Thank you Allform for sponsoring! Visit allform.com/lp/minimalmom/ for 20% off any sofa of your choice. And thank YOU for watching and we hope you have a great weekend!! - Dawn & Tom
Just gotta say I was watching someone else's video that was sponsored by Allform and thought you guys needed to partner with them because of your love for your Helix. Happy for you guys! Love your videos.
I don’t mind binge watching Netflix series anymore with my husband because between every episode, we take seven minutes and tidy up the house. 🏡. It’s amazing what we get done on weeknights. 🤩
When a TV commercial would come on at the end of a show, my Mom would yell “ Ready, Set, GO!” And we would all, including her, tear around the house cleaning as fast as we could and jump back into our seats just in time for the next show. And we thought it was fun! As an empty-nester, I still motivate myself this way during UA-cam ads. And it’s still fun!
We would do that too! It was fun. My mom would also randomly yell, "clean whatever room your in!" And we had to do that for 5-10 min...we started catching on though, she would wait untill the older kids were in the certain rooms to make sure it was done right!
Go Mom! A master manipulator! Making work fun!!! Woo hoo! I used to tell my sister to do favors for me to go get something in my room upstairs… and if I said, I’ll time you! She would get excited.. then when she came back down she would say “ how long?” I would make up a number.. “25” ( as in counting from 1-25) it always worked.. !! Even Now with our own families, my sis is the one who always wants to play games and she can never get players. So our holidays always involve game time!! Hahaha
I agree I admire that that I didn't become more that way till I got older I probably was pretty critical when my kids were young. But that's how I grew up everything had to be perfect
My wife did something similar when our son was little. Now he is 23 and is surprised at how many of his compatriots do NOT know how to do basic household chores. Go Dawn !
You kids are so lucky! I was never made to do anything around the house. So now I'm lost. I now wish my mom and sisters would have thought me what to do. Even if your kids complain now, they will be grateful when they are older!
My son is 15 and when he was 12 he was seriously concerned for his classmates because they couldn’t do anything around the house while my son knew how to do pretty much everything. Since then we’ve added cooking to his weekly chores as well. As a parent I want my children to succeed in life and have every tool they need to do that. I wasn’t taught how to clean either but I’ve learned a lot from youtube actually.
I had the opposite problem.... My mom and stepdad were militant about chores - as in, if they weren't done right, you did it again, and it was made harder for you to do (smaller brush, hands and knees, etc). As a result, I am pretty lax about chores, but I insist that if you live here, you help, and once a week we do the whole house together. It takes an hour tops. My teenager is always grumbling that her friends don't do chores, and I believe her because I've met them.
Dawn, a tip we learned while homeschooling last year: still pack lunches every day and have kids “picnic” outside or at the table. Sometimes we even went to a nearby park. It keeps everything contained during the day so kids, and you, can focus on school.
I am so much happier being a minimalist. I do five minute cleaning when someone is coming over. My friend’s husband asked “don’t you miss your stuff?” I said I don’t even remember what I got rid of.
I, too, am grateful that your family is learning to pitch in. I watch a lot of cleaning videos for motivation (because it's hard) and, so often, see one lady tackling a mountain of laundry, cooking, cleaning, dusting, and decorating ALL BY HERSELF. Where are the others who live in this beautiful home? Thanks for showing that if the entire family benefits, then the entire family can help, too. You ALL do good work.
It is so important to teach your kids these practical life skills-!! My 17 month old wipes her table, throws garbage away and can help tidy her toys. She even helps with cooking! We do montessori at home and have learned so much about how capable children are! We got her a small broom and is working on sweeping, hehe it is so cute.
I love watching kids helping cleanups. If they can get their toys and play with them, they can put them back after. Kids are observant, they learn from adults. So if we keep up with cleaning, they will too. They may not do it regularly, but they understand the expectation.
Flav City with Bobby Parish YT has videos when his daughter was 2 cleaning/making snacks with everything mini including her own working sink. It’s amazing/cute to watch her. I do get nervous when she cuts up a cucumber though. Those little fingers!
Wow, 6 people (hopefully 7 soon) in a 1500 sq ft house, and it's still so neat and airy-looking. I think that is the best argument for minimalism I've heard yet!
Thank you for encouraging parents to get their kids helping with chores and letting it be imperfect! 👏🏻 My son was doing his own laundry at 3 years old. He put away his toys and at 1 year old. I know people who never let their kids do their laundry. They also cleaned their kids room!🤦♀️ My son is now 25 and has lived on his own for several years. He’s very organized and a true minimalist. Friends whose parents cleaned up after them live with piles everywhere…you’re not doing kids any favors treating them as if they’re helpless.
Confession of Regret: I stopped making my kids do stuff around the house when my oldest starting having severe school issues (anxiety, depression, absences, etc). At the same time, my husband was out of work, our finances were a mess, we had to go on aid programs. I was a total mess, my health suffered, daily life was a battle to survive. Now, things are better. Tons of therapy helped. My two boys (18 & 22) live at home while doing community college. I have lots of “should’ves & could’ves” about preparing them for life on their own, esp cleaning. I try to find teachable moments, but it’s not the same. So for parents who are putting off showing your kids stuff, I highly encourage you to take this 5-minute approach. Make it fun. Expect the grumbling. I’m so very thankful my mom made all of us clean. I just wish I could cook though! 🤷🏻♀️ Blessings to all the moms, dads, and children doing their best! ❤️🙏
But your boys are now at an age where they could learn to cook without you worrying about knives. You could make it a family project where you all learn to cook a dish together. Ask the boys to find something on TikTok (or wherever) that they fancy eating and then all learn to do it together. If they've chosen the recipe, they might be keener on the project because they know they get to eat it at the end. In the beginning it might be all pancakes and muffins, but even with that they will be learning certain skills so that real dishes for a meal will be easier. Then after a while you could move on by suggesting they learn to make whatever their favourite take out dish is!
Try not to focus on the regrets. I went thru something similar, and though we may not get to teach our kids all the lessons we'd expected, they've likely learned some valuable lessons from these experiences, like maybe compassion and persistence.
