Sunday morning, I hurried through lunch prep for the week and making the younger girls breakfast. Arnauld had once again offered to fold the laundry if I sorted it by child. This was not a gift I wanted to give up on, so I was working to fit in the sorting before Wren and I left for her dance competition. You may think that this job would be a quick one, but in our house, I wash laundry all week and save the folding for the weekends. Save is probably not an accurate word-if I had time, I’d fold during the week! As I turned clothes right side out and sorted among the three baskets I had laid out, I wondered aloud, “How can these kids wear so many clothes?”
Fast forward to Sunday night. When Wren and I arrived home, each daughters’ laundry had been folded and left in their respective rooms. I moved from room to room putting the laundry away. This was a job I once let the girls do on their own…until I tried to open their drawers. After spending way too many hours refolding every article of clothing they own, I have decided it is worth the few minutes of putting laundry away myself rather than relying on my messy children.
When I got to Wren’s room, or maybe more accuratly labeled, pigsty, I asked her “Is everything on the floor dirty?”
She grunted a yes and I held back the lecture on putting your clothes in the hamper as soon as you take them off…I wasn’t in the mood. I just gathered the clothes and dumped them in the hamper in the hall.
That’s when Arnauld walked past. The sight of the hamper stopped him in his tracks and he stood looking at it puzzled. “This was just completely empty,” he said. I knew the feeling. Hours worth of laundy, sorting, and folding only for it to look like you hadn’t done a thing.
Our hamper makes me think of Strega Nona and the spell she cast on her pot so that dinner was always ready on time. Perhaps, she has cast a spell on our hamper, to ensure it is never empty. If only we could reverse the curse!
Where There Is Joy 
A magic hamper! Ha! This really captures this moment in time from your busy life. As an empty nester, this stage is but a memory for me. I did just warn my newly-turned-dad son that folding a load full of teeny tiny baby clothes takes forever! I guess he’s just beginning down this laundry path…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strega Nona! Thanks for the seed to read the book to my grands. It’s been a while since I have read it to my students as well. Hampers are magical.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh how nice would that be if Strega Nona cast a few spells – Can she cast them on dishes and vacuuming too, and maybe cleaning the bathroom? I really dislike house cleaning!
LikeLike
Lol. So true. Nolan’s hamper is the worst in our house, but they all wash their own clothes now so it’s easier to keep up with. You are good to sort and put away. I used to sort it all on my bed and then made them come and collect what was theirs!
LikeLike
I can picture Wren’s room. Sarah’s was just like that, and for a time, so were the grunts if anyone ever hinted that the hamper was an option. She grew out of the grunts or the surly stage. I’m afraid she’s still pretty much of laundry slob. She does feel the need to clean her apartment before we arrive for a visit. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t look that way 30 minutes before we get there. Glad A. is chipping in.
LikeLike
If only you could reverse the curse! I don’t think my girls were much older than yours when I retired from doing their laundry and taught them how. That being said, laundry provides a great source of slicing, doesn’t it! The blend of interactions and descriptions is great! How DO they wear so many clothes?
LikeLike
Ah, laundry! Hannah’s room was like Wren’s, Grace used the hamper and, like Wren, wore A LOT of dance clothes. Eventually, if she wanted something clean, she washed it – self taught launderer. Megan hated the way I folded clothes so took over quite young – and for that, I’m thankful! Here’s to Stega Nona!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strega Nona! What a welcome blast from the past! I enjoyed the image you added as well 🙂
LikeLike
Every time I read one of your slices, I’m more convinced we’re living the same life. How do the drawers get so messy??? My biggest pet peeve is when I find things in the dirty hamper that are still folded because the kids couldn’t figure out where to put them. If you figure out how to Strega Nona some laundry magic, please share your secret!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Mine do the same thing! 🙃
LikeLike