pile?" I yelled back, "The what?" He said, "The pile... the clean clothes pile." Doop. When it dawned on me what he was referring to, I laughed out loud and answered, "Check the floor of my bedroom." Yep--laundry was clean and in the pile... and my flow method worked! The pile... just saying it makes me chuckle. Humor is a great thing when it comes to laundry.
It can also be humorous as I try to teach my children that their dirty laundry is their concern. If they want clean clothes then they need to dump their hampers or alert me that wash is required. One day Anna said to me, "Where is my gray sweater?" I answered, "Probably in the hamper." To which she replied, "I sent it in over a week ago." I burst out laughing and repeated, "Sent it in? Am I the dry cleaners?" She smiled and said that wasn't what she meant. Then we laughed together.
It can also be humorous as I try to teach my children that their dirty laundry is their concern. If they want clean clothes then they need to dump their hampers or alert me that wash is required. One day Anna said to me, "Where is my gray sweater?" I answered, "Probably in the hamper." To which she replied, "I sent it in over a week ago." I burst out laughing and repeated, "Sent it in? Am I the dry cleaners?" She smiled and said that wasn't what she meant. Then we laughed together.
I realize my attitude about laundry has changed over time. It is no longer something I loath or do with domestic bitterness. I try to enjoy the laundry time (as best I can). It is a trip down memory lane as I survey their clothes items and remember what they wore on the first day of school. I smile when I see their sports team jersey or what they wore to a music concert. Recalling what they were doing in those pieces of clothing can be sweet moments to remember.
Laundry is purposeful. I have laundry to do because I have a family. I have two pretty amazing kids who are active and growing... and they make messes and wear different clothes each day. It is because I have these blessings that I have wash to do. And one day when they are grown and have moved out of the house I know I will miss seeing their t-shirts, shorts and socks in my laundry room and in piles in my bedroom.
Laundry is purposeful. I have laundry to do because I have a family. I have two pretty amazing kids who are active and growing... and they make messes and wear different clothes each day. It is because I have these blessings that I have wash to do. And one day when they are grown and have moved out of the house I know I will miss seeing their t-shirts, shorts and socks in my laundry room and in piles in my bedroom.
I will eventually teach both of my children to wash clothes. In time I will get around to that and I will try to prepare them to care for themselves while at college and when living in their own homes. But I have to admit that right now I am content to have my own clothes free from shrinkage and discoloration.
Gotta go cycle a load of laundry...so I leave you with this bit of humor.
Gotta go cycle a load of laundry...so I leave you with this bit of humor.
