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I lost my joy – in the laundry baskets.
A couple months ago I shared a tongue-in-cheek poll on the B-Inspired Mama Facebook Page.
The poll asked: Which would you choose?
- A. a machine that washes, dries, and folds your laundry
- B. self-cleaning toilet
- C. a button in the car that causes a partition to pop up to separate the children
- D. a device that tells you if you’re about to leave the store without something on your list
I know, I know. Most of us would probably love them all.
But I think the big winner amongst those who answered was: A. a machine that washes, dries and folds your laundry.
(I’m actually kind of perplexed that it hasn’t been invented or marketed yet. There is a need, people!)
Those desperate and humorous comments from fellow mamas just show how overwhelming laundry can be. I know for me, with a family of 5, laundry is a never-ending struggle. Rarely a day goes by in my home when at least one of us isn’t digging through a basket of fresh-from-the-dryer clothes for clean underwear.
But you know what? I’ve decided to take my joy back.
Inspired by B-Inspired Mama sponsor, OxiClean™ HD™ Laundry Detergent
, I’m letting go of the guilt and frustration surrounding my laundry struggles. Instead, I’m focusing on the positives – the life lessons I’m learning through all that sorting, washing, lugging and folding.
Psst.. Grab the Above Print for Your Laundry Room!
Finding Joy in the Laundry Baskets
Here are some ways I’m finding joy (and important life lessons) in laundry time. (And you can, too!)
“Whistle While You Work”
I’ve learned that pairing a boring or challenging task with something fun makes it so much easier. As the popular song states, “When hearts are high the time will fly, so whistle while you work.” Music makes everything better in our home. So turn up your favorite tunes while doing laundry.
Less is More
There’s nothing like trying to stuff another neatly folded pair of pants into an overstuffed and overflowing dresser drawer to make you realize you have too much. I’ve found laundry folding and “putting away” so so much easier when we have less. Less, less, less.
Appreciate What You Have
Whenever that negative voice starts grumbling in my head (or out loud to my husband), I try to stop it with a little shift in perspective and a positive voice reminding me: At least you have clean quality clothes. And a washer and dryer to help you clean them. And beautiful children to put those clothes on. There are people who long each one of those blessings.
Memories Can be Made During the Most Everyday Moments
Think about what you remember most about a special person from your childhood. I bet it’s not the expensive Christmas present they gave you or the extravagant vacation they took you on. It’s more likely the way their hug was so snug and warm and the way their eyes squinted when they smiled at you. Or maybe the way you baked cookies together every snow day. It’s tempting to pin memory-making on the things that are big and expensive. But the most meaningful memories we can instill in our kids often happen in the everyday moments. Like folding laundry together.
Life & Happiness are Messy, but the Mess is Beautiful
Speaking of the blessing of having kids to put those clothes on…I know you don’t feel so blessed when you see those grass-stained knees on your daughter’s blue jeans. Or the ice cream dribble on the brand-new dress shirt you bought her.
But have you ever stopped to think that each dribble and stain marks a moment in time when your child was running on the playground or laughing with friends over a new treat? She was experiencing the world in her clumsy, messy, childlike, and beautiful way.
Each grass-stained knee or paint-smeared shirt marks a time when your child was experiencing life!Plus, I’ve discovered that I don’t have to stress about that beautiful mess on my littles’ clothes as much when I have the right tools – like OxiClean™ HD™ Laundry Detergent
(with America’s #1 versatile stain-fighter right in the detergent) – to reach every fiber, remove stains and brighten colors. All while saving up to 20% per load*.
*versus the leading detergent
There is LOVE in the Little Things
It might not feel like it when you’re putting the day’s fourth load of laundry in the washer, but there is love in doing laundry. One of the most important life lessons I’ve learned thus far (ahem…which took me nearly 33 years to learn) is that love is an action, not a feeling.
The act of sorting whites from darks.
Of shifting heavy wet clothes from the washer to the dryer.
Of folding, clean smelling t-shirts and matching tiny socks.
They are all loving acts that should make you smile inside with accomplishment. I hope you hang this print in your laundry room to remind you of that.
Grab this FREE Busy Bodies, Dirty Clothes, Happy Kids Print:
More Tips and Tricks from B-Inspired Mama:
- Embracing Imperfect Family Vacations
- The ONE Simple Laundry Tip That Changed My Life
- Tips for Morning Routines [From the Mouths of Moms]
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