Every family goes about household responsibilities differently. As I was growing up, each of the six of us kids had a “dishes night.” We also collaborated occasionally on “Saturday Chores,” which I remember a lot more as being yard work in the summer, rather than indoor duties. Dave remembers being in charge of cleaning his own room, as well as another area of the house that rotated each week. I’ve seen all sorts of chore charts and check lists. But, at this stage in our young family’s life, we needed something a little different-or at least with a different name;)

Since we got hitched, I have headed up the home-maintenance, though Dave is always quick to help with anything he notices needs doing. It helps that we are both naturally tidy people, so the house is generally very straight. What I’ve had trouble with is fitting the deep cleaning into a regular schedule. And, since Milo came along, and Dave has been up to his ears in books, classes and internships, I’ve felt a little like my plate is never cleared of one or another household task. I tried pretending I was a hired “maid brigade”, and decided I would pay myself a little spending cash each week for completing the cleaning…but somehow if an emergency arose during the alloted cleaning time, I knew I wouldn’t fire myself. I also tried to just do things as I noticed they needed doing, but that occasionally meant too long passed between kitchen floor mopping or bath tub scrubbing. I don’t like staring at the garbage for four days, thinking “I should take that out the next time I go,” and then forgetting until I see it again. Same with the disgusting stray hairs that flutter in the corners of the bathroom floor…”I need to wipe this floor,” and then again the next time I see them. 

About three weeks ago Dave and I discussed the issue. This constant nagging I feel to clean. We came up with a plan that has worked beautifully. Every night, one of us is in charge of assuring the counters are wiped, garbage is out, dishwasher is either going or unloaded, and Milo’s high chair is clean. Now, these things are usually done naturally after dinner, but this way, when we wake up, there isn’t an immediate need to do something in the kitchen. On Tuesdays and Fridays I do the laundry, and whatever remains unfolded by the evening Dave and I fold and put away together. Then, on Saturdays the bathrooms and dusting is done my one of us, and the kitchen and vacuuming by the other. This is real cleaning- scrubbing, wiping, moping, shining. It’s amazing that it really take less than 30 minutes, and I don’t spend hours during the week obsessing about when I’m going to get it all done. It’s like a weight off of my shoulders! We agreed that all the typical words carry such a negative connotation, “chore, task, duty, responsibility,” all things you feel totally obligated to do, whether or not you want to. After a little brainstorming we came up with “Special Opps” standing for “Special Opportunities.” It may seem cheesy to you, but we like the reminder that maintaining a neat and clean home is an important piece of having the happy, healthy family that we desire. The small things that we are able to contribute towards this goal each week are indeed special opportunities!