@@llkg9 Yes, regret is counter-productive. Now I try to squeeze in 5-minute talks about navigating their 20’s and normalize the search for identity, education, career decisions, relationships, etc. I didn’t have that kind of coaching support in my 20’s which led to some decisions that weren’t so good. I want them to know and to feel that I’m always in their corner, loving them unconditionally. That is something I did get from my mom. ❤️❤️❤️
I have two grandsons (cousins) same age. One I raised, the other raised by his mother (my daughter). The first one, from the time he was very little, was able to put his toys away, and as he grew, he would do whatever tasks needed. I used the timer in two ways, 5 minutes to finish what ever he was playing with or doing, then the 5 minutes for the chore. His life skills grew as he got older, he cooks, clean ups, does his own laundry, etc. Now the second grandson, raised by his mother, who still feels she can get things done faster by herself, never gave any responsibility to either of her two children. They have almost no life skills, these two boys just had their 24th birthday. My daughter works full time and comes home to a house that needs another full time shift to get it in order. I think the best thing you can do is teach kids from a young age to help with the household chores. It is so satisfying to watch your videos and see your kids all pitching in. Now the new couch, I love it, I love the color and the fabric, but…. Can you get one more seat piece? It’s nice that you can all sit on it now, but those kids will not stay small forever.
I used to tune out your laundry suggestions. Every day?! What are you trying to do to us?! I like my way - it’s so efficient to do laundry for all 6 at once. 🤪 This week, I tried your “load a day” method and I hate to say it, but you’re right. Even if I’m folding 6 people’s laundry every time, it feels SO MUCH LESS INTIMIDATING! I’m totally hooked. ❤️ Thanks for sharing your life with us!
Doing 6 full loads of laundry a week does not use less water or energy if you do them all the same day or not. The same amount of water and electricity is used, regardless of whether it's over 6 days or all on one day. Droughts are very rare in the Midwest where this family lives. The Great Lakes provide an excellent quality of tap water. Water is a renewable resource. They are not being selfish or wasteful.
@@BroccoliFiles you didn't think that through. Like Linden explained, the amount of laundry doesn't get less if you only wash it once a week. If you could do something like that, you'd be a magician. If you have 200 items of laundry and wash them all on Sunday or every day 50 of them, that doesn't change the amount of laundry or water you need. You're still gonna need 4 loads of laundry.
I’m finding that language makes a difference to me when it comes to housework. Your concept of “inventory” has been a game changer for me. Another word that has helped is “reset.” Instead of approaching the kitchen or bathrooms with the idea of “cleaning,” I think “Reset!” which is more like a quick get-it-back-to-normal instead of a chore. “Reset” also has helped me see that if I take 30 seconds to reset right away, I don’t even have to do a 5-minute clean later.
Yesyesyes I love using language to improve my mental state. Agree that the words inventory, reset and I’ll add routine have helped me keep perspective (avoiding overwhelm)
@@agility9273 Yes, definitely routine. Someone on another UA-cam channel phrased it as something like, “it’s just something we do!” You don’t have to convince yourself to do it anymore; it’s just a habit. (Wash the sheets on Saturday, the towels on Sunday…. Empty the dishwasher while the espresso brews…. Polish the sink to close up the kitchen for the night…. etc.)
“Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” Made me smile. 🤩I grew up hearing my mom and grandmother say it. They actually have a creek on their farm they have to cross to go to town. It floods its banks in the Spring so as a child I thought that saying specifically applied to them. I didn’t realize that other people said it too. Now when I say it, people just give me a confused look. 😂
I went out of town a couple months ago and when I got back the house was tidy and clean. My husbands said it was so easy to keep it tidy. I can't tell you how nice it felt to hear him say that. I'm just so grateful for having found your channel. You've transformed how we live, seriously! Love you Dawn! and Tom!
This is what we do: Most worshipssongs are about 5 min. long. We chose a song with a nice fast beat - turn it on...very loud. We sing and dance along with the music and get as much done within that song as we possibly can. A recipe for fun, laughter, sweet familytime, godly refreschment and a clean home! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me Dawn! Love from Germany!
When we had teenage daughters we would do a 15 minute power clean with The Beach Boys cranked way up. Made everyone happy and they were always thrilled that in 15 minutes and we had the whole house done!
Music is great! One of our best days tidying with my daughter was picking up her room with Modest Mouse and The Black Keys cranked up. We both loved it.
I have employed lots of young people in my 30 plus year career. I am stunned at how many teenagers cannot sweep, mop, or wipe off a table! Great job training young adults, Dawn and Tom.
My adopted daughter (She’s the daughter of my heart) was in a Children’s Home during her teenage years. She used to tell me whenever she would get out of sorts during that time her house mother would take my daughter to her room and have her clean her space, including her dresser drawers. It’s amazing how a neat and clean space can calm our souls.
When I was raising my kids, I created a "10 Minute Tidy", which was REALLY great!! 10 minutes isn't an overwhelming amount of time, but is long enough to make a difference. I also let the kids choose which chore they'd prefer, and believe it or not, they never picked the same one. It worked like a charm.
Taking the time to TRAIN each child for the jobs involved in each room is so valuable to both the kids and to the parents! KNOWING exactly what is expected and how to accomplish it does build a ton of confidence!
I always gravitate to your channel as the months get colder and the days are darker. So much brightness and happiness in each video really motivates and keeps me positive!
This takes me back 25 years to when our kids were at home. I love that you are teaching your kids like skills!!! You and Tom are a hoot together, so fun! I just love everything about this video!!! 💕
Dawn, you are so right! Less inventory! I love looking into each room of my home. I had 10 minutes notice when a lady said she's coming over for us to sign paperwork. I didn't panic...5 minutes tops...picked up house. Keep your amazing videos coming...thank you.
We are a family of five and do a ten minute tidy as a family, and it helps the house and my sanity so much! My husband usually tackles the dishes while the kids and I tackle an area of the house-sometimes it's bedrooms, sometimes it's living spaces, sometimes it's the car, really whatever I decide needs some attention. When we first started doing it, we blasted music and made it a ton of fun. Now that the kids are used to it though and know it's not hard and doesn't take long, they participate pretty easily without needing it to seem special and fun.
I taught elementary school for 25 years. You are doing an amazing job with your kids that will prepare them with great life skills. You're building their confidence and so many other life skills! Bravo!
Seeing Meggie standing on the counter putting away dishes for some reason was such an inspirational moment for me, just seeing that it’s ok for us to do things in unconventional ways to let the kids help!
