http://www.scarymommy.com/a-letter-to-my-family/
Charity is a mommy to a houseful of five adorable kiddos. Her days are as crazy, busy and fun as you’d expect. She currently feels as though she’s drowning in the toddler phase and uses her blog, Surviving A Two Year Old, to keep her sane.
Dear Family:
I did not get married and have kids to spend my day cleaning and picking up after people. Other then The Baby, EVERYONE else in this house is old enough to take on some degree of responsibility when it comes to picking up after themselves and pitching in on family responsibilities. I am completely overwhelmed and disgusted with the state of this house. Every room is dirty and messy. The laundry is out of control- I am one person and am expected to keep up with clean clothes, towels and bedding for 7 people. I have to fight to even get everyone to bring their clothes to the bathroom. It is ridiculous that the towels are not used more then once; we NEVER have clean towels in the bathroom, despite the fact that I do them every other day. The dirty dishes have been like an assembly line, there’s a constant backup at the dishwasher and I cannot remember what the bottom of my sink looks like. You have no problem making yourselves breakfast, lunch, snacks and then leaving all the mess out for me to clean. No one ever bothers to put their dishes in the dishwasher unless I specifically remind them. The entry way is never picked up- put your coats and shoes away! Everything has a specific home where it belongs; I should not have to pick up your stuff every morning, afternoon and evening. The bathroom is repulsive. When you’re done in there, rinse out the sink. If you get pee on the toilet, wipe it off. If you’re a boy, that means you should be wiping the rim EVERY time you pee. Trust me, it splatters.
To My Husband: I know you are working like crazy and so I expected to have to do more around here. However, it irritates me to no end when you do not even bother to pick up your own stuff. You’ve actually had a convention of shaving creams at our bathroom sink because every time you shave you get out a new one, but never put any away. Brush your teeth, comb your hair, do whatever you need to do—and then put it away! Same goes for the kitchen, and your dirty/clean clothes. The doorknobs in our house are not your personal mini-closets, hang up your shirts.
To My Oldest: The state of your room is appalling. We do not live out of U-Haul boxes. If you need shelves or storage space, let us know. You are not 70 years old yet, stop collecting like you are. Take some pride in your personal space and keep it picked up.
To My Daughter: You used to do so well keeping your room picked up, and I know it’s hard because The Baby is sleeping in there, but you never pick up anymore. The dust level is unhealthy.
Little Boys: PICK UP AFTER YOURSELVES!!! Taking things out just for the sake of throwing them around will only get your stuff thrown away. I’m not picking up after you anymore.
I am done setting up chore charts, responsibilities, rewards for work done. Nothing ever sticks or works. It always involves me nagging people to keep up with the current attempt. There are things everyone should be doing on a daily basis with NO reminders. There are things everyone should be responsible for on a regular basis to ease the load on me. Figure it out. Come up with a plan that YOU will make work. Divide out the work. Write it down if need be, but I am NOT coming home until you’ve all figured out a concrete way to make things work better around here.
Call me when you’ve got it figured out then me and the power cords to every electric screen in this house will come home.
Love,
Mom
