As I loaded the dishwasher three times this weekend I was
thinking about why I am the only person in my family who knows how to load it. I
had to step back and take a look at the situation and myself. Guess what I discovered
(and it’s not the first time I have noticed this about myself)? I’ve been
causing the issue due to the “mom’s kitchen” vibes I’ve been sending out for
the past seven years.
This got me thinking about how I could turn it around and save my children from being clueless in the kitchen as adults:
- I need to be more flexible and let my family members figure out ways to contribute without hovering and nagging.
- Who cares if the plates are in the dishwasher a different way than I want them? (Me, but I am working to remedy that.)
- I am doing my best to use “us language” instead of making possessive statements about areas of our home.
- For example, “Get out of my kitchen while the oven is open.” could be “Please leave the kitchen while the oven is open because it is very hot and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
- Starting with small tasks is helpful. Letting my family help with table setting and dinner prep, not to mention cleanup is good bonding time (as long as I can refrain from bossing them around).
Simply put, I need to be less possessive about the kitchen
space in our home to allow my family to grow. What areas of your home are you
possessive with and is there anything you’d like to change about that?
Peace to you and yours - Jackie
