Homeschooled Housewife's Daily Task List

Staying on top of household chores and tasks can sometimes seem like a mountain you just can't climb.  Trust me, I get it.  Years ago my floor used to be littered with toys upon toys upon toys.  The laundry would pile up until it took me DAYS to get it under control and I could never seem to keep my bathroom clean.  This was me circa 2006.

Back then I was a full time working Mom with a one year old child.  But then I became a full time stay at home Mom.  Uh Oh.  Now I had no good reason for not keeping my house looking nice and neat.  But with a small child running around, it just seemed impossible.  And as any Mother knows, the house stays MUCH cleaner if you aren't actually in it that often.  So yeah- I was a mess and so was my house.

A few years ago I stumbled upon the concept of a chore chart for wives.  Gah- how humiliating.  I had one of these as a kid- why in the world would I want one now?  But when life gets busy, it's really so handy to have a list of tasks you need to get done each day.  

The kiddo also has his own chore chart- easy and age appropriate things like dusting, taking out the trash, vacuuming, cleaning his bedroom etc.  These tasks used to be on my list but as the kiddo has gotten older, I've been able to move some of the items to his list.  Thus leaving me free for special tasks like deep cleaning the carpets or organizing the coat closet- see Thursdays!  These are items that don't need to be done on a weekly basis and I will pick a task from my "Special Projects" list to complete each Thursday based on the time I have that given day.

I do my best to stick to this task list.  However, I am a busy working and homeschooling Mama- so consider these your goals for each day but don't be too hard on yourself if you can't complete them all.

Homeschooled Housewife's Daily Task List

Monday

• Clean downstairs guest bathroom
• Meal plan for the week/month
• Laundry
• Pay bills every other Monday

Tuesday

• Baking Day!
• Shopping Day!

Wednesday

• Clean master bathroom
• Pick up master bedroom

Thursday

• Special project
• Tidy up anything that hasn't been done or needs attention

Friday

• Weekend meal preparation
• Wash bed sheets

Saturday/Sunday

• Dust
• Clean floors
• Vacuum

In addition to this weekly task list there are things that I do each day to ensure my home stays as neat as I can possibly manage.

• Never leave dirty dishes on the kitchen counter top.
• Always wipe up after yourself in the kitchen.
• Put all food away immediately.
• Pick up items (dog toys, dirty socks etc) off the floors throughout the day.
• Keep your dining room table clear and ready for the next meal.
• Unload the dishwasher immediately after its done.
• Don't allow trash to pile up.
• Put your purse away.  I keep mine on a hook inside the coat closet.
• Set up an "entry station" by the front door for keys, sunglasses, remotes etc.  Do not dump these items around your house.
• If laundry is starting to pile up- do it, even if it's not designated laundry day.
• Push chairs in when getting up from the table.
• Turn lights off in rooms you are not in.

My house is not perfect.  There is clutter- trust me on this one.  But it never gets so out of hand that it becomes unmanageable.  A few simple things each day can really make a big difference!

When it's time for you to set up your own daily task list- keep a few things in mind.  Your available time on any given day, any help from kids or spouse, your priorities, what day will you do your shopping to hit up all the best sales etc.  If I can do this- you can too!

Mexican Basagna

No, I didn't spell that incorrectly.  This is how the kiddo pronounces "lasagna" with a B and I LOVE IT.

We also call this dish Mexican Cassarole but no matter what it's called, it's super easy to make and tastes great!

This is one of my quick "go to" meals.  It takes 10-15 minutes of prep and then another 20 in the oven.  Umm...hello?  How awesome is that!  Plus, I make this dish whenever I have leftovers or not enough of one thing in my fridge.  For example, you have half of a leftover bell pepper.  Seriously- what can you make with this?  How about half a can of olives or 1/2 cup of mozzerella cheese?  Mexican Basagna to the rescue!

Each time I make this dish, it looks a little different depending on what I have available.  However, the basics are the same, so I'll share with you now!

