young maid

Last week we started off on Monday with a messy house.  Seems like Mondays are always messy.  I knew I had a full week ahead, and was already tired.  Not a good combination, I'm afraid.  Besides that, sometimes I feel like shouldn't have to do all the work, you know.  So.  Being that we were in somewhat of a desparate situation, I devised a game.

It was awesome if I must say so myself.  (And I must.  Cuz I don't think anyone else around here thought it was very awesome.)



First, I had to set the stage.  I announced with great enthusiasm, "After the Family Home Evening lesson I have a fun game planned!"
Yayyyy!  (This was very exciting because we don't do FHE games, or fun treats that match the lesson, or anything else cool like that.  We just have a lesson.  Period.  And sometimes we throw in an ice cream cone if we're feeling crazy.)  After my little announcement, excitement was high.

As promised, we had a brief but meaningful discussion led by dad.  Then?  The game!!!  "OK, mom!  It's time for the game now!  Remember?"

Oh yeah, I remembered. 



Here's how the game went.  "This is such a fun game.  I made it up myself, and it's really fun.  You know the game 'Old Maid'?  It's kind of like that.  But this game is called 'Young Maid'!  Doesn't that sound fun?  It's really fun!  (Insert big, convincing smile here.)  This is how it works.  We are going to have two teams.  I've got this list of 'tasks', and you 'get' to be 'young maids'!  And who ever gets their list done happily wins!  Doesn't this sound fun?"

Silence.  Blank stares.


"And if we are all happy while we play the game, we will all get ice cream!  Won't this be fun?!!!"



They loved it.   Oh, they might have resisted a little at first.  There might have even been a few, "Mom!  This isn't a fun game!" remarks.  (Which I contradicted with an oh, contrare!  it's fun for me!!!!)  Dad might have even been less than enthused.  But really, my game was a hit.  Half hour "young maid" = semi-tidy house.  We wrapped up the night with ice cream in our freshly cleaned kitchen and I, at least, was happy as a clam.

I think I'm gonna market this idea.