Comments on: A Better Way - Dishwasher Load http://kirkweisler.com/t4d/2010/01/06/a-better-way-dishwasher-load/ Chief Morale Officer Kirk Weisler's Thought 4 the Day Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: kirkweisler http://kirkweisler.com/t4d/2010/01/06/a-better-way-dishwasher-load/#comment-18872 kirkweisler Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:34:30 +0000 http://kirkweisler.com/t4d/2010/01/06/a-better-way-dishwasher-load/#comment-18872 Kirk - I think I have a 'better way' for your family to load the dishwasher. This was always one of my least favorite chores as well, but as the matriarch it seemed to always fall on my shoulders so.... when we moved into our new house 19 years ago, with our new dishwasher, we got a new rule. Everyone loads their own dishes instead of piling them in the sink or on the counter. This made everyone claim responsibility for their own dishes and cleanup. Did we ever have a situation where someone did a dump (on the counter or sink) and run? Yes - but infrequently. Did someone have to police the final few dishes to make sure they were loaded properly before running the dishwasher? Yes, but that fell to the child who had the 'dishes' chore. This really reduced the amount of time spent at the sink for everyone and kept our kitchen cleaner. It also reduced the groans and eye rolling and made this seem less like a chore and more like just a task. Even though my kids are grown now and on their own, to this day everyone still loads their own dishes. Even my difficult to train husband! Thanks for the ongoing words of wisdom. Patti Stauss Kirk - I think I have a ‘better way’ for your family to load the dishwasher. This was always one of my least favorite chores as well, but as the matriarch it seemed to always fall on my shoulders so…. when we moved into our new house 19 years ago, with our new dishwasher, we got a new rule. Everyone loads their own dishes instead of piling them in the sink or on the counter. This made everyone claim responsibility for their own dishes and cleanup.

Did we ever have a situation where someone did a dump (on the counter or sink) and run? Yes - but infrequently.
Did someone have to police the final few dishes to make sure they were loaded properly before running the dishwasher? Yes, but that fell to the child who had the ‘dishes’ chore.

This really reduced the amount of time spent at the sink for everyone and kept our kitchen cleaner. It also reduced the groans and eye rolling and made this seem less like a chore and more like just a task. Even though my kids are grown now and on their own, to this day everyone still loads their own dishes. Even my difficult to train husband!

Thanks for the ongoing words of wisdom.
Patti Stauss

]]> By: Jayne http://kirkweisler.com/t4d/2010/01/06/a-better-way-dishwasher-load/#comment-18866 Jayne Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:28:20 +0000 http://kirkweisler.com/t4d/2010/01/06/a-better-way-dishwasher-load/#comment-18866 Reading about your children's haste in doing a job they dislike reminded me of the same 'issues' I had with my children. When faced with a situation like this I would always tell them, "If you don't have time to do it right, then you certainly don't have time to do it over." Of course this too was met with groans and eye rolling, but now that they are adults, they have all admitted that despite hating to hear it, it did sink in and has helped them in other aspects of life. Reading about your children’s haste in doing a job they dislike reminded me of the same ‘issues’ I had with my children. When faced with a situation like this I would always tell them, “If you don’t have time to do it right, then you certainly don’t have time to do it over.” Of course this too was met with groans and eye rolling, but now that they are adults, they have all admitted that despite hating to hear it, it did sink in and has helped them in other aspects of life.

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