Love the 5 minute pickup. We used a 10 things strategy with our 4 kids. For example, everyone picks up and puts away 10 things 2 times, or 3 times. 10 things doesn't seem like much, and can often be done in less than a minute, so the task is less daunting. And you have the multiplier effect as a bonus. 10 things 2 times x 5 people, and whoo hoo, 100 things just got put away 😁
You’re such an amazing mom! I love that you let your kids keep trying and practicing different tasks, knowing they will get better. That’s how they learn. ❤️
I also like how you let your kids do things imperfectly until they are proficient. We figured out very early on that if our dad told us to do something and we did it wrong or waited long enough not doing it, he would jump in and just do it himself -because we wouldn't do it right. Not exactly the best teaching technique. But as we grew older he did instill in us a really strong work ethic. All six of us kids are VERY hard workers. I loved this video. Thanks for sharing.
I get up every morning on work days 10-15 minutes BEFORE I really have to so that I have those few minutes to pick up or work on household things. I know that when I get home from work, cook dinner and clean up the kitchen, I will not feel like messing with laundry or running the vacuum cleaner. That has been the best hack for me. Getting the kids involved is also great- my 8 year old has at least one chore per day that he helps with. He has always been a great helper, like your son.
5 minutes is SO key! Sometimes that's all you have so you don't bother but you forget that you can actually do a lot in that time! PS I love when you ask your kids for their thoughts! Thanks for another great video, gonna watch now!😊
Yay! A modern mom that actually expects her children to help out with housework. I get frustrated when I hear/read women with kids complaining that no one helps with housework.
It's so great to have kids cleaning as a team. Who would think that cleaning a bathroom is an important skill? When my kids got their first jobs, both of them at different jobs, got complimented on how well they could clean a bathroom without supervision. Both were in food service establishments, and we all know how valuable a clean bathroom is there.
I do a similar “group attack” with my kids too. One thing that they really love (even the teen) is a check list. I make little check boxes with tasks on notepaper for each kid and they take their list and a pen and mark things off as they go. Gives them tangible satisfaction to check things off. They also have their daily chore list but the extra checklist really helps when we have extra things to do. I have to manage less in the moment because they have their own lists to follow.
Good job Mom! You’re teaching life skills and it’s awesome that you’re allowing them to not be perfect, that will come. Love the 5 minute deal! I’m a firm believer in breaking projects up into smaller, less daunting tasks.
I definitely use the 5 min pick up for myself. I totally agree it helps with the mood and peace of the home. I wish I had your personality of allowing my kids to help more. They pick up their toys but that’s about it. Your attitude about it makes so much sense, I’m going to try to start including them more. I know it will be good for them in the long run and me too.
Love this video! I am the full time caregiver for my granddaughters (3 yo & 5 yo) so this was great to see… I actually have them “help” with A LOT more stuff than I did their mommy. I WAS a worn out momma many years ago, but I’m doing it differently this time around and it’s nice not being so uptight about every little thing being perfect and the girls are thrilled to help and soak up the praise for being so helpful ☺️ I will do a once over to tighten everything up after they go to bed BUT it usually doesn’t even take 10 minutes 👍🏼 Also, I just ordered a set of swatches from ALLFORM! 🤗
I just love you guys! This video was not just motivational it also had me laughing at yours and Tom's relationship ~ it's so real and that's refreshing!!!
As always this old lady is relearning what I used to do. We have our grandes living with us and I've gone back to New parent mode again. Thanks for your reinforcement of the skills we need for full house mode. God's blessings on your family and ministry because this is what you are doing. BTW it's been 6 months waiting on new sofa. LazBoy.
I just realized that I can use one (or two) of The Minimal Mom videos while I work, and I can get done so much more in that time! My mind isn’t distracted by judgement or thoughts about the work. Thanks!
Hi Dawn and Tom - Great video. I never had kids, but I'm an old soldier (20 years US Army) and if I Had them they would be little soldiers helping to clean the house also. Good cleaning habits are priceless. I only did the dishes as a kid (and my room), because back them "Mom's did it all." When I joined the Army, my bunkmate had to show me how to iron (I was a spoiled kid). So keep up the great work. Love the new couch. Have a great week and keep on inspiring me. Love PegEgg
Oh my goodness Tom! You were definitely feeling your oats in this episode, LOL! The sofa looks so comfortable! We just got a couple new sofas, but I will keep these on my list for the future. I showed my children that your kids had to help do chores also and they were not the only ones in America that had to help out around the house😂 life skills, right? Have a blessed weekend!
Haha! My kids were the only ones among their friends that had to do chores, but they knew how to do laundry when they went to college, and cook. Skills are important, plus knowing how to work!
@@cynthiafisher9907 keep giving the valuable members of your family purpose at home. Teachers at school will be thrilled with their helpful attitude. Subs like me LOVE kids who are flexible and helpful. ALL DAY LONG 😊😊😊
Everyone who lives in the house should help to look after the house. I taught both my kids how to clean everything, and made them practise. Now they have their own homes, and keep them beautifully.
Can I just say that I really appreciate how you and Tom handle the sponsorship sections of your videos. It never sounds forced, you do a great job of explaining everything and it seems like a genuine review. I currently don't have a couch in my apartment and watching this video made me want to look into AllForm!
*“We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties.” - Anna C. Brackett*
Love it all. Wish we all had 4 people willing to clean for 5 minutes! (which equals 20 minutes of cleaning...) And you are right, psychologically it's easy to gear up for 5 minutes of anything! Thanks for all the tips.
Hi Dawn, just wanted to thank you for changing my look on clothes... Last week I put everything away that doesn't fit right now, and went and bought some very comfy clothes that fit very nicely. Even thought about a black wardrobe, but I like color too much so I settled for autumn colors because they make me happy. Thanks again, this is the first time ever that I actually like to get dressed in the mornings! With love from Holland, Mary-Ann 😘
The throw pillows discussion reminded me of one of the later Anne of Green Gables books, when she is at college. The ladies she is boarding with have fancy embroidered pillows all over the house that cannot be sat upon. However, someone hides a cake behind one of the cushions and then it gets sat upon and the narrative is so well told, it's hilarious! Great books!
Thank you for your honesty about the kids’ attitudes toward the cleaning! There is hope for us yet! Also, your videos and encouragement toward family minimalism have completely changed our home and life! Thank you!
Yes to the pillows absolutely!!!!🤣 You are such a great Mommy Dawn! I love the patience and learning you encourage! I know that this would have helped me as a child. I have had success writing down and laminating step by step instructions for cleaning areas when my kids were very young and put them in the bin with the cleaning supplies we used for that area. I always feel like the kids need to be trained just like at a job the first couple of times as well. Then they grow and become amazing and capable!!! I love this sweet approach to life Dawn! Thank you for breaking it all down into a manageable and applicable approach!!❤️
We do 10 minute "quick clean" sessions a few times most days, and it is amazing! We have four little ones as well between ages 5-11, and we make it a family race to see if we can beat the timer! So fun!