Mexican Basagna aka Lasagna

With olives & red onions

corn tortillas
sour cream
salsa
cheese
bell peppers
olives
jalepeno
onions
beans- refried, black, pinto etc
avocado
tomatoes
cilantro


Spray a glass 9 X 13 pan and put down a layer of corn tortillas.

Make a "sauce" in another bowl by mixing sour cream and salsa together.

Layer beans, cheese and "sauce" along with anything else you are throwing in.  I typically do three layers of corn tortillas.

Cover with foil and bake in your oven until cheese is melted- approximately 20  minutes.  Top with fresh avocado, tomatoes, cilantro etc.

With cilantro & yellow bell peppers.

Change Comes When You are Ready

And not a moment before.

So let me tell you all a little story.....

We've been on what I call our "food journey" for approximately seven years now.  It has been a VERY long journey filled with struggles and uncertainty.  But I knew that this was a path worth taking because I wanted my family healthy and happy.

So without really discussing what I was doing, I set out to transform not only our diets but our lives.   Get rid of most the meats, eat more fruits and veggies, take regular supplements, use homeopathic remedies, eat less fast food, get rid of all the processed junk- yeah, it was quite the undertaking and my meat and potatoes loving husband was NOT impressed.

If I can tell you anything about this transformation- it's that it simply must be done in baby steps.

Ok, back to the story.  So I decided to make these changes, slowly.  For the most part, the husband put up with it.  He didn't really understand my desires to make these changes but he humored me.  At least at home.  He still ate junk in his lunches and would go out to eat at his favorite place, Taco Bell, on the regular.  He probably thought I would eventually lose interest....BWHAHAHA, silly husband.

And I won't even go into the resistance I faced with the kiddo.  No more Happy Meals?  Oh the horror!!!

So last night when I got home from work, I was pretty damn proud of the following conversation.

Husband- I have to work at a Taco Bell tomorrow.

Me- Yuck.  Are you going to be tempted to eat it?

Husband- Course not!  I've gone this long without it, no way in hell am I giving in now.  I even tried to give the call away so I wouldn't have to walk in the doors.

Me- Wow.  Good job Babe.

Umm....wait.  What?  It was a surreal moment you guys.  Seven years of struggle.  And this moment happened.

Here's what I learned- you can make the changes in your house.  You can stop buying the potato chips and soda.  You can feed your family healthy meals filled with fruits and veggies.  But you can't control the choices they make outside your home.  You just can't.

So in these last seven years, I've not only made these changes at home, but I've also set about educating my family along the way.  Why are we making these changes?  What's the benefit to doing this?  What's happening to the environment, our world, our children's future?  You get the idea here.  You need to have an understanding of why you're doing this or it will never work.

It took the husband about five years to get serious about giving up Taco Bell.  I didn't push him.  I gave him the facts, made healthy meals at home and let him reach his own conclusion.  And then one day, he just gave it up- cold turkey.  He got it.  He finally understood and was compelled enough to make the changes all on his own.  He was ready.

My lesson to you all is this-

Don't ever give up hope.  Seriously, just don't.  I never in a million years thought that the husband would freely pass up the Taco Bell.  It was his drug of choice and he ate it every chance he got.  But one day, he was finally ready to make the change and so he did.

If you're getting resistance from your family, trust me when I say that I understand.  Take baby steps, remember why you're doing this in the first place and educate your family along the way.

And you can always share with them our success story.

My child has never had the flu.  He's never had a high temperature.  He's never battled a real cold for longer then 24 hours.  He's never had an ear infection or any other sort of illness so common with children nowadays.  He also used to have eczema and get horrible rashes- not anymore!

And the husband- well, he was at risk for diabetes and was diagnosed with high blood pressure and put on medication.  He was taking a few other doctor prescribed medications and was actually contemplating surgery for his sinus issues.  Every single one of these issues is gone.  Gone.

Me?  Well I used to have to take medications because my menstrual cycle was SO bad- seriously, debilitating.  I know- sorry, TMI!  But it's important to know that I no longer take any pain medications for this issue that many women suffer from.  In addition, I always hit the mid day slump and could never seem to get a good night's rest.  I am healthier now at 33 then I was at 23.  It's amazing.

