I enjoy washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen after eating. Seeing the kitchen and dining area after it’s all done is satisfying.
This first became a “thing” when I read an article by Leo Babauta in 2010 that impacted the way I approach all the mundane but necessary tasks of the day.
“Have you eaten your rice porridge? Then you had better wash your bowl.”
It’s become the default in our home. My girls have picked up on it over the years. They don’t complain. They just go. We just go.
It’s not a chore that no one likes to do. But instead, it’s part of the process of having a meal.
If we eat, we clean.
I have found that my kids pick up their cues from me. If I hate something, they hate it. If I like it, they like it. This is not true 100% all of the time. But pretty stinkin’ close.
These are the habits that I wanted in myself. I wanted to have a clean kitchen.
I never complained when I had to wash dishes when they were children. I simply followed through on my task after our meals. They were eager to start washing dishes when they were old enough to reach the sink.
The truth is that they are not as eager now that they’re older, but they know the routine and never complain. I know, it’s hard to believe.
Dinner guests seem impressed every time they come over. As soon as we finish eating dinner, the entire family launches into cleaning mode.
No fussing. We just go. We’ve become so efficient that it almost looks unreal. I guess it’s that damn modeling and leading thing.
