Household Chores and a Thin Silver Lining

Thunderthighs has known how to use the washing machine ever since I was a support driver on Northern Cross back in 2017, and showed him lest they ran out of socks while I was away…

For some time he’s done most of his own ironing.

When Ferretfingers and I were in the RVI he took our mucky stuff home, put them through the washer, hung them out and brought them in.  

At the same time he also did all his and, presumably, his father’s laundry.  

Fortunately I have enough blouses and underwear that ironing my stuff wasn’t necessary.

A few evenings after we got home I noticed his bed linen in the wash basket, said blithely “Oh I’ll put them through the wash tomorrow” and noticed his face fall a little.

The next morning we had a little chat.

“You know you’ve been doing all the washing while I’ve been away…”

“Yes.”

“Well, last night I just steamed in and took over.  Would you like to do all your own washing?  Bedding and the lot?”

Face lit up and “Yes.  On a Monday and Thursday after I’ve been to the gym.”

One less chore for mummy and more autonomy for him.

He will also do the dishes, voluntarily, two or three times a week.

Dishes, not pans or the vast number of plastic tubs for recycling.

Ferretfiners does not volunteer but will do things when asked.

He actually likes putting away the clean dry dishes and cutlery; although he has to be called back several times to complete the job.

If I put the dishes and cutlery in the washing up bowl and fill it with hot soapy water he will wash them, but only them, nothing else.  The reproachful look I get if I try to slip something extra in when he’s getting to the end would soften an unhardened heart.   

When he gets to the bottom of the bowl he empties it immediately.

He will also hoover, in a fashion, if I get the hoover out, switch it on and hand it to him.

As to Fester?

He cooks our teas.   

Except Saturday when we get a takeaway.   

And on Friday Thunderthighs gets fish and chips for himself and his brother.  

(We are well served with takeaways)

He will do the dishes if sufficiently bored, and needs a break from the endless list of pits, including pans,.  The double decker dish drying rack confounds him, and stacking either clean or dirty dishes is a skill that completely passed him by.  As has the concept that doing the dishes ‘properly’ includes cleaning the work surfaces and hob.

He will hoover the stairs, occasionally, when prompted.

To be fair neither he nor Ferretfingers produce much laundry – they’d both wear all their clothes for a week if allowed to.

I’m getting more like Edie Pegden  every day.