It works you guys, it really works.

Want to read more?

• Down with GMO's
• Never Get Sick Again
• Cancer Sucks
• So You Want to Eat Less Meat

Update: The Good Wife's Guide

I am in love with the 1950's and 1960's.  Seriously, the husband and I joke all the time that we were clearly both born in the wrong decade because we both posess old souls.  There's just something so calm and simple about that time.  I'm not saying everything was perfect, but it was most definitely a different time.

I've posted a bit about our traditional marriage and even went on to discuss a bit about the old version of the Good Wife's Guide, circa 1955.    I thought it might be fun to put together a guide for today's modern, traditional wife- like me!

The Good Wife's Guide 2015

Put on real clothes in the morning.  Even if all you do is take off the PJ's and put on the yoga pants, just do it.  Brush your teeth, wash your face and comb your hair.

Get up first and make your home a warm and inviting place.  Open the curtains, turn on some lights, light a candle or two and then start breakfast for your family.  

Send your husband to work fed and happy.  And don't forget to pack him a lunch.

Keep an eye on the clutter throughout the day.  Don't leave trash or dirty dishes lying around but rather adopt a "clean as you go" attitude to ensure your home is always looking it's best.  

Set up a weekly chore/task list.

Plan your day so that nothing is forgotten.  Try to follow a daily routine so that your family knows what to expect and to help establish boundaries.

Make dinner.  Every night.  From scratch.

Always welcome your husband home with hugs and kisses.  Even if you're upset, just jump that man as soon as he walks in the door.

Establish couple time.  Strict bedtimes are your best friend- get those kids to bed and then cuddle with your husband.  Better yet, have sex with him.  Lots of it.

Always have freshly baked goodies on display.

Take care of everything you are physically able to so that your husband has more time to enjoy his time at home with his family.  Do all the shopping, take the kids to their appointments/practices, household chores, pets etc.  

Always wear fabulous shoes, carry a great purse and have your nails done.  If you have these 3 things, you will always look put together even when you don't feel like you are.

Do not call your husband during the day just to complain and do not greet him at the door with your frustrations and upset.  Give him time to unwind and then try to discuss things.

Always have your husband's favorite beverage on hand and a few snacks or things they enjoy.

Don't talk bad about your husband to anyone.  Ever.

Take pride in yourself.  If you think you're sexy, your husband will too.  Allow yourself some down time, be mindful of your appearance and do things that nurture your soul.

So there you have it.  Today's guide for the modern, traditional wife.  Want to read more?  

Marriage- A Traditional Housewife

On Being a Traditional Wife

Homeschool Prayer

It's been a particularly difficult week and it's only Tuesday.  Sigh....

So today I posted this prayer over on the Facebook page.  If you're struggling, please know that you aren't alone.  No one ever said this would be easy but I promise it will be worth it.

Lord,

Thank You for this blessing. For the ability to stay home with my child, to teach, to nurture, to guide.

Please continue to provide me the patience to carry on. To sit & explain the same exact thing day in and day out. To struggle side by side with my child as I fight to teach & they push to learn.

Give me the strength to shrug off the naysayers. The ability to focus on my child & his strengths as we battle both the highs & lows from learning at home.

Protect us as we travel this road less traveled. Forgive me my many, many mistakes as I struggle to be Wife, Mother & Homeschooler. For it is through you that all things are possible.

And when the load seems to much to bear, thank you Lord for giving me the wisdom to remember the why. The reason we call ourselves homeschoolers- because even in the struggle, there is joy.

Thank you Lord for this blessing.

Amen.

Fettuccine Alfredo

One of my many talents is the ability to whip up a batch of homemade fettuccine alfredo in about 20 minutes.  No Joke.

And because I think you all are awesome and should have this recipe in your repertoire- I'm sharing with you today!

SO good!

