Author Topic: Laundry, Big Families, and Frugality (Read 8639 times)

Matthew · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2011, 11:57:13 AM »

I should also point out that America has many issues with over-killing germs. Livestock are routinely fed antibiotics, and everyone uses anti-bacterial soap.

The result?

Now we have superbugs that NO ANTIBIOTIC MAN POSSESSES will kill. So Nature is having the last laugh. Wait until just one of those superbugs gets widespread -- nothing we have will be able to stop it.

Reality always comes back to bite you.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2011, 12:21:35 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

I don't think the reason you don't require your kids to bathe every day is because of this, but because of the cost involved in showering right? (Not being rhetorical, and answer would help clarify your point for me)

The only real cost involved in showering every day here is the indirect cost of the laundry it creates. Even if my kids wanted to shower twice a day and put their not-so-dirty clothes back on, I still wouldn't let them because it's not good for them.

Matthew · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2011, 12:41:30 PM »

Quote from: Raoul76

Matthew, what you're saying sounds a bit Puritan to me, that part where you criticize having a drink as being "soft." Might as well stop eating entirely, since after a burger you'll feel content, satiated and therefore wuss-like.

Moderation in all things, sure, but each person has to decide what that is for himself in accordance with the will of God. I go out to nice dinnerrs sometimes with Catholic friends, because it would be pompous not to, bit on my own I rarely if ever go to fancy places. That is enough to keep me detached in my heart, along with other penances.

As for not showering, let me just say this -- Alex must have lots of Vitamin D! Private jests aside, I confess I take a long shower everyday. I want to progress to a quicker shower. As for my clothes, I wear nice-ish dry-cleaned shirts when I go out, then when I get back, I hang them up and re-use them the next time I go out. I get about four excursions out of each shirt, depending on how funky they get. So I look presentable without spending an exorbitant amount. At home, I wear the wrinkly ones in the dry-cleaning heap. The next step is to learn to iron.

I'd say my life is too soft at the moment, in some ways, though in others it is intense. Rushing into more asceticism and piling it on is often a trap of pride. It can eventually lead to an inverse reaction -- more sloth. Humility is understanding your limitations.

No, it's NOT puritan.

Alcohol and food are licit pleasures. My point is that those pleasures should already meet one's "pleasure quotient" for the day, because multiplying licit pleasures = living a soft life, one in which it will be more difficult to avoid sin (illicit pleasures).

All the saints taught that LICIT pleasures must be curbed, in order to avoid consenting to illicit pleasures.

The puritans would say that licit pleasures are not licit to begin with. That is not true.

"Humility is understanding your limitations."

And discussing the truth -- the Ideal -- is CathInfo. :)

Elizabeth · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2011, 01:06:41 PM »

Quote from: TKGS

We have 5 children ranging from age 10 to 18 (the oldest has just graduated from our homeschool and she is preparing to enter the convent in August) and we generally do a load of laundry each day except on Monday when we have to do extra laundry since we don't do laundry on Sunday.

I have no idea why families would have to do 4 loads a day unless they have the older model small capacity washers.

I think it is for separating colors. We have pets, and they definitely cause more laundry and more cleaning of everything.

I am a firm believer in regular bathing, and I sincerely thank God for the luxury of running water. I have never taken it for granted, not since I spent a month in Jamaica and another month on a tiny island with no running water.

Also the tenant farmers at our old farm only had a pump and an outhouse when I was little. It was so daggone hot I don't know how they survived growing tobacco, except it was very clean overall, and the water came from an Artesian well.

I get being frugal and think it is prudent to teach our children to make sacrifices, though.

copticruiser · « **Reply #14 on:** April 29, 2011, 02:07:54 PM »

Think I got ya all beat! Im off grid so generator goes on for 2hrs in the evening. Only 1 load is all I can manage with the 5 kids ages 2 to 10. We use a solar pump and cistern system so I use about 60gall (canadian) per day. I have found (we live on a farm) that plastic pants, overalls etc help ALOT with dirty clothes.

When my temper flares though I do go into their rooms chuck it all in a bag and each child is allowed 3 farm outfits and 3 church outfits THE END. When they show me they can be responsible about their clothes I slowly allow them more variety.

Its always a constant battle but hey it comes with the territory. Being simplified makes life easier for sure.

The bathing issue well when they are dirty u have no choice. When we go out especiall to church they have no choice. One bath does em all. The oldest goes first followed by the youngest. A good rinse under the shower is all they need.