Truthfully, this is one of those blogs posts I feel silly writing. I imagine you sitting at your computers saying out loud, "Duh, Becky."
But I figured I'd share anyway in case there is someone else out there ending every day facing a mountain of dishes.
Transitioning to homeschool seemed to double the amount of dishes waiting for me at the end of the day because the girls are home eating all three meals, making snacks, etc. Busy with lessons and adventures and crafts, we'd throw the dishes in the sink. Some nights I was so tired, I'd leave them until morning. Isn't it depressing to wake up to a dirty kitchen?
I tried something new this week and it has been a dish washing miracle for me. I start the day by filling the sink with hot soapy water and put the drying rack next to it. The rule for the day is, "You use it, You wash it."
After school, the girls' chore is to put all clean dishes from the drying rack and the dishwasher away before I start dinner. As I cook, I clean each dish immediately and put it in the handy dandy drying rack or rinse it and put it in the empty dishwasher. Then after dinner, they all put their dishes directly into the empty dishwasher, and I turn it on before I go to bed.
Also, they choose a "cup of the day" that is rinsed after each use and left on the counter. One cup a day has cut down on dishes, too. I just tucked in the kids and guess what? I don't have any dishes left to do. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with all of this free time? : )
So far it's working great! 
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6 comments:
Hi Becky! Thanks for your comment. :o) Here is the recipe for the rhubarb bars. They were so good. We had some rhubarb in the freezer left over from our garden and I wanted to make some good use out of it. Best of all, it was so easy! Also, I did make my own beans, and just followed the package directions and added 1-1/2 tsp cumin and 2 tsp. salt at the end...but honestly I like canned black beans better. :O) I think they are less saucy and more firm...but I guess it all depends on how you like your beans! :o) I am always looking for ways to keep things under control here....and I love your ideas for washing the dishes and the 1 cup rule. I will need to implement that! Do you have a chair for the girls to reach the sink? Thanks for the ideas! You can go to www.rhubarbinfo.com/recipe-bar.html to get lots more similar recipes. It's where I found this one.
Oatmeal-Rhubarb Bars
Ingredients:
1 cup All-purpose flour
3/4 cup Oatmeal -- uncooked
1 cup Brown sugar -- packed
1/2 cup Butter, unsalted -- melted
1 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Cornstarch
1 cup Water
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
4 cups Rhubarb
Procedure:
Mix flour, oatmeal, brown sugar and butter until crumbly. Press 1/2 into greased 9" pan. Add rhubard, cut in 1/2" pieces. Combine sugar, cornstarch, water and vanilla; cook till thick and clear. Pour sauce over rhubarb. Top with other half crumb mixture. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes.
Way to go!!!!!!!! Some things seem so easy, but they make such a big difference.
An amazing epiphany! Must try this one!
This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing! You should link it up to W4MW at wearethatfamily.com
I love this tip - Thanks for sharing. I've not done a great job teaching my children to be helpful chore do-ers but we're working on it. I am reading a good book "Managers of Their Chores" by the Maxwell family. Not all of it will work or applies to our family, but so far there are some helpful tidbits of info!
Thanks again for sharing an obvious idea that I hadn't thought of!!
Amy
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