Fettuccine Alfredo

1 box fettuccine pasta
2 1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese
butter
2 tablespoons flour
salt and pepper
nutmeg

Start by boiling your pasta.  At the same time, begin your sauce by melting 2 tablespoons butter.  When melted add in flour to create a roux.  Cook on very low for just a minute.  When your flour and butter are combined, start to slowly add in your milk and then cream.

Cook your flour in melted butter to create a roux.

Slowly add in milk/cream for nice, thick sauce.

Finally, when you have a thick sauce- add in your parm cheese and salt and pepper to taste.  At this point, your pasta should be done.  So drain and set aside.

When your parm cheese is combined in your sauce, put one more tablespoon of butter on top and a good pinch of nutmeg.  Combine with your pasta.

Finish with butter & pinch of nutmeg.

Seriously- SO easy.  You can totally add cooked chicken or some veggies but we are purists and like it just the way it is.

Enjoy!

If You Don't Teach Them, Someone Else Will

One afternoon we were all driving home from the kiddo's soccer game and we started talking about drugs.  Hardcore things, like meth, peer pressure and addiction.  To clarify, yes- my child is nine years old, almost ten.

Now, at this point, you may be thinking that we as parents have lost our minds.  I get it.  Really, I do.  Drugs are a hot topic.  Just like sex and bullying.  But that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about them with our children, it simply means we need to be careful in what we say.

We've been talking honestly with the kiddo for years now about drugs and alcohol.  He's seen some programs and documentaries that show exactly what happens to people who suffer addiction.  He knows words like meth and marijuana and because we live in Washington State where it's now legal to smoke pot in public, he's also smelled it.  He's seen Daddy have a few beers with friends and he knows that Mommy likes to have a vodka sometimes on the weekends.  We do not hide this part of life from him but rather choose to model good choices and responsibility.

So that afternoon, while driving home, we talked about drugs and alcohol abuse.  Again.  The kiddo was asking specifically how old he had to be in order to be allowed to drink.  

Me- You need to be 21.  But just because you're old enough doesn't mean you're ready.

"What do you mean Mom?"

Me- Well, drinking is a big responsibility.  You need to be able to learn when and where to drink, how to do so responsibly, how to be safe and to recognize when you are in a bad situation.

"So like- if all my friends are getting drunk, I should probably not drink.  That way I can help them and make sure they don't get stupid."

Me- Yes, that's one thing.  But you also need to be very careful because addiction runs in our family.  Just like cancer or other diseases, addiction is a disease.

Husband- It's a slippery slope kiddo.  Your mind might say that you don't want to drink or do drugs but many times, your body says something different.  At that point, you don't have a whole lot of control over your choices and sometimes all it takes is one time for you to get yourself in some serious trouble.

"I know Dad.  People don't always have a choice because their bodies become addicted."

Husband- Exactly.  And because of this, you need to understand that there are simply some things in life that we stay away from and don't mess with.

So yes- we talk about drugs, alcohol and addiction.  We do not shy away from the difficult subjects but see them as an opportunity to guide our child, to show him the right path to follow.  As parents, you don't always get to pick and choose what you want to teach your child because the reality is- if you don't teach them, someone else will.  And then where will you be?

I encourage all of you to get in there and talk about the difficult subjects.   Here's a few key points to help you along the way.

• Be fact based.  Use the real words for things and don't make up silly nicknames or use generic terms like "that" or "it".
• Seek out opportunities to discuss these topics.  Your kids will be naturally curious so instead of saying "we'll talk about it later" just go ahead and address it head on.
• Stay casual and be open.  Don't make a huge deal of out it because if you do, chances are they won't want to talk with you again.
• Keep it age appropriate.  Just because your kid has specific questions doesn't mean they are ready to hear it all.  Leave it at a level they can understand and as they get older, you can continue to increase the amount of knowledge you give them about delicate subjects.
• Don't be embarrassed.  If you're nervous or uncomfortable, they will be too.
• Be safety minded.  Many of these difficult topics are huge safety issues.  Teen pregnancy, overdoses, gun safety anyone?  Teach them how to be safe and responsible.

Best of luck to you parents, you can do this!

Click here to read about the day I talked to the kiddo about suicide.