(A post that will let you off the hook for housework this Easter holidays)
When you’ve written a lot of blog posts, it’s interesting to see over time which search strings drew most readers into your blog.
I was fascinated to realise recently that “how to cut down on your laundry” – about which I’ve written precisely one post – is one of my most popular search strings of all time.
You’d think by now, having been involved with websites practically since they were invented, that nothing in terms of search strings would surprise me. I certainly had to desensitize myself to cope with managing the online presence of a girls’ boarding school, where searches for “girls in uniform” were not always made by anxious mothers in search of the current kit list.
My reason for getting steamed up about laundry? I’ve just written a piece about how to “Make Time for Family Time” for the April issue of online parenting magazine Kideeko. In my book, that means jettisoning unnecessary housework in order to have fun with your family, as the muddled state of my house will testify.
I’m now wondering whether my piece will bring Kideeko equal SEO bounty in terms of web hits. Not only do I mention cutting down on laundry, but also eliminating ironing and abandoning supermarket shopping. Such recklessness – I know how to live!
So, as the school Easter holidays begin, if your first thought has been the need to catch up on the housework, read my Kideeko article now. It could be just the excuse you need to ditch the laundry and go and have fun with your kids instead. I know I will with mine, albeit in crumpled clothes. Happy Easter!
Click here to read “Make Time For Family Time” on the Kideeko online parenting magazine
And read here “How to Cut Down On Your Laundry”
I’m not a fan of ironing. Only essentials.
My youngest daughter said to me some years ago, “mum, do you even know where the ironing board is kept?”
I replied, “of course I do. I see your dad get it out the cupboard when he irons his shirts and trousers”. I will quickly point out that my husband was in the royal navy and still prefers to do his own ironing!
Gosh, that’s an attractive trait in a man, Caz! 😉
Thank you for another feel-good post. I’m definitely in the non-iron camp. When I’m talking to groups of twin parents-to-be, avoiding ironing is one of my top tips for time management, so I’m glad you sanction it too. Next time someone calls me slovenly, I will quote your blog at them!
What wise, practical and humane advice, Carol – it might not be the kind of tip prospective parents expect from a medical advisor, but I bet it’s one of the tips they are most grateful for!
LOL I don’t even know where our iron is! I assume we have one…..
A very healthy attitude, Helen!
I’m all over the ironing boycott, but grocery shopping online scares me a bit. I like to squeeze my produce, I guess. But maybe I should at least try it, I might be pleasantly surprised.
I do still make the occasional offline purchase – there’s a great fresh fruit and vegetable stall that I use a lot (squeezing produce) – but for the stuff where squeezing doesn’t help (tinned foods, washing poweder etc), online is fine. But you have to choose your online provider carefully – kiss a lot of grocery frogs to find the prince. I tried and rejected a few before finding the one I currently use (Ocado, which I’m sure doesn’t operate in your neighbourhood!) My chief gripe with the rejects was that if they were out of stock of something, they’d substitute what they thought was the next best thing. All every well if the appointed grocery picker is of a similar mindset to the customer, but I’ve had some strange and impractical substitutions – such as a pack of disposable nappies (diapers) when Laura was tiny for the wrong sized baby! Not sure how they thought that was going to work…