Chores

As a kid I used to hate doing chores. But come on, who didn't? The only chore I liked was dusting and that was because I liked the smell of Lemon Pledge.

But anything else I hated and didn't think I should have to do. My parents were divorced and I spent time at two different homes which led me to lack any feeling of ownership over the space. I felt like I was doing someone else's chores.

But now, as an adult in her own space, I love my chores. But they weren't enforced when I was little so there is so much that I do not know. I had no concept of how frequently I was supposed to do my chores, everything I know I've learned from extensive googling of what's "normal" and asking my friends.

Here's my chore breakdown:

• Dishes -- after every meal
• Vacuum downstairs -- every other day
• Vacuum upstairs -- twice a week
• Make bed -- daily
• Wash sheets -- every 1-2 weeks
• Wash towels -- every 1-2 weeks
• Deep clean one room -- 1-2 times a week
• Clean shower -- every 2 weeks
• Wash + fold laundry -- daily (I have a very particular laundry ritual which I will write more about in a later blog post, I think)

It's really not much. It's really manageable. It's weird to me that I used to not want to do any of this. I used to not even fold my clothes, just stuffed them in my dresser (or left them in piles). I spend one or two hours a day cleaning, sometimes way more. If things get too dirty, I get nervous. I don't like it. I'm terrified of what I could become.