Another Saturday driving to Iowa...
I gotta tell ya, meeting dad halfway to trade kids for visiting grandma four Saturdays in a row really cuts into our local summer activities....
Took the boys last week to meet my dad in Iowa and send them off for their week at the Grandparents.
Last Wednesday noon: Boys, figure out what you want to wear at Grandma's and bring it to me so I can wash it on Thursday. NOT DOING LAUNDRY ON FRIDAY FOR YOU. I want everything packed and ready to go before Friday night at bedtime.
Wednesday afternoon I do a load of male laundry (female laundry gets washed in cool water; male laundry gets warm).
Last Thursday noon: Boys, I want your laundry for the trip today. NOT DOING LAUNDRY ON FRIDAY FOR YOU. I want everything packed and ready to go before Friday night at bedtime.
Thursday afternoon I wash two loads of male laundry - usually do three loads of male laundry a week so figure I'm done.
Thursday night, right before going to bed, second son: Um, mom? I left some laundry on the washer for you.
Friday morning: Do load of bedding that includes stuff on washer.
Friday noon: Boys, I want everything packed and ready to go before we go to bed.
Friday, very late, I'm in bed, eldest son pokes his head in: Mom? I need to do a load of laundry now.
No, he did not get to do his laundry. I wanted to sleep, not listen to the washer or dryer going, thank you very much. Told him to take it dirty.
Clearly, my mistake was in emphasizing "I'm not doing laundry at the last minute" instead of "You must be packed at bedtime." Although eldest son's argument was that he WOULD be packed before he went to bed, he was just going to bed three or four hours later than usual...
Plus he forgot his swimsuit, despite his father reminding him, TWICE, and the second time we were literally in the van, ready to go, and right after his father said, "Swimsuit?" eldest son ran into the house so we assumed he'd gotten it. But, no, apparently he hadn't heard his father, he'd just suddenly remembered something else he wanted.
**sigh**
This week, Friday, noon: Younger daughters, I need your laundry for the trip.
Ten minutes later, a few items on washer. We'll see if they suddenly discover they need more right before bed, but past history suggests not. I normally do the "don't forget, packing on Friday" earlier in the week with the girls as well, but this week I slacked off, so I was a little worried. Although come to think of it, one of the skirts youngest wants to take is really shorter than I'd like, so I need to vet their choices and I may end up doing a second load after all. Still betting the younger girls are going to be packed by the usual bedtime.
Sheryl
Took the boys last week to meet my dad in Iowa and send them off for their week at the Grandparents.
Last Wednesday noon: Boys, figure out what you want to wear at Grandma's and bring it to me so I can wash it on Thursday. NOT DOING LAUNDRY ON FRIDAY FOR YOU. I want everything packed and ready to go before Friday night at bedtime.
Wednesday afternoon I do a load of male laundry (female laundry gets washed in cool water; male laundry gets warm).
Last Thursday noon: Boys, I want your laundry for the trip today. NOT DOING LAUNDRY ON FRIDAY FOR YOU. I want everything packed and ready to go before Friday night at bedtime.
Thursday afternoon I wash two loads of male laundry - usually do three loads of male laundry a week so figure I'm done.
Thursday night, right before going to bed, second son: Um, mom? I left some laundry on the washer for you.
Friday morning: Do load of bedding that includes stuff on washer.
Friday noon: Boys, I want everything packed and ready to go before we go to bed.
Friday, very late, I'm in bed, eldest son pokes his head in: Mom? I need to do a load of laundry now.
No, he did not get to do his laundry. I wanted to sleep, not listen to the washer or dryer going, thank you very much. Told him to take it dirty.
Clearly, my mistake was in emphasizing "I'm not doing laundry at the last minute" instead of "You must be packed at bedtime." Although eldest son's argument was that he WOULD be packed before he went to bed, he was just going to bed three or four hours later than usual...
Plus he forgot his swimsuit, despite his father reminding him, TWICE, and the second time we were literally in the van, ready to go, and right after his father said, "Swimsuit?" eldest son ran into the house so we assumed he'd gotten it. But, no, apparently he hadn't heard his father, he'd just suddenly remembered something else he wanted.
**sigh**
This week, Friday, noon: Younger daughters, I need your laundry for the trip.
Ten minutes later, a few items on washer. We'll see if they suddenly discover they need more right before bed, but past history suggests not. I normally do the "don't forget, packing on Friday" earlier in the week with the girls as well, but this week I slacked off, so I was a little worried. Although come to think of it, one of the skirts youngest wants to take is really shorter than I'd like, so I need to vet their choices and I may end up doing a second load after all. Still betting the younger girls are going to be packed by the usual bedtime.
Sheryl