Laundry

So its been awhile, but I am going to try to update more often.


The laundry in a household of five plus is never-ending.  I have a terrible time organizing it. I keep the boys clothes as separate as possible, they each have their own basket for dirty laundry.  Then I have a storage thingy that holds all the other used and dirty items. Matt says all his clothes are at the bottom of it, waiting to be rediscovered. I told him if that is true they would all be way too small for him now.  There is also a pile in the kitchen hall of various items that have fallen victim to the antics of the boys, the dog or one of us supposed grown-ups etc,  With potty training a constant subject we have frequent pants and underwear changes.

My first step is to find enough time to gather up and start a load (economy sized of course). Then when its done the next step is switching it over. I am always surprised by the load waiting in the dryer for me, like an ambush.  So before I can switch the laundry I must go on a hunting trip. Laundry baskets are scattered all over the house, some hold dirty laundry, some have toys, some are being used as a cage to trap a one-year-old or a stinky shih-tzu (whomever is unfortunate enough to be in the way at the time). Usually in order to find a basket to fill with clothes from the dryer I must dump something out of a basket or put away some folded clothes that have been waiting in a basket for a day or five to be put into a dresser. When I finally return to the laundry room to switch the laundry I realize the empty basket I brought downstairs should have been full of the next load of laundry to go in the washer.

So another trip upstairs ensues and I eventually am able to start a second load of laundry. Now comes the step where folding is recommended. Back when I worked FT and wore dress clothes I would have to stay vigilant and hang certain pants and tops to dry instead of risking the fit in the dryer where they may shrink. Other nicer tops need hung up immediately and I try very hard to do so but most of the time the clean laundry sits around the living room in a basket waiting to be folded. Silas likes to grab my piles of folded laundry so I can only do it when he is contained or asleep. I get so distracted that I never finish any of the folding. When I do finally have it folded and sorted it again takes forever to put it away.  I need help!!

I need to get rid of stuff, especially the boys, I have too many clothes and this means I put off washing their stuff until they are down to rags. The pile of dirty clothes meanwhile, is now two loads worth of laundry.

I need to also try to teach the boys to put their clothes away. I need to let go my need to do it just so, and accept that if they at least do it, that's much better than it sitting in a basket waiting for me to take care of it.

I have not even mentioned my three lovely boys who enjoy peeing on their sheets and pajamas, dragging every clean blanket out to build tents, dribbling food down their shirts staining them. Or how they like to "help" me fold and end up having a fight with socks on their hands!!!

Another time...