I love the playful banter 🤍 Dawn, thank you for your heart. I’ve transformed my home (which moved from CA to MT this year) to a peaceful place for my family - you get me! Thankful 🤍
Thank you so much for helping us mom's learn how to instill confidence in our day to day life! I have so much confidence when my neighbors ring the bell, I'm like "come on in!" Vs stepping out on the porch and closing the door behind me! And this is with 3 kids under 4 years old! Thank you so much!!! I now have an AWESOME routine and spend way more time teaching and playing with the kids which is SO important. Thank you thank you thank you!
Lord willing and the creek don't rise. We always laughed when our grandmother from the Midwest said that. Only she would say " crick" instead of creek. Now, 70 years later, I say that and my grandkids laugh. Your family is ray of fresh Autumn sunshine! Yep!
I love that you are letting your kids learn life skills. Chores are life skills. Honestly I can't tell you how many people my age (early 40's) don't know how to do basic cleaning tasks...so it gets overwhelming and gets to the point of gross. Not judging -but I think for some of these folks they just never learned the basic life skills. I never have had cleanliness issues...but pre simplified life I had enough clutter to make my house feel dirty so I believe in all of your tips. I think the 5 min timer trick may have to try with the husband. 😆
I adore you and Tom's loving banter . You are doing a great job! I am super proud of you and all your efforts and passing all the tips along to others. Thank you.
I've done lots of versions of group cleaning. When my kids were younger it was almost a game to them. We'd do 100 thing clean where we all added up the amount of stuff we put away. Then we were done cleaning. Now we do basically 5 or 10 min cleans in areas of the house that I feel are needed. The older kids are more willing to do it because they know there is a definite end time. And they are done then. I'll finish up what's left. (Unless they are willing to help more. That's a welcome.) Reducing inventory over the years has helped. Always a work in progress.
We do the portable DVD player too! Someone gave us an old big box TV and it was so fun watching on a big screen, but the amount of movies the kids watched went way up . . . So we are contentedly back to the little one. I'm so glad to know we are not the only ones.
Truer words were never spoken..."We build it up to be this big thing". Yeeeesss, we sure do. Going to go tackle things that I've been building up in my mind. Thank you! 💖
My youngest is motivated by music. I put on his favorite song and have him work on a task until it’s over. That’s worked best for us without any fuss or fight!
I love your suggestion and the ones people have posted. I agree that "5 minutes" is the key...it's the first step. Once people get on task, it's easier to stay on task (even w/ taxes...LOL). We made it a game, and I played fun music as we ran around cleaning as fast as we could. Another trick was to pretend company was coming...start at the front of the house and work through as quickly as possible. It all works! TFS
I have been using the five minute method for a few weeks. It really does help me change gears from whining to actually seeing progress. Then, I usually just go ahead and finish it. Your house looks great. The kids really do get it done!
You guys are just so funny 😂😂. The 5 min pick up is so important. So I'm trying to go from hoarder to minimal-esque. It's not easy. Yesterday I filled my son's Tahoe up and took a load to Goodwill so yay me, but I still have so much stuff. I keep watching you and Dana, and I will get there.
Lol I Love that you say “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise”. I picked it up from my Mom, she was from Nebraska so it must be a Midwest “thing”! The 5 minute method is great and I used it with my kids when they were growing up. Have a great weekend!
Fantastic video. Perfect way to teach the kids to help and learn how to keep a clean home. Teaching them everyone in the family should pitch in. Cheers to your family.
I'm so proud of you for involving your kids - my folks did that for us and now two of my brothers actually own their own businesses. I believe it can really instill confidence. By the way, I wholeheartedly agree that a calm and clean space helps you feel less mental fatigue. I actually have to clear my desk of any unneeded projects (or those not current) before I can really dive in and focus on the work at hand. So YEP! You're onto something good...five minutes will do a LOT to clear a space. No doubt about it. Take care!
Thank you Allform for sponsoring! Visit allform.com/lp/minimalmom/ for 20% off any sofa of your choice. And thank YOU for watching and we hope you have a great weekend!! - Dawn & Tom
Just gotta say I was watching someone else's video that was sponsored by Allform and thought you guys needed to partner with them because of your love for your Helix. Happy for you guys! Love your videos.
I don’t mind binge watching Netflix series anymore with my husband because between every episode, we take seven minutes and tidy up the house. 🏡. It’s amazing what we get done on weeknights. 🤩
My friend has one. It is quite comfortable
Shoot. It doesn't look like they ship to Canada.
@@marystahl
Nice work! 👍🏼. I need to do this too.
When a TV commercial would come on at the end of a show, my Mom would yell “ Ready, Set, GO!” And we would all, including her, tear around the house cleaning as fast as we could and jump back into our seats just in time for the next show. And we thought it was fun! As an empty-nester, I still motivate myself this way during UA-cam ads. And it’s still fun!
I love this idea!!!
Great idea!
We would do that too! It was fun. My mom would also randomly yell, "clean whatever room your in!" And we had to do that for 5-10 min...we started catching on though, she would wait untill the older kids were in the certain rooms to make sure it was done right!
That is such a great idea!
Go Mom! A master manipulator! Making work fun!!! Woo hoo!
I used to tell my sister to do favors for me to go get something in my room upstairs… and if I said, I’ll time you! She would get excited.. then when she came back down she would say “ how long?” I would make up a number.. “25” ( as in counting from 1-25) it always worked.. !!
Even Now with our own families, my sis is the one who always wants to play games and she can never get players. So our holidays always involve game time!! Hahaha
I like how you let your kids do things imperfectly until they become proficient. A true confidence building method!!
I agree I admire that that I didn't become more that way till I got older I probably was pretty critical when my kids were young. But that's how I grew up everything had to be perfect
@@grandmasewhappyhomestead187 ughh me too
Absolutely!!!! …and spending a few minutes training them regularly adds up exponentially!
Dr. Dobson says something to the effect of - working with your children is play to them. 😉
My wife did something similar when our son was little. Now he is 23 and is surprised at how many of his compatriots do NOT know how to do basic household chores. Go Dawn !
You kids are so lucky! I was never made to do anything around the house. So now I'm lost. I now wish my mom and sisters would have thought me what to do. Even if your kids complain now, they will be grateful when they are older!
