The renowned actor Ed Asner once said, “Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.” He must have been picturing the laundry room as the battlefield — a space where well-meaning parents turn into relentless warriors, determined to win the never-ending battle against dirty clothes.
The sight of an empty laundry basket brings a fleeting moment of bliss. Unfortunately, in a home with two teenagers, that bliss is as rare as spotting a unicorn in the woods. The sheer volume of laundry generated by kids aged 13 to 18 is astounding. The basket is never clear for more than an hour or so, and that only occurs when the laundry schedule aligns perfectly with their time away from home — like during school, practice, or part-time jobs.
Unbeknownst to many, teenagers seem to make an unspoken vow about laundry upon entering puberty:
- If an outfit doesn’t work out, it must be washed.
- Wet towels belong crumpled at the bottom of the laundry basket, not hung up.
- Pajamas cannot be worn two consecutive nights.
- Coats require washing twice a week.
- Anything that doesn’t fit in a drawer should go straight into the laundry basket.
My husband, who genuinely enjoys doing laundry, doesn’t grasp that if I wait until Saturday for him to handle it, clothing would spill out of the laundry room and into the hallway.
You might’ve guessed that laundry has never made it onto my list of favorite activities. However, since I work from home, most of the laundry duties default to me.
Recently, though, I reached my breaking point. After completing four loads earlier that day, only to discover the laundry basket overflowing by evening, I snapped. I was irritable and fed up. I was tired of doing laundry, and folding it? Forget it! This wasn’t my sole responsibility. I had homes to sell, novels to write, meals to prepare, walks to take, countless kids’ sporting events to attend, and books to read. I wasn’t being compensated for this chore, nor was I deriving any emotional satisfaction from it.
That was it. I was done.
So, I took matters into my own hands. I headed to Target, specifically the home goods section, and purchased four hampers. Then, I convened a family meeting to announce that I was no longer doing laundry. Ever.
My husband was onboard with this new plan, but my daughter protested, claiming it was unfair since I had been doing her brother’s laundry for 17 years. My son just groaned and retreated to his room. I placed my new hampers in the back of my closet, and for a couple of days, I felt a twinge of guilt for leaving them so empty.
Some friends thought I was being unreasonable. “The kids have a lot on their plates. They won’t have time to do laundry,” one said. Another, with a skeptical smirk, seemed to think my resolve wouldn’t last. However, many other women looked at me with admiration. Could it be possible?
The key to successfully stepping back from laundry responsibilities is to let go of any obsessive tidy tendencies. I like things neat, so this was a challenge for me. Yet, ultimately, it became surprisingly easy to stop doing laundry. The trick was simply shutting the doors to my kids’ rooms.
Eight weeks have gone by since my “No More Laundry” declaration. How’s it working out? Well, I’m only handling my own laundry now. Each week, my kids are developing their own laundry habits. My son has transitioned from storing clean clothes in the dryer to tossing them on the floor and cramming them into his closet — not realizing he’s just adding to his ironing pile (and nope, I’m not doing that either).
My daughter’s laundry skills have also taken a turn for the better. Initially, she would pile clean clothes on her bed, making it difficult to sleep. Now she’s using the laundry basket for storage and has started folding her clothes and putting them away. Victory!
My husband has embraced his Sunday laundry routine. As for me? I had to buy more underwear.
I consider this battle won! Not to brag, but I might be achieving legendary status among my friends. One even texted me a Happy Mother’s Day message, adding that she bought hampers for her entire family.
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In summary, taking a step back from household chores can empower your family to take responsibility. Sometimes, all it takes is setting boundaries and allowing your children to learn through experience.