Solution!

Why didn't I think of this before???

Get the newest family to do it!

Sadly, he tired of it quickly but I feel there is some potential considering how excited he was when he saw Mr Dyson.

After reading the many and varied responses to my last post, I realise that we all have an axe to grind when it comes to our 'others'. I guess if they were asked, there'd be a few things lacking with us too.

I floated the idea of my Mr paying me to do his chores (I thought win, win as they'd get done and I'd have pocket money to spend on important things like fabric) He laughed his arse off and said we should get a real cleaner.

Ouch!

So nothing is actually resolved but I've vented and honestly, I realise that Mr CP is quite domesticated (makes him sound like a pet!) and I am lucky to have him.

And he's lucky to have me!!!

My aunty Pam, a fellow stitchy sister, once said, "Start as you wish to carry on."

I've held onto that advice and in the three years Mr CP and I have been together, I have held the same expectations that we share chores and responsibilities. I think it's mostly working and therefore should continue.

Time for a walk with my little slave in training  bubba.

Ab x

Division of labour

Image from here

This is a post that has been stewing inside me and needing to be written for a long time.


My brother and I were brought up by our dad, due to our mum being unwell and being in a nursing home from when I was nine. My dad cooked, cleaned and he can even sew (no, really!) so my expectations of what the man of the house does isn't the usual.

When Harvey was born I suddenly felt a pressure to be 'Suzy homemaker' and it made me angry. I must say that Mr CP in no way inferred/said/demanded that I do everything but I was angry all the same.

I feel that because I became a mother, there was some sort of expectation for me to become in charge of looking after the whole household (maybe my own expectations of myself...?). But how is that fair? I don't make all the mess, the Mr uses this house as much as I do. In this year off it would be easy to take on more than my fair share because I am not 'working' but really, I am. The Mr goes to paid work for 40 hours a week and I look after Harvey while he's not here. That's my work. Fair to say it's more than 40 hours a week too.

I decided that we needed to determine the set tasks that we would each complete.
I do the cooking, he does the dishes. I do the washing, he mows the lawn.
We alternate the floor cleaning and bathroom cleaning on a weekly basis.

Except, we don't.
Every week I have to remind the Mr that it's his week to do the floors or bathroom (EDIT: Mr CP DOES do the other jobs, the battle is the floors/bathrooms and general picking up/tidying. I don't want to misrepresent him as a slacker because he is definitely not that. The issues are mostly mine. Mostly ;o). There is a three day window in which to do your set chores (work and life get in the way sometimes) but every week I have to nag, be bossy and threaten to get a cleaner.
It's driving me nuts.

So I want to know, what is your division of labour?

How do you decide who does what? How do the household chores get done?
I'm looking for some wisdom from everyone.
I don't want to be a nag (channeling screeching fishwife...no offence to fishwives ;o)

Help?!?!

Ab x

Things and Stuff

Harvey was gifted an amazing handmade hat made by 'aunty' Beccasaurus.

It's made out of vintage Richard Scarry Busytown fabric. It's ace!

Thanks so very much Bec.

A secret squirrel project....soon to be revealed.

A stitchery I'm making for my friends daughters Christening gift. 

Guess who's on the move?

Apparently he's hankering to explore the outside world.

Happy Sewing people,

Ab x

We can dance, we can dance...

Everybody look at your pants!

The clothes making obsession hasn't ended so it must be a real one.

Some luscious lion pants for my roary lion.

Who has a big* lioney tooth to bite you with.

Finally some real Quick Change Trousers from Handmade Beginnings.

Funky red with robots on one side and boisterous blue with planes on the other. 

They were easy to make and I think they look pretty snazzy.

He'll get lots of wear out of them as I made the 9 month size (he's 7 months) and he's a little dainty for his age.

I will not be dainty for my age if I keep eating lunch dessert like this.

But it was a birthday treat for me.

31 the other day.

It snuck by without fanfare...it seems the stuff that used to be all about me isn't so much any more. Even more shocking, I don't mind!

It's all about the well dressed monster who is currently trying to pull the laptop cord out as I type.

Every time I see this pattern I Swoon.

Last night I decided I had to buy it because I need to make this quilt.

Camille had a sale for Halloween so I splurged a whole $7.49 (big spender, I know!) and now it's on its way to me.

There's going to be some tough decisions regarding what fabric to make the quilt out of....

Sending BIG LOVE to my lovely bloggy and now real-life friend B, who is going through some very tough family stuff.

Ab x

*Be scared, the big tooth is just poking through the skin. Just.