Closing the Kitchen

I like to treat being a stay-at-home-mom and housewife like a job. This is my chosen career. And much like at the end of the day at a corporate or retail job, there are end of shift tasks to accomplish. This is why I like to “close the kitchen”. It is a list of tasks I try to accomplish each and everyday to make my life easier and bring order to my mornings.

So here is what I do.

• Fill and start the dishwasher.
• Do any additional dishes by hand, like pots and pans, fragile items or bottles.
• Clean and clear all countertops.
• Wipe down the stovetop and all appliances.
• Light a candle to clear any dinner smells.
• Tackle the floors. Sweep, vacuum, mop or all of the above.
• Fill the coffee machine water tank and Brita if using one.
• Clean the sinks.
• Feed the cat.

After a long day of managing the house, raising littles and all the other jobs we accomplish, finishing off with a clean kitchen always feels great. I promise that you will never wake up the next day regretting that you took care of all this the night before. I rest easier at night knowing this is all done. I look at my rest and relaxation as a reward after this has all been handled. The trick is to not sit down after the bedtime routine and get sucked into your phone or tv or whatever else can distract you before getting this list done. Easier said than done, but with a little discipline and consistency, it just becomes second nature.

Melanie xoxox