Call for the general

Not all controversial topics of conversation are forbidden.

Take the subject of children and chores, for example. Though this is controversial in many ways – between parent and child, between sibling and sibling, between parent and parent (both of the same family and another household) – and heated emotion is likely to be fanned to flame, it’s a conversation that crops up on a regular basis.

A principle on which we can agree is, it takes a dish or two to make a dish, if you get my meaning. It is a universal truth nature abhors a vacuum. There is mounting scientific evidence this truth applies to kitchen counters as well. In our house, it is frequently true we have to wash the dishes – the pots and pans, at least - before using the dishes.

On the other hand, when we were growing up, the stay-at-home mums would start nudging the kids about half an hour before the dads were expected to arrive home from bread-winning. The goal was to achieve a moment of supreme cleanliness and order in the house for the homecoming. As I recall, they – the mums and the kids - often pulled this off with a great deal of finesse. The dads would arrive home to a table set for dinner and a tidy living room. In some homes, this was known as “calling for the General”– General Cleanup, that is.

These days, it’s almost impossible to set up such a scene. Now that shift work is so common, it’s hard to find an hour when the whole family is home at the same time. Just getting basic household maintenance assigned, let alone accomplished, is fraught with controversy.

Where I work, the topic of what can reasonably be expected of an offspring or a spouse is frequently the basis of a peppery exchange. For those of us with families, General Cleanup does not pay a regular call.

One thing you can agree on, I’m sure: There is nothing like expecting company to motivate General Cleanup! It helps if you care to make your home a true reflection of who you are – virtuously meticulous, orderly to the last teaspoon, intriguingly creative and artistic, of course! When a long-lost relative phones to let you know she’ll be there in half an hour? You and General Cleanup can spring clean in 10 minutes!

The bottom line on this matter, no matter what responsibilities you work out or delegate to the family, you are not alone in the midst of the clutter - although it may well be your idiosyncratic clutter. Dr. Phil and Oprah are there to help us get in touch with the General, not to mention the FlyLady* with her “27-Fling Boogie” and House Fairy** with her promise (or premise) children love order.

Oh, it’s clear we’re not alone in our jumbled nests, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing General Cleanup would pay more frequent calls! *http://www.flylady.net **http://housefairy.org