A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Bathing & Grooming (Kids)
The nature of this cardholder’s responsibilities changes depending on your kids’ ages, but the point is that your kids need to brush their teeth, bathe, wash their faces, cut their nails, and brush their hair. Over and over again.
Tip! Pay attention to your kids’ developing needs. If you notice a suspicious scent every time your teenager is within five feet, it’s probably time for this CPEer to buy deodorant and make sure your kid knows how often to use it. Daily!
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
The kids need to be clean
Planning
- Scheduling haircuts
- Monitoring supply of bath products, detangler, scissors, toothbrushes and floss and notifying “Home Goods & Supplies” cardholder
Execution
- Carrying out haircuts
- Managing daily showers/baths including wash/brushing hair/brushing teeth
- Cutting nails and toenails
- Boo-boo care
- Age-appropriate add-ons (e.g., deodorant, period care, razors, lotion, hair dryer, etc.)
- Conducting lice checks when needed
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Are your children groomed and presentable to the world? Would you be embarrassed to introduce your child to your boss? (i.e can you smell them from a mile away?)
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- It’s a Daily Grind: relentless and time-bound. Make sure each of you holds a fair share of these, ideally one from each suit.
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.