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Kristen, prompted

October 21, 2021

A menial task I don’t mind doing

Laundry!

I don’t know for sure why this is, but I have a theory: for the first 2.5 years of my adult life, we lived in a basement apartment, where we had access to the upstairs washer and dryer for one day per week.

Kristen in her basement apartment in 1999
A pregnant me in our washer-less apartment

This was a little challenging with two adults, but exponentially more challenging once we became parents.

So when we bought our townhouse, I was thrilled to pieces to have my own washer and dryer.

The luxury! To be able to wash clothes on any day, not just Wednesday!

It was amazing.

A basement laundry area.
Oh look! I found a photo of my townhouse laundry area. I still have that washer and drier here at this house!

So, now I kind of wonder if that’s why I don’t mind doing laundry. Perhaps the joy of a personal washer and dryer has never worn off.

Also, I think laundry is pretty easy, particularly when I think about how laborious laundry has been in the past. Even my grandma had a wringer instead of a washing machine!

Folding is probably the most annoying part of laundry, but I like that I can mindlessly do it while watching anatomy videos or while listening to one of my girls tell me about their workday.

What’s a menial task you don’t mind doing?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kristin @ going country says

    October 21, 2021 at 7:21 am

    You took mine. 🙂 But my second thought was sweeping my kitchen. It’s quiet, sort of contemplative, not physically demanding, and has an immediate payoff. Very satisfying.

    Reply
    • kristenprompted says

      October 21, 2021 at 7:30 pm

      Am I surprised our answers were the same?
      NO.

      Reply
  2. Battra92 says

    October 21, 2021 at 8:02 am

    I don’t mind doing laundry, hanging it up to dry and taking it down off the line. I’m just not one for folding it.

    I also really don’t mind loading and unloading the dishwasher. I’m always surprised at people who refuse to use a dishwasher. It’s just so darn easy!

    Reply
  3. TG says

    October 21, 2021 at 9:37 am

    Vacuuming, I don’t do it enough but prior to covid it was a regular part of my morning routine.
    I have children living away and I always thought (prayed) for them during this time.
    Now my routine is to pickup someone up every morning. Instead of looking at it as a chore, I find specific podcasts I only listen to then.
    I always enjoyed the books Max Lucado wrote for children and he has a lovely podcast that fits in this time frame.
    I’ve got to admit it blesses me

    Reply
  4. Lindsey says

    October 21, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    Cleaning the top of the stove and kitchen counters. I have no idea why, but it calms me.

    Reply
  5. Barb F. says

    October 21, 2021 at 7:44 pm

    I’m with you on the washer/dryer. Laundry mats are hot, and no fun, and don’t always have a chair to sit upon. Much prefer mine at home, and the ability to hang it all outside costing me 0$ and giving me some exercise and Vitamin D. Getting it all folded and put away snags me most weeks.

    Reply
  6. Jenny says

    October 21, 2021 at 9:49 pm

    Hey, I’ll say laundry, too! Except the folding and putting away- that snags me, too. Why I don’t know. Smells good? Symbolic of fresh starts? Not too much actual hard labor? (When I had a newborn, years ago, I had cloth diapers, no washing machine, and we had 1 car. When an aunt gave me her old wringer washer, it was the greatest! I used it on the screened porch, just like the Waltons or something! And it’s important that I remember, in case I get a little unappreciative sometimes!)
    Since I got to move my laundry equipment out of the basement, it’s even more fabulous!
    I don’t really mind dishes, either, for maybe the same reasons.

    Reply
  7. Karen. says

    October 26, 2021 at 10:16 am

    Really, given adequate time for whatever task is at hand, I don’t mind most of them. I only really procrastinate cleaning the bathroom. If I have to be hurried, any menial task is too much, ha.

    Reply
  8. CrunchyCake says

    October 27, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    Me too – I don’t mind laundry. I kind of like putting it all in order and folding things nicely. Maybe it’s because when my kids were younger, they used to keep me company while I did the laundry (heck, when they were younger, they kept me company while doing everything – we were always together!) and I’d dump the warm, dryer fresh laundry on top of them and they’d squeal with delight and roll around in it. They always loved it and I always love them. It doesn’t happen as much these days but their joy and our togetherness sure made a menial task meaningful.

    Reply

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