Dear MoM....Help I Am Not The Maid!

There are times I am asked for advice.  Now believe me I don't know it all.  I'm just like everyone else and I put one shoe on at a time but sometimes its easier to see the issues when you aren't involved.  I try to put myself in someone else's shoes before giving an answer and just let them know what I would do.  So from time to time I will share these emails here.  All names have been changed and the writer of the question has agreed to let me share the email:)  If any of you have a question please feel free to leave it here or leave it on my message board. If you have more advice for the person asking the question please feel free to add it in the comments.  Sometimes a reader has even more advice than I do:)  Since I have had so many kids under my roof at times and still have so many the kids  the emails are sent to MoM.

Dear MoM,

I am @ the end of my rope!  My family treats me like a maid and I'm tired of it.  I am married and have 3 children 13, 15, and 17.  I work 40+ hours a week and spend my weekends cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, running errands and acting as number ONE taxi service.  My husband works full time also but seems to relax a lot more than I do on the weekends.  How do I get them to understand that I need a break?  Help!!!!  I am at the end of my rope and it's about to break!

Thanks,

LI

Dear Li,

You deserve a break too!  It's high time you learn to delegate.  There is no reason that your kids can't do their own laundry.  Assign each one of them a day to do their own and tell them to make sure it is all done and put away before they move on to something else.  Don't do it for them no matter how much they whine.  Post instructions clearly printed and tape it to the top of the washer.  They can read....they'll get the hang of it.

Make charts for dinners.  Each child and the husband should be taking a turn making dinner.  Even a 13 year old can whip up hot dogs and baked beans if they have to!  Grilled cheese...whatever as long as they take their turn.

Make a chore chart for the whole family.  Assign different tasks that must be completed each week and maybe on the weekend the family can go out for one meal to celebrate!

Explain to all of them you feel overwhelmed and taken advantage of by them.  They ALL need to learn to do some things for themselves.  Believe me one day they will thank you for it!

Sit your husband down too and tell him you'd like to relax a little WITH him on the weekends and if he's helping out a little more you would have the energy to show him how grateful you can be!

Good Luck Li!  I hope you get a little more time to relax.  Don't you dare feel guilty asking the family to help!  A family works together....yours needs to do more than just watch.

Big Hugs,

MoM