As a busy mom, I've always aimed to keep our home organized, but with my husband and kids home full-time for weeks, the mess piled up fast. Things aren't perfect here, but my family's contributions to the chaos inspired me to create a household chore schedule for the children—a simple shift from their school homework routines.
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Inspired by my kids' teachers, who provided structured daily and weekly school schedules, I adapted the idea into a practical household plan. Drawing from a chore chart I'd used successfully years ago, I created a new one tailored to our needs. It's become indispensable for keeping our home running smoothly during this extended time together.
The school schedules are manageable—my daughter finishes hers in about two hours daily, leaving plenty of time for household tasks. My son, preparing for final exams, has even less: around five hours total on lingering assignments, now waiting for the Ministry's pass/fail guidelines and a potential remote diploma amid COVID disruptions.
With schoolwork minimal, I focus on keeping them engaged away from screens while reinforcing my role as their educator. Our household schedule addresses this perfectly. Plus, as the biggest contributors to dishes, laundry, and bathroom messes, it's only fair they pitch in.
That was the initial pushback, but now they comply with gentle reminders—about five times a day. Favorites include evening dog walks (thanks to longer daylight from daylight saving), feeding the pets, and their weekly 'cooking day.' They handle vacuuming in the office and chill area, while our Roomba e5 tackles the living room nightly.
I also assigned my husband a weekly cooking night—fair, since he's skipped commuting for weeks and can contribute more at home.
The tasks are straightforward: occasional vacuuming, weekly dinner prep, dog walks, and tidying their rooms. They're handling it well, so in a week or two, I'll add a bit more if we're still all home. This routine keeps things positive for everyone.
