News Taffy

Are you falling prey to the spring cleaning urges? My spring cleaning has mingled this year with a heavy case of pregnancy nesting, and no area is really safe from me now. My girls are big helpers and want to be right under my feet with whatever I'm currently doing. Each time I clean, I'm bombarded with questions asking if they can fold clothes, wash dishes, or whatever.

Honestly, I am naturally a big perfectionist and like to do things myself; however, I firmly believe that if you don't let a child help do chores when they're young and it's fun, they won't want to help so much when they are bigger. So, with that, I usually hand my girls something and send them on their way. It's really paid off for me. My 4-year-old knows the difference in what is white, colored or delicate in our laundry and can separate not only her own clothes, but a huge pile of laundry on laundry day. My two-year-old is an expert baseboard cleaner, though it has more to do with her love of spray bottles than cleaning.

The main drawback to letting them help is finding small enough jobs that are safe. I'm definitely not going to hand my child a clorox wipe for them to get in their eyes or mouth, but water no longer makes them feel like they're cleaning. Because of that, I had to find a recipe that was easy for me, but would actually clean. My favorite one so far? Orange peels soaked in white vinegar. I stuff orange peels into a mason jar after peeling one or two for lunch or snack, and then fill it with white vinegar. After a week or two, I throw away the orange peels and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Not only does is smell like oranges and actually disinfect, it's child safe! They get to feel like they're really helping Mommy, and I get clean baseboards. That is a beautiful relationship.

So, if you have been doing some spring cleaning lately or plan to soon, get the kids involved! Make up some spray for them and give them a rag! You'd be surprised at the ownership they take on their own little jobs.

Also, don't forget that the ASU's Farmer's Market opens this Saturday! I SO excited about it!

Until next time, Heather