Balancing Your Time: Household Chores and Time with the Kids

I suspect most parents feel guilty about not spending enough time with their kids. There are just so many other demands like household chores.

Time is a precious commodity, but it may be possible to free up some of it by looking closely at your schedule. Here are a few suggestions for how you can improve the balance between household chores and spending time with your kids.

Choose the Right Cleaning Supplies

Purchasing the right cleaning supplies can mean you waste less time on household chores.

For example, things like a carpet cleaner can be an essential cleaning tool. It is much easier to use something designed for the task than trying to use something that falls short.

It doesn’t cost a lot of money to have a well-stocked cabinet of cleaning supplies and gadgets, and it can be worth it if it saves you time.

We personally could not live without our robot vacuums.

It is amazing how quickly the kids learn the operation of the DVD, yet are unable to understand the vacuum cleaner.

Etienne Marchal

Encourage Your Children to Help You with Household Chores

You can spend time with your kids and do household chores at the same time by allowing them to join in.

Even young children can participate if you turn it into a bit of a game. The secret to making this work is to choose the right tasks for your child – otherwise, you could end up making more work for yourself.

It can also be a good idea to give children some regular household chores (i.e. cleaning their room) because it can be beneficial for their development. It will provide them with some responsibility and prepare them for when daddy and mommy aren’t there picking up after them.

The cruel irony of housework: people only notice when you don’t do it.

Danielle Raine

Create a Schedule for Household Chores

The advantage of a schedule is that it allows you to stay on top of what needs to be done. It makes it possible for you to think more carefully about when you do these tasks, so you are more in control of your time.

Maybe do certain chores on certain days. Or, when you are waiting for something to cook, do some speed cleaning. Doing a little bit here and there really does add up.

Don’t cook. Don’t clean. No man will ever make love to a woman because she waxed the linoleum – “My God, the floor’s immaculate. Lie down, you hot bitch.”

Joan Rivers

Understand That Quality is Just as Important Quantity

The quality of the time you spend with your kids is just as important as the quantity of time. There are only so many hours in the day, and all you can do is your best.

It is always nice to spend more time with your kids, but it is better to make the most of the time you have.

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.  —Phyllis Diller