My son is 15 and when he was 12 he was seriously concerned for his classmates because they couldn’t do anything around the house while my son knew how to do pretty much everything. Since then we’ve added cooking to his weekly chores as well. As a parent I want my children to succeed in life and have every tool they need to do that. I wasn’t taught how to clean either but I’ve learned a lot from youtube actually.
I didn't either as my mom and dad were perfectionists however I know how to keep house. I just wouldn't eat off the floor. Lol
I'm the same. It's taken me 45+ years to train myself (with the help of books, emails, UA-cam, etc.)
Amen! And boy did I complain...lol but am 100% glad I was taught.
I had the opposite problem.... My mom and stepdad were militant about chores - as in, if they weren't done right, you did it again, and it was made harder for you to do (smaller brush, hands and knees, etc). As a result, I am pretty lax about chores, but I insist that if you live here, you help, and once a week we do the whole house together. It takes an hour tops. My teenager is always grumbling that her friends don't do chores, and I believe her because I've met them.
Dawn, a tip we learned while homeschooling last year: still pack lunches every day and have kids “picnic” outside or at the table. Sometimes we even went to a nearby park. It keeps everything contained during the day so kids, and you, can focus on school.
I am so much happier being a minimalist. I do five minute cleaning when someone is coming over. My friend’s husband asked “don’t you miss your stuff?” I said I don’t even remember what I got rid of.
Me neither! I’ve probably decluttered 80% of our stuff and I honestly can’t remember what’s gone. Never missed a single thing.
I, too, am grateful that your family is learning to pitch in. I watch a lot of cleaning videos for motivation (because it's hard) and, so often, see one lady tackling a mountain of laundry, cooking, cleaning, dusting, and decorating ALL BY HERSELF. Where are the others who live in this beautiful home? Thanks for showing that if the entire family benefits, then the entire family can help, too. You ALL do good work.
It is so important to teach your kids these practical life skills-!! My 17 month old wipes her table, throws garbage away and can help tidy her toys. She even helps with cooking! We do montessori at home and have learned so much about how capable children are! We got her a small broom and is working on sweeping, hehe it is so cute.
It's so worth it. The effort when they are young pays off quickly!
1st read this as 17 year old... lol
I love watching kids helping cleanups. If they can get their toys and play with them, they can put them back after. Kids are observant, they learn from adults. So if we keep up with cleaning, they will too. They may not do it regularly, but they understand the expectation.
Flav City with Bobby Parish YT has videos when his daughter was 2 cleaning/making snacks with everything mini including her own working sink. It’s amazing/cute to watch her. I do get nervous when she cuts up a cucumber though. Those little fingers!
Wow, 6 people (hopefully 7 soon) in a 1500 sq ft house, and it's still so neat and airy-looking. I think that is the best argument for minimalism I've heard yet!
Thank you for encouraging parents to get their kids helping with chores and letting it be imperfect! 👏🏻 My son was doing his own laundry at 3 years old. He put away his toys and at 1 year old. I know people who never let their kids do their laundry. They also cleaned their kids room!🤦♀️ My son is now 25 and has lived on his own for several years. He’s very organized and a true minimalist. Friends whose parents cleaned up after them live with piles everywhere…you’re not doing kids any favors treating them as if they’re helpless.
Confession of Regret:
I stopped making my kids do stuff around the house when my oldest starting having severe school issues (anxiety, depression, absences, etc). At the same time, my husband was out of work, our finances were a mess, we had to go on aid programs. I was a total mess, my health suffered, daily life was a battle to survive. Now, things are better. Tons of therapy helped. My two boys (18 & 22) live at home while doing community college. I have lots of “should’ves & could’ves” about preparing them for life on their own, esp cleaning. I try to find teachable moments, but it’s not the same.
So for parents who are putting off showing your kids stuff, I highly encourage you to take this 5-minute approach. Make it fun. Expect the grumbling.
I’m so very thankful my mom made all of us clean. I just wish I could cook though! 🤷🏻♀️
Blessings to all the moms, dads, and children doing their best! ❤️🙏
Thanks for the wisdom ❤️
But your boys are now at an age where they could learn to cook without you worrying about knives. You could make it a family project where you all learn to cook a dish together. Ask the boys to find something on TikTok (or wherever) that they fancy eating and then all learn to do it together. If they've chosen the recipe, they might be keener on the project because they know they get to eat it at the end. In the beginning it might be all pancakes and muffins, but even with that they will be learning certain skills so that real dishes for a meal will be easier. Then after a while you could move on by suggesting they learn to make whatever their favourite take out dish is!
Try not to focus on the regrets. I went thru something similar, and though we may not get to teach our kids all the lessons we'd expected, they've likely learned some valuable lessons from these experiences, like maybe compassion and persistence.
@@llkg9 Yes, regret is counter-productive. Now I try to squeeze in 5-minute talks about navigating their 20’s and normalize the search for identity, education, career decisions, relationships, etc. I didn’t have that kind of coaching support in my 20’s which led to some decisions that weren’t so good. I want them to know and to feel that I’m always in their corner, loving them unconditionally. That is something I did get from my mom. ❤️❤️❤️
I have two grandsons (cousins) same age. One I raised, the other raised by his mother (my daughter). The first one, from the time he was very little, was able to put his toys away, and as he grew, he would do whatever tasks needed. I used the timer in two ways, 5 minutes to finish what ever he was playing with or doing, then the 5 minutes for the chore. His life skills grew as he got older, he cooks, clean ups, does his own laundry, etc. Now the second grandson, raised by his mother, who still feels she can get things done faster by herself, never gave any responsibility to either of her two children. They have almost no life skills, these two boys just had their 24th birthday. My daughter works full time and comes home to a house that needs another full time shift to get it in order.
I think the best thing you can do is teach kids from a young age to help with the household chores. It is so satisfying to watch your videos and see your kids all pitching in.
Now the new couch, I love it, I love the color and the fabric, but…. Can you get one more seat piece? It’s nice that you can all sit on it now, but those kids will not stay small forever.
I used to tune out your laundry suggestions. Every day?! What are you trying to do to us?! I like my way - it’s so efficient to do laundry for all 6 at once. 🤪 This week, I tried your “load a day” method and I hate to say it, but you’re right. Even if I’m folding 6 people’s laundry every time, it feels SO MUCH LESS INTIMIDATING! I’m totally hooked. ❤️ Thanks for sharing your life with us!
