A mum-of-six copes with her huge family by wearing earplugs to drown out her kids and only allocating them a single cup and bowl each to cut on washing up. Sharon Johnson, 36, has mastered ways to make life less chaotic with children, Lusilia, 12, Sophia, 10, Pratt, nine, Coop, seven, Philp, six, and Nadine, three.
She limits screentime to just one hour a week, and gives each child a chore they have to do for an entire year. They all have one cup and plate each to keep on top of washing up, and save on cupboard space, and one colour-coded robe dressing gown to keep laundry to a minimum.
The family also has a weekly rotating dinner schedule which stays the same each week - where they each choose a meal. And to take the edge off, Sharon admits she wears earplugs in the evenings to get some much-needed peace and quiet before bedtime.
Sharon, a stay-at-home mum, from Utah, US, said: “We unexpectantly became a big family so it has been an adjustment. We’re finally getting there and doing some of these things helps me with my mental load.
“My sister suggested the yearly chore assignment and I thought she was crazy but actually it’s great. The ear plugs are great to reduce the loud noises in the evening. I can still hear them but it’s not too loud that it breaks my brain.”
Sharon lives with her husband Kerry, 36, and their six children, Lusilia, 12, Sophia, 10, Pratt, nine, Coop, seven, Philp, six, and Nadine, three. The mum has learnt some tips over the years to help her cope with her busy household.
“They each have their own cup, water bottle and robe and they just have one each,” she said. “It helps us keep on top of washing and stops squabbling over who gets what mug.
“I keep eight plates so we have to wash them throughout the day. We let each kid do one musical instrument and one sporting extra curriculum to make it fair and financially viable.”
Sharon also sets each kid a chore for the year, instead of switching them up week on week. “My sister suggested it and I first I thought she was crazy but it helps me keep on top of what each of my children are doing,” she said.
“Nadine is a bit too young for a task so I help her make her bed. My eldest Lusilia cleans the TV room and unloads the dishwasher.
“Sophia cleans up the outside areas and cleans the downstairs bathroom. Pratt does the upstairs bathroom and living room.
“Coop takes out the bins everyday and cleans the hallway. Philip feeds the cat and picks up anything left in the entry way. The chores are suited to their ages.”
Sharon also swears by a weekly rotating dinner schedule. “Each of the kids have picked out a meal for the week and we keep it the same until they get bored and want to change it,” she said.
“Then we’ll just replace that one meal. It doesn’t always go to plan and I’ll end up sticking in some chicken nuggets but it normally helps with my mental load and I don’t have to plan meals each week. The kids help out in the kitchen with their chosen meal rather than all of them every night so it doesn’t get overcrowded.”
She breaks out her ear plugs in the evening to help out drown out the noise of her kids. “It can be a sensory overload,” she said.
“The ear plugs reduces it just enough that I can still hear them but just not as loudly. I limit screen time to half an hour twice a week but sometimes I’m flexible with it.
“As a family of eight we have to make stricter rules. Everyone knows the expectations this way.”
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