You thought delegating was going to make your life easier. What you didn’t realize was that it was going to make those nosy relatives harder.
In other words, people don’t like it that I’m delegating, or I’m getting pushback on delegating, once they find out just how much I don’t do.
This is a real thing, guys, but it’s built on a layer of false beliefs. Let’s explore some of them.
Number one: My in-laws won’t like it that I’m making the kids do my work (aka housework). Your mother-in-law told you that SHE always made the kids’ beds for them till they turned 10, or did all the dishes AND all the cleaning, right?
Um, stop that right there. SHE isn’t the one raising your kids.
So if you’re the parent in charge of the parenting, so to speak, your way goes. SHE can’t say that the way she raised her kids is the right way to raise all kids. Get that?
YOU are the mom. Their mom.
You’re a different person, with different needs, energy levels, values, and desires for your kids. You know what you want them to learn, how best to teach it, and what season of life you’re in.
You know – none better. All right?
Your mother-in-law isn’t the one raising your kids.
Number two: It’s actually my partner that I’m afraid won’t like it when I’m making the kids do my housework. He actually told me that he didn’t really like that I wasn’t the one cleaning the bathrooms anymore because I do a better job.
Okay, full stop. HE isn’t the one teaching them how to clean or managing his energy as he’s home all day or getting everyone to pull his-or-her own weight around the home (probably!).
Now, you can discuss it together, of course, but HE doesn’t get to tell you that you should have enough energy to do all the cleaning when he hasn’t lived it. Okay?
So no guilting yourself back into doing the chores you just let go of. (Besides, it’s good for your kids to know how to clean up after themselves. Life skills, anyone?)
These are just two of the false beliefs you can hold even after you get to the chore delegation part.
Because nitty gritty chore schedules and cleaning levels are one thing, but it’s a whole ‘nother mindset to stay strong in the “I need more time for myself (or my business), my 9-year-old is perfectly capable of vacuuming, and any complaints about floors are now going to him” thinking.
A whole ‘nother thing.
So if this is what’s tripping you up about chore delegating, let me help you with that and make sure your chores stay delegated.
Because if there’s one thing you don’t want, it’s to taste freedom and then go right back to the scrubbing (so to speak).
No, we want to support you to stay unbusy, stay freed up, and focus on that next launch or next pregnancy or next teenager entering homeschooled high school.
That’s the real point of all of this.