It is a a tough switch, I don’t have a load a day but I loving a smaller pile to fold. Folding is my nemesis. 🙄
Doing 6 full loads of laundry a week does not use less water or energy if you do them all the same day or not. The same amount of water and electricity is used, regardless of whether it's over 6 days or all on one day. Droughts are very rare in the Midwest where this family lives. The Great Lakes provide an excellent quality of tap water. Water is a renewable resource. They are not being selfish or wasteful.
@@BroccoliFiles you didn't think that through. Like Linden explained, the amount of laundry doesn't get less if you only wash it once a week. If you could do something like that, you'd be a magician. If you have 200 items of laundry and wash them all on Sunday or every day 50 of them, that doesn't change the amount of laundry or water you need. You're still gonna need 4 loads of laundry.
I’m finding that language makes a difference to me when it comes to housework. Your concept of “inventory” has been a game changer for me. Another word that has helped is “reset.” Instead of approaching the kitchen or bathrooms with the idea of “cleaning,” I think “Reset!” which is more like a quick get-it-back-to-normal instead of a chore. “Reset” also has helped me see that if I take 30 seconds to reset right away, I don’t even have to do a 5-minute clean later.
Yesyesyes I love using language to improve my mental state. Agree that the words inventory, reset and I’ll add routine have helped me keep perspective (avoiding overwhelm)
@@agility9273 Yes, definitely routine. Someone on another UA-cam channel phrased it as something like, “it’s just something we do!” You don’t have to convince yourself to do it anymore; it’s just a habit. (Wash the sheets on Saturday, the towels on Sunday…. Empty the dishwasher while the espresso brews…. Polish the sink to close up the kitchen for the night…. etc.)
“Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” Made me smile. 🤩I grew up hearing my mom and grandmother say it. They actually have a creek on their farm they have to cross to go to town. It floods its banks in the Spring so as a child I thought that saying specifically applied to them. I didn’t realize that other people said it too. Now when I say it, people just give me a confused look. 😂
I also grew up by a creek and I thought the same thing ! It would flood every spring into our yard up to the house.
I love this so much!!!!
Outta my price range for sure!
I loved this quote from Dawn too, but because I've never heard it before!
I went out of town a couple months ago and when I got back the house was tidy and clean. My husbands said it was so easy to keep it tidy. I can't tell you how nice it felt to hear him say that. I'm just so grateful for having found your channel. You've transformed how we live, seriously! Love you Dawn! and Tom!
This is what we do: Most worshipssongs are about 5 min. long. We chose a song with a nice fast beat - turn it on...very loud. We sing and dance along with the music and get as much done within that song as we possibly can. A recipe for fun, laughter, sweet familytime, godly refreschment and a clean home! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me Dawn! Love from Germany!
Can I just say I LOVE YOUR HELPFUL NON- JUDGMENTAL SWEET SPIRIT!!! I love how you allow your children to help even though it’s not perfect.🥰
When we had teenage daughters we would do a 15 minute power clean with The Beach Boys cranked way up. Made everyone happy and they were always thrilled that in 15 minutes and we had the whole house done!
Music is great! One of our best days tidying with my daughter was picking up her room with Modest Mouse and The Black Keys cranked up. We both loved it.
Tarzan with my kids, more of a "Oh no, Mom's in a cleaning mood" LOL
My toddler broke our TV and something amazing happened!! They play all day!!! I’m with you Dawn, it is better!!
I have employed lots of young people in my 30 plus year career. I am stunned at how many teenagers cannot sweep, mop, or wipe off a table! Great job training young adults, Dawn and Tom.
My adopted daughter (She’s the daughter of my heart) was in a Children’s Home during her teenage years. She used to tell me whenever she would get out of sorts during that time her house mother would take my daughter to her room and have her clean her space, including her dresser drawers. It’s amazing how a neat and clean space can calm our souls.
So wise. It has brought me to tears. 💖
I love it when a family works together like this, it’s like magic 🪄
When I was raising my kids, I created a "10 Minute Tidy", which was REALLY great!! 10 minutes isn't an overwhelming amount of time, but is long enough to make a difference. I also let the kids choose which chore they'd prefer, and believe it or not, they never picked the same one. It worked like a charm.
Love that! Going to steal that :)
Taking the time to TRAIN each child for the jobs involved in each room is so valuable to both the kids and to the parents! KNOWING exactly what is expected and how to accomplish it does build a ton of confidence!
You are incredibly wise in allowing your children to contribute to household chores! Great job kids!
I always gravitate to your channel as the months get colder and the days are darker. So much brightness and happiness in each video really motivates and keeps me positive!
This takes me back 25 years to when our kids were at home. I love that you are teaching your kids like skills!!! You and Tom are a hoot together, so fun! I just love everything about this video!!! 💕
Dawn, you are so right!
Less inventory!
I love looking into each room of my home.
I had 10 minutes notice when a lady said she's coming over for us to sign paperwork. I didn't panic...5 minutes tops...picked up house.
Keep your amazing videos coming...thank you.
You guys bring joy and laughter in the ways you talk to each other. Some much fun! Makes me smile. Thank you! ❤
Every time I have a big house/organization project, I put on your videos while I work. It’s so calming and motivational at the same time!
Powering through a quick clean like that is something that can make your home look awesome in no time. Great stuff!
We are a family of five and do a ten minute tidy as a family, and it helps the house and my sanity so much! My husband usually tackles the dishes while the kids and I tackle an area of the house-sometimes it's bedrooms, sometimes it's living spaces, sometimes it's the car, really whatever I decide needs some attention. When we first started doing it, we blasted music and made it a ton of fun. Now that the kids are used to it though and know it's not hard and doesn't take long, they participate pretty easily without needing it to seem special and fun.
I taught elementary school for 25 years. You are doing an amazing job with your kids that will prepare them with great life skills. You're building their confidence and so many other life skills! Bravo!
The lessons you are teaching your kids are priceless.
Seeing Meggie standing on the counter putting away dishes for some reason was such an inspirational moment for me, just seeing that it’s ok for us to do things in unconventional ways to let the kids help!
Love the 5 minute pickup. We used a 10 things strategy with our 4 kids. For example, everyone picks up and puts away 10 things 2 times, or 3 times. 10 things doesn't seem like much, and can often be done in less than a minute, so the task is less daunting. And you have the multiplier effect as a bonus. 10 things 2 times x 5 people, and whoo hoo, 100 things just got put away 😁
OH, how I love to watch the two of you together. I sat here smiling all the way thru. You are such a great couple raising a wonderful family.
