The Kitchen is Ready

Kitchen table with lilacs from the garden at Mrs. White's House.

I usually clean my kitchen three times a day. This includes wiping down appliances, counters, sweeping and cleaning the sink.

There is nothing worse, when it comes to housekeeping, for the family to wonder why there are no clean dishes. It is a black mark on my record, and makes me look like a slacker in the eyes of my family.  Sure, we all have our own chores, but the kitchen is mostly my domain.  I am expected to run a clean place because that is my job.

Have you ever heard the joke that when Mom cleans the kitchen, she tells the family they have to eat out because she doesn't want it to get messed up again?   But there is a better mind-set. Once the kitchen is clean, how  about stepping back with pride and saying to the family:

"The Kitchen is Ready."

In other words, it has been cleaned. It is ready for guests. It is ready for anyone who wants to cook or have something good to eat. It is all set!

In this house, no one can clean like Mother.  This is evidenced when I am ill and bedridden. Right now, I only have one helper left at home. And he willingly takes over my chores.  I often hear his eager voice say, "I'll do all the dishes for you, Mom. You just rest!" And then a few hours later, the same child says, "I did some of the work. Can I do the rest tomorrow?"  I just smile...

24 hours later, not only is the kitchen a disaster, but so is the rest of the house.  Honestly, I have a hard time cleaning that kind of mess and think it would have been easier to just clean through my illness! (smiles)

But the children really appreciate a hard working mother. They miss hearing me say:

"Hey, you guys... The kitchen is ready!"

They come running from all over the place. They want to cook in a clean kitchen. They make snacks, get drinks and smile with delight. 

They always know when Mother is home and well, - Because the kitchen is clean.


Blessings
Mrs. White

* Note - We do not have a dishwasher. (Just in case you were wondering.)

 

From the Archives - 


Vintage thoughts relevant for today - 1894 Advice for Housewives.

Precious Times - Remembering Suppertime.

Taking Care of a family of 4 generations in one house - Gracious Homemaking.

 

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

  For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages.