Have you ever wondered how laundry and meals happen in our home? (It isn’t fancy, but it works…) Watch this segment of our “Run Solid Routines on Autopilot” resource to find out!
Eric is our “Laun-peror” – mix of “laundry” and “emperor.” đ He does the laundry every Thursday morning. Our three oldest children are doing their own laundry now, so that leaves the laundry for Eric and I, our 10-year-old, and any household laundry. By mixing the mediums and darks together, he’s been able to simplify the batches down to two, and he folds clothes straight out of the dryer to avoid the need for ironing. He turns on Pandora and listens to comedy while folding, and he is able to finish up within about three hours (with some work done in between loads).
When our children were little and I was in charge of laundry, the children and I would have “laundry parties,” wearing underwear on our heads and turning on music to make it more fun. We’d listen to music, and fold to the rhythm of each song.
Alia and I are in charge of meal planning and groceries. One person in our family is in charge of cooking each night (but if we have a lot going on–and people are getting home late, going to evening practices, etc., we simplify). Every Friday, Alia asks each person what they will be cooking the following week, and then puts in an order at our local grocery store for any of the ingredients we will need for those meals. For $5, our grocery store will do all the shopping for us, so all we have to do is pick it up! (Check your local stores – so many stores are starting to provide similar services!)
And then Saturday morning, before we pick up our groceries, Alia is in charge of cleaning out our fridge. (We rotate jobs annually.) That way, every time our groceries come in the door, we have a clean, open fridge. The meals go on the calendar so everyone knows what we are making – and we are ready to go!
Do you want to learn more about establishing routines that will work for you family?
As ages and stages change, we need to adapt, but the principles of establishing those routines are the same. The video above is a snippet of the one-hour Routines presentation Eric and I created where we walked through our professional routines, how we plan as a couple, how we organize our children’s routines, and how YOU can make it all work together. We even provided the Excel template that outlines annual and quarterly responsibilities inside our home.
All that (and more!) can be yours!
***To get access to the whole Routines class that Eric and I taught (Run Solid Routines on Autopilot), join our STEP Mastery program and you’ll find it inside your STEP Library!
Hi!
I have a question! I’m looking back into my emails and trying to find the software or website you recommended that can help with finances. Tracking expenses etc. My boyfriend and I live together and have a child together.We keep finances mostly separate but pay 1/2 of everything with house etc. I want us to see how we are spending our ?….on the go since saving receipts aren’t getting us to sit down and do it together.
Pam
Hi Pam! Great question – April & Eric use YNAB (You Need a Budget). Thanks for being part of our community!
Great ideas! I spent a year hand-washing everything in a third world country with no applicances. I swore I’d never complain about doing laundry once back in the USA and that’s been true for over 30 years. Laundry is a breeze (except in year one of marriage when hubbie shrunk my favorite rayon pants – good idea to do your own handwashing!)
We had a household of 6, 5 were âadultsâ. I didnât want them to do ONLY their own laundry UNLESS it was special care. I feel that itâs wasteful. If you want âthatâ black shirt you do the whole dark load. (It helped a little with making sure clothes were put in the hampers, not in the hamper, doesnât get washed.) It was like winning the lottery if someone did the laundry before you needed it!
That’s a great option! Thanks for sharing, Jennifer.
For my two eldest they started washing their own clothes at 10 and 12. So the consequence of not putting clean clothes away was on them. It worked pretty well as even now (they are 26 and 24) they won’t let me do their washing.
So one success! (I wasn’t so good at the dishes though. Whenever they come over there is always a glass or coffee pot that gets dirty.)
I would still definitely count that as a win on the dishes! đ
Thank you!
I needed to listen this one. A busy physician I struggle to find order, routines and responsibilities with my young children. I am blessed as my husband is very hands on and like Eric is our Laun perorâŚlol
Tara, you are definitely juggling a lot! So glad you have a Launperor, as well! đ I donât know that it ever gets âeasyâ when raising children, but some stead systems can help a LOTâespecially as you coordinate with the other adults helping you out! Sending lots of love!
I just wanted to let you guys know how much I love Eric’s title of, “Laun-peror”. Perhaps if I give the job a powerful title such as this, my husband would be more willing to comply LOL. All hail the Launperor!! (Bows/curtseys)
Dear April and Eric,
I wanted to express my gratitude for shedding light on the significance of routines in your recent podcast. Since incorporating some into my life, the positive impact has been undeniable. For instance, I’ve established a seamless routine of changing our bed sheets every Saturday like clockwork. The process involves dropping them off at our local laundromat, ensuring we have a fresh set ready to pick up a week later. This automated system has brought a sense of satisfaction, providing us with fresh sheets and pillow covers on a consistent basis.
Additionally, I’ve adopted a post-travel routine where we drop off all our dirty laundry the day after returning from a trip, a simple but effective way to manage fatigue during those hectic days.
I’ve also recognized the value of “mini” routines, such as tidying up and putting things back in their designated places when we return from work. These small resets play a crucial role in maintaining an organized living space, preventing it from descending into chaos.
While we are still in the process of refining our cooking routines, I find inspiration in your approach. I plan to implement a routine of creating a meal plan on Fridays and shopping for groceries on Saturday mornings. Leveraging services like Wholefoods’ pickup, which conveniently doesn’t charge for orders, is a brilliant idea that I’ll be sure to embrace.
Thank you once again for emphasizing the importance of routines, and for providing practical insights that have positively impacted my daily life.
Wow! Your routines sound amazing! I love that you’ve figured out some ways to make your life feel simpler. Well done! So grateful you are here with us! xoxo