You’re such an amazing mom! I love that you let your kids keep trying and practicing different tasks, knowing they will get better. That’s how they learn. ❤️
I also like how you let your kids do things imperfectly until they are proficient. We figured out very early on that if our dad told us to do something and we did it wrong or waited long enough not doing it, he would jump in and just do it himself -because we wouldn't do it right. Not exactly the best teaching technique. But as we grew older he did instill in us a really strong work ethic. All six of us kids are VERY hard workers. I loved this video. Thanks for sharing.
I get up every morning on work days 10-15 minutes BEFORE I really have to so that I have those few minutes to pick up or work on household things. I know that when I get home from work, cook dinner and clean up the kitchen, I will not feel like messing with laundry or running the vacuum cleaner. That has been the best hack for me. Getting the kids involved is also great- my 8 year old has at least one chore per day that he helps with. He has always been a great helper, like your son.
5 minutes is SO key! Sometimes that's all you have so you don't bother but you forget that you can actually do a lot in that time! PS I love when you ask your kids for their thoughts! Thanks for another great video, gonna watch now!😊
Yay! A modern mom that actually expects her children to help out with housework. I get frustrated when I hear/read women with kids complaining that no one helps with housework.
The kids learning to help with household chores will teach them how to be a responsible adult. TFS
It's so great to have kids cleaning as a team. Who would think that cleaning a bathroom is an important skill? When my kids got their first jobs, both of them at different jobs, got complimented on how well they could clean a bathroom without supervision. Both were in food service establishments, and we all know how valuable a clean bathroom is there.
I raised my 4 children (Now grown) working together to clean and tidy. All learned to do laundry, iron sew and cook etc. Nicely done!!
You are an awesome mom teaching your kids skills that will make their adult life easy
I do a similar “group attack” with my kids too. One thing that they really love (even the teen) is a check list. I make little check boxes with tasks on notepaper for each kid and they take their list and a pen and mark things off as they go. Gives them tangible satisfaction to check things off. They also have their daily chore list but the extra checklist really helps when we have extra things to do. I have to manage less in the moment because they have their own lists to follow.
yes, we had a master list and on the left the name of the person doing that job and then they checked it off. Simple.
Please tell Adeline that it's awesome that she can make an entire meal. My 21 year old is still learning..... Reluctantly.
Good job Mom! You’re teaching life skills and it’s awesome that you’re allowing them to not be perfect, that will come. Love the 5 minute deal! I’m a firm believer in breaking projects up into smaller, less daunting tasks.
I definitely use the 5 min pick up for myself. I totally agree it helps with the mood and peace of the home. I wish I had your personality of allowing my kids to help more. They pick up their toys but that’s about it. Your attitude about it makes so much sense, I’m going to try to start including them more. I know it will be good for them in the long run and me too.
I still find your bedroom so peaceful-looking and relaxing. Great video - 5 mins is so much more motivational than longer for younger kiddos. 😊
Love this video! I am the full time caregiver for my granddaughters (3 yo & 5 yo) so this was great to see… I actually have them “help” with A LOT more stuff than I did their mommy. I WAS a worn out momma many years ago, but I’m doing it differently this time around and it’s nice not being so uptight about every little thing being perfect and the girls are thrilled to help and soak up the praise for being so helpful ☺️ I will do a once over to tighten everything up after they go to bed BUT it usually doesn’t even take 10 minutes 👍🏼
Also, I just ordered a set of swatches from ALLFORM! 🤗
I just love you guys! This video was not just motivational it also had me laughing at yours and Tom's relationship ~ it's so real and that's refreshing!!!
As always this old lady is relearning what I used to do. We have our grandes living with us and I've gone back to New parent mode again. Thanks for your reinforcement of the skills we need for full house mode. God's blessings on your family and ministry because this is what you are doing. BTW it's been 6 months waiting on new sofa. LazBoy.
I've been waiting 9 months so far for our new loveseat and recliner. Patience is a virtue!
God Bless you too! My thoughts are with you. I babysit my grandbabies and it’s tiring! It’s like starting all over again🙏❤️😅
I just realized that I can use one (or two) of The Minimal Mom videos while I work, and I can get done so much more in that time! My mind isn’t distracted by judgement or thoughts about the work. Thanks!
Hi Dawn and Tom - Great video. I never had kids, but I'm an old soldier (20 years US Army) and if I Had them they would be little soldiers helping to clean the house also. Good cleaning habits are priceless. I only did the dishes as a kid (and my room), because back them "Mom's did it all." When I joined the Army, my bunkmate had to show me how to iron (I was a spoiled kid). So keep up the great work. Love the new couch. Have a great week and keep on inspiring me. Love PegEgg
I love that you have taught the boys to clean as well. I grew up in a household were only women clean and seeing this gives me hope.
I agree. When we are not feeling good, we immediately pause and pick up around the house and it makes a complete difference!
Oh my goodness Tom! You were definitely feeling your oats in this episode, LOL! The sofa looks so comfortable! We just got a couple new sofas, but I will keep these on my list for the future. I showed my children that your kids had to help do chores also and they were not the only ones in America that had to help out around the house😂 life skills, right? Have a blessed weekend!
Haha! My kids were the only ones among their friends that had to do chores, but they knew how to do laundry when they went to college, and cook. Skills are important, plus knowing how to work!
Lol, love this! It is hard when they see and hear that their friends don’t have to help!
@@cynthiafisher9907 keep giving the valuable members of your family purpose at home. Teachers at school will be thrilled with their helpful attitude. Subs like me LOVE kids who are flexible and helpful. ALL DAY LONG 😊😊😊
Everyone who lives in the house should help to look after the house. I taught both my kids how to clean everything, and made them practise. Now they have their own homes, and keep them beautifully.
Can I just say that I really appreciate how you and Tom handle the sponsorship sections of your videos. It never sounds forced, you do a great job of explaining everything and it seems like a genuine review. I currently don't have a couch in my apartment and watching this video made me want to look into AllForm!
*“We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties.” - Anna C. Brackett*
I really like what you said about 5 people putting in 5 min equals 25 min work. I never thought of it that way.
Lightbulb moment! Mom being the manager to support the team!
I Love to hear
"Lord will'in and the creeks don't rise"
My Dad loved saying that.
Thanks for the memory.
I loved “it’s only 5 minutes dirty or it’s only 15 minutes dirty” - such a great way to tackle it.
