The smartest moms delegate

Most women I know shoulder most of the responsibilities of their households. And there is ZERO judgment in that statement. It’s just what I have observed in my 59 years on this planet. 

Some of us are Type A and believe that we can do things better than everyone else (my hand is raised). Some of us are reluctant to ask for help. In any case, I would like to advocate for a better balance of household chores. This tactic relieves a lot of pressure off women, and is also beneficial for the entire family.

The best approach is to start by listing what actually needs to happen each week: laundry, meals, dishes, trash, etc. Then match tasks to family members based on age and ability. A 10-year-old can handle unloading the dishwasher. Teens can manage their own laundry. Even a 2-year-old can put toilet paper where it belongs. Every study ever done on childhood shows that kids who had regular chores outperform their peers by a landslide in adult life. 

I see a lot of frustration between women and men because wives just assume their husbands should know what to do, but men typically prefer clear direction. Managing a family and household requires a ton of moving parts, so it makes sense that the machine runs more smoothly when expectations are well-defined instead of assumed.

Your next step is to make the responsibilities visible in a way that works best for your family: a shared checklist on paper, a list on a whiteboard or even an app. This tool keeps everyone accountable. 

It’s also helpful to understand that even though your family members may not perform the chore with military precision like you would, that’s OK. It’s definitely worth the trade of doing everything yourself.

In the end, family members participating equally in chores creates a powerful teamwork dynamic that can only serve to enhance relationships for the better.

Zen Organizing is a woman-owned business based in Katy, Texas.