Thank you for your responses to my emails! You give me ideas on articles, and it also helps me to know the areas in which you struggle.

This month we have practiced the habit of shining our kitchen sink. I have asked for pictures of your shiny sinks, and some of the responses have been interesting to me.

One mom related that she felt like she was nagging her children if she asked them to rinse their dishes and put them in the dishwasher. If she had to ask them more than once, she felt like it was nagging.

You children need to learn to clean up behind themselves. It is a life skill to clean up behind yourself. Rinsing your dishes and putting them in the dishwasher is a life skill.

A few of you don’t want your children to put dishes in the dishwasher because they won’t put them in the “right” spot. You don’t want to go back to the dishwasher to rearrange it. You can show your children what items go on the top rack and which ones go on the bottom rack. You can show them how to put the silverware in the basket (knife points down for safety).

Teach them and remind them when needed (reminders are not nagging). If you praise and reward them for a job well done, they are more apt to continue in the habit.

Shining your sink does not have to be a big ordeal for you. Keep it simple. When I shine it at night, I wash it out with warm, soapy water. I rinse it. Then I dry it with that day’s dishcloth. I pop the dirty cloth in the washer and lay out a clean cloth.

I run my dishwasher twice a day. In the evening, I start it right after dinner. During the day, I start it after lunch. The boys put their dishes in it throughout the day, and they work as a team to unload it. A few weeks ago, we had to hand wash dishes for several days, and they now have an appreciation for the dishwasher and ease of just rinsing dishes.

Unless you do not have water running to your kitchen sink, no excuses today. Shine your sink!

Your Home Blessing for today is to dust and vacuum.

Your Zone Missions for today is to put away ALL of your clothes.

My menu plan for Tuesday is beef stew.

Have a blessed day!