Love it all. Wish we all had 4 people willing to clean for 5 minutes! (which equals 20 minutes of cleaning...) And you are right, psychologically it's easy to gear up for 5 minutes of anything! Thanks for all the tips.
Hi Dawn, just wanted to thank you for changing my look on clothes... Last week I put everything away that doesn't fit right now, and went and bought some very comfy clothes that fit very nicely. Even thought about a black wardrobe, but I like color too much so I settled for autumn colors because they make me happy. Thanks again, this is the first time ever that I actually like to get dressed in the mornings! With love from Holland, Mary-Ann 😘
The throw pillows discussion reminded me of one of the later Anne of Green Gables books, when she is at college. The ladies she is boarding with have fancy embroidered pillows all over the house that cannot be sat upon. However, someone hides a cake behind one of the cushions and then it gets sat upon and the narrative is so well told, it's hilarious! Great books!
Thank you for your honesty about the kids’ attitudes toward the cleaning! There is hope for us yet!
Also, your videos and encouragement toward family minimalism have completely changed our home and life! Thank you!
Yes to the pillows absolutely!!!!🤣
You are such a great Mommy Dawn! I love the patience and learning you encourage! I know that this would have helped me as a child.
I have had success writing down and laminating step by step instructions for cleaning areas when my kids were very young and put them in the bin with the cleaning supplies we used for that area.
I always feel like the kids need to be trained just like at a job the first couple of times as well. Then they grow and become amazing and capable!!!
I love this sweet approach to life Dawn! Thank you for breaking it all down into a manageable and applicable approach!!❤️
We do 10 minute "quick clean" sessions a few times most days, and it is amazing! We have four little ones as well between ages 5-11, and we make it a family race to see if we can beat the timer! So fun!
I love the playful banter 🤍
Dawn, thank you for your heart. I’ve transformed my home (which moved from CA to MT this year) to a peaceful place for my family - you get me! Thankful 🤍
I love seeing you two laugh together
Thank you so much for helping us mom's learn how to instill confidence in our day to day life! I have so much confidence when my neighbors ring the bell, I'm like "come on in!" Vs stepping out on the porch and closing the door behind me! And this is with 3 kids under 4 years old! Thank you so much!!! I now have an AWESOME routine and spend way more time teaching and playing with the kids which is SO important. Thank you thank you thank you!
Lord willing and the creek don't rise. We always laughed when our grandmother from the Midwest said that. Only she would say " crick" instead of creek. Now, 70 years later, I say that and my grandkids laugh.
Your family is ray of fresh Autumn sunshine! Yep!
I love that you are letting your kids learn life skills. Chores are life skills. Honestly I can't tell you how many people my age (early 40's) don't know how to do basic cleaning tasks...so it gets overwhelming and gets to the point of gross. Not judging -but I think for some of these folks they just never learned the basic life skills. I never have had cleanliness issues...but pre simplified life I had enough clutter to make my house feel dirty so I believe in all of your tips. I think the 5 min timer trick may have to try with the husband. 😆
I adore you and Tom's loving banter . You are doing a great job! I am super proud of you and all your efforts and passing all the tips along to others. Thank you.
I have come to love the 5 minute pick up and totally agree the less items makes tidying so much easier! Your new couch is so nice!
3 words - swiffer sweeper vac. Love mine. Use it every day!
I've done lots of versions of group cleaning. When my kids were younger it was almost a game to them. We'd do 100 thing clean where we all added up the amount of stuff we put away. Then we were done cleaning. Now we do basically 5 or 10 min cleans in areas of the house that I feel are needed. The older kids are more willing to do it because they know there is a definite end time. And they are done then. I'll finish up what's left. (Unless they are willing to help more. That's a welcome.) Reducing inventory over the years has helped. Always a work in progress.
We do the portable DVD player too! Someone gave us an old big box TV and it was so fun watching on a big screen, but the amount of movies the kids watched went way up . . . So we are contentedly back to the little one. I'm so glad to know we are not the only ones.
Truer words were never spoken..."We build it up to be this big thing". Yeeeesss, we sure do. Going to go tackle things that I've been building up in my mind. Thank you! 💖
I just love you guy's! You always smile and have a good time with each other. Very inspiring to see happy people.
I love Tom's reaction to the pillows!! Can't get more real than that!
I love how you and Tom interact with each other
My youngest is motivated by music. I put on his favorite song and have him work on a task until it’s over. That’s worked best for us without any fuss or fight!
I love your suggestion and the ones people have posted. I agree that "5 minutes" is the key...it's the first step. Once people get on task, it's easier to stay on task (even w/ taxes...LOL). We made it a game, and I played fun music as we ran around cleaning as fast as we could. Another trick was to pretend company was coming...start at the front of the house and work through as quickly as possible. It all works! TFS
I have been using the five minute method for a few weeks. It really does help me change gears from whining to actually seeing progress. Then, I usually just go ahead and finish it.
Your house looks great. The kids really do get it done!
You guys are just so funny 😂😂. The 5 min pick up is so important. So I'm trying to go from hoarder to minimal-esque. It's not easy. Yesterday I filled my son's Tahoe up and took a load to Goodwill so yay me, but I still have so much stuff. I keep watching you and Dana, and I will get there.
Love watching your kids help in the kitchen.
You guys are such an awesome family! I love how you are teaching and involving your kids, and being a team. Keep up the great work! :)
Lol I Love that you say “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise”. I picked it up from my Mom, she was from Nebraska so it must be a Midwest “thing”! The 5 minute method is great and I used it with my kids when they were growing up. Have a great weekend!
My mom always said that and we’re not Midwestern. I’ve never heard anyone else say it. 🤣
You can tell you do a great job with your kids and the 5 minute tasks are perfect and not too painful for kids to do. Way to let them NOT be perfect.
Setting the timer for 5 to 10 min clean is Awesome!
Fantastic video. Perfect way to teach the kids to help and learn how to keep a clean home. Teaching them everyone in the family should pitch in. Cheers to your family.
I'm so proud of you for involving your kids - my folks did that for us and now two of my brothers actually own their own businesses. I believe it can really instill confidence. By the way, I wholeheartedly agree that a calm and clean space helps you feel less mental fatigue. I actually have to clear my desk of any unneeded projects (or those not current) before I can really dive in and focus on the work at hand. So YEP! You're onto something good...five minutes will do a LOT to clear a space. No doubt about it. Take care!
I turn on upbeat music when I declutter our home. This makes it fun for me. Thank you for your videos.