We had company this past weekend. Before they arrived, I had four jobs that I jotted down on a slip of paper, that needed attention. Each of my three oldest children chose one of the jobs from the list, and then I completed the one that was left.

One of these important chores, was to clean both the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms. To me, this is one of the most basic, most vital rooms to have tidy at all times. Not just when company is coming. A dirty bathroom is awful in general -- and is unsanitary.

Busy with my own preparations, I asked my fourteen year old if she had completed her job. She assured me she had, and went on her way. Unfortunately, I failed to follow-up, as I normally do...

Company arrived safely, and I went into the kitchen to switch on the loaded coffee pot for them. As I passed by the open bathroom, I saw that the garbage hadn't been emptied. I wondered what else hadn't been done, and snuck inside to take a peek.

The toilet was frightening, the sink was dirty and the mirror was still splattered. The shower could not possibly have been touched, and the floors were a dirty mess.

In our house, the bathrooms need to be tidied and cleaned daily. We're home full-time, and have small children. The room had been done the day before... but it didn't look like it had been touched for months.

I discreetly called Rose in to tell her what still needed doing in the bathroom, downstairs. I figured the one upstairs could wait, as our visitors would more likely use the one on the first floor, if needed. I repeated exactly what needed doing before leaving her to go back to my visitors.

Shortly afterward, one of them needed the restroom.

Then, the 1 year old needed a diaper change.

When I went in with baby Stephen, I was mortified at what my company must surely have seen. The inside of the toilet bowl was indeed scrubbed clean... but the seat, the back of the seat and underside of the seat was filthy. The area around the toilet was equally wretched. The sink? No change. And the floors? -- Had they been tended at all? I highly doubted it.

There mocking me in the recently-emptied trash can... an empty all-purpose cleaner container.

So, after the cloth diaper was tossed into the pail, and my little one was free, I quickly took a rag and cleaned the bathroom a bit. When I left the room, I felt better!

I know I do not feel comfortable using a dirty bathroom. Are others any different?

I decided that this was a lesson to me, and thought I would pass on what I've learned.

1. It is vital to do the job together with your child at least twice before putting them alone to work in that particular chore.
2. One must post a list of specific tasks for each chore and hang it. This allows the child responsible for the job, to double-check his work. "Have I really finished this task?"
3. Check the child's work immediately after they tell you they're through no matter how busy you might be at the time!
4. Don't allow the child to "go free" until everything is done as specified/expected. Call them back, if needed. Do not do it yourself!

You would think after nearly seventeen years I would have mastered some of these basic things, as a mother.

I want my children to learn several things from working with and for our family: Work will not hurt them and is Biblical, they are personally valuable and necessary for the functioning of the family as a whole, and of course -- How to conduct their own homes, someday.

Bathrooms, clean or not, are really not the issue. My visitor didn't perish from using our dirty bathroom. But it is very possible he felt uncomfortable, and that is not what I desire in my hospitality.

As homemakers, we feel good knowing that visitors can come, spend time with us, and relax in a comfortable, tidy home. I want to pass that desire on to my children and help them see the importance of serving our company, even in the mundane tasks of preparing.

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Shared by Keeblur

Thank you for the tips. I'm going to start making my lists and getting them posted.
Vicki

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Shared by gokings13

I have good news!! As a child, I did a lot of "1/2 jobs" in the cleaning area. But as an adult, I am not a slob!!
I agree, when you give children a task that you should work with them, and follow up on them. This saves a lot of head aches!!
Laura

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Shared by HandsNHearts

Amen.
This is where I find my biggest struggles...that consistency in checking duties :o( It makes a world of difference if I check on a regular basis...but when I slack off on checking things *each* time, it shows.
Deanna

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Shared by Elizabeth

Good reminder. Don't get discourage. I have the same problems with all my kids- age 17 down to 8. It's me- they do exactly what I've trained them to do. Problem is, I don't know how to change that without following them around 24 hours a day. That would be fine, if I only had 1 child!!

Elizabeth
http://lifesjourneywith5.blogspot.com

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Shared by Jeannie

WOW again I am amazed at your wonderful tips and suggestions stemming from your own experiances, this is an area I am trying to figure out with my own two children. THANK YOU for the words that I could not express.... I am going to print this out as a reminder to my family why it is the way it is that I believe when it comes to the home keeping of things.

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