11 Things Wives Do That Seem Small But Keep Their Whole Family Functioning
Whether anyone else notices or not, wives keep their whole household running in tiny ways every single day.
Kitreel / Shutterstock Most wives are always on a mission to keep things together. Whether they're dealing with a crisis at work or an incident with their kids at school, the last thing a woman needs is disorganization or chaos in her home. This is why there are several things wives do that seem small, but keep their whole family functioning.
It isn't always easy to keep things together at home. Chaotic kids and busy parents can make it feel impossible to keep everything in order. Yet, while wives can't do everything at once, they do focus on these things to make their family lives just a little bit easier.
These are 11 things wives do that seem small but keep their whole family functioning
1. Creating a grocery list
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The first thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is creating a grocery list. It sounds simple, right? But creating a list instead of blindly shopping is great for a multitude of reasons. From planning better to conserving money, wives can keep their families organized by going in with a plan.
According to a study published in 2015, not only are grocery lists effective for saving money, but they're also associated with a healthier diet and lower BMI. Now, is creating a list always practical? No.
Like it or not, not everyone has the time to spend jotting down everything they want to eat each week. However, if a wife truly wants to get on top of things and get her household together, then keeping things organized and figuring out what's on the menu is the best way to achieve this.
2. Keeping the home calendar updated
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As a wife, there's a lot of planning that's happening. From family functions to doctor appointments, the worst thing in the world is accidentally missing something because of a chaotic schedule. This is why something wives do that seems small, but keeps their whole family functioning, is keeping the home calendar up to date.
Whenever something comes up, the first thing a wife does is update her calendar. Call it a force of habit, but if there's one thing most wives hate, it's being unorganized. Since they already have so much on their plate, the last thing they need is more of a mess.
So, even if it's annoying to keep up with, a wife who likes to keep things in order will constantly update the home calendar. Not only does this make her family function more effectively, but it also brings her peace of mind.
3. Doing household inventory checks once a week
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A wife doesn't just make a grocery list based on what she's going to cook and call it a day. As most people know, households are much more than buying meat from Sam's Club and pasta. From toilet paper to medicine, and even clothes, the thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is conducting household inventory checks once a week.
It can be a lot to go through pantries and their kids' rooms to ensure they have everything. But as most people know, it's better to be prepared than unprepared. As cofounder of the Global Meaning Institute and author, Elaine Dundon said, "Who knows what lies ahead, but what we do know is that we can prepare ourselves now to be more resilient to future changes, including disruptions, in our lives and communities."
Now, is this a headache? Of course, but that's why husbands are for. If a wife has a supportive husband, she'll often ask him to check the kitchen for what they're running low on as she checks the bathrooms. And while this isn't the most fun activity to do, there's no denying that being prepared is much better than scrambling last minute.
4. Having bedtime routines
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There's no worse feeling than only getting a few hours of sleep. Yet for many moms, this is often their reality as they juggle kids and try to complete last-minute tasks that they couldn't do while working. This is why a thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is having bedtime routines.
Sure, it isn't always fun to gather the kids and force them to sleep at a particular time, but having a schedule is much better than trying to go by instinct. After all, sleeping at two in the morning every night because you aren't organized with your bedtime routine isn't the best feeling in the world.
So, while it might be difficult at first, eventually, families get used to the routines and adjust with ease. Making it easier for families and moms to get the sleep they need, without the chaos that often accompanies bedtime.
5. Rotating seasonal clothes
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There's no worse feeling than digging through one's closet and spending hours figuring out what to wear. This is why a thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is rotating seasonal clothes. Sure, it might take a while. But when they're on the go, having the correct clothes to wear in one place is a wife's best bet.
Especially if they have multiple kids, a mom doesn't want to spend too long digging through boots to find sandals. So, while some might call them extra, there's no denying that remaining organized is the way to go. According to the American Psychological Association, working in a cluttered space causes stress and anxiety.
So, even if it's a pain, for her sake, a wife will always keep their clothes organized to keep her household functioning.
6. Keeping important documents in folders
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Another thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is keeping important documents in folders. It should go without saying that people should keep important documents in folders; however, not everyone is as organized as these wives are.
Maybe it's because they're a perfectionist or have a lot of anxiety, but the thought of having a birth certificate in one drawer and their passport in another makes them pretty frustrated. So, rather than panic as they try to find each individual document, wives keep everything together for peace of mind.
7. Setting out clothes the night before
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How many of us scrambled in the morning as we looked for something to wear? It's anxiety-inducing, but setting out clothes the night before is a thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning. As most wives know, the last thing they want to do is pick out an outfit for their child at the last minute.
Especially when they're in a rush and don't have time to look at the weather, last-minute throw-ons can quickly cause more chaos than it's worth. So, rather than stressing themselves out, wives do their best to stay organized, especially if they have kids.
As board-certified neurologist Judy Willis, M.D., M.Ed., explained, "When you help them build their organizational skills, they develop independence and success in managing their time and lives both in and out of school." Now, is this always easy? Of course not. However, there's no denying that setting out outfits the night before is better than scrambling at the last minute.
8. Setting alarms
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Everyone has an alarm for work, but the things wives do that seem small but keep their whole family functioning are setting alarms. It isn't always easy to remember things, and when dealing with kids, getting them to transition from play to work can feel impossible.
However, wives do their best by setting multiple alarms. Whether it's for play, work, or cooking dinner, wives like to stay organized by giving themselves a time frame to get everything done. Even if it's annoying to hear the sound of their alarm clock blaring, they'd rather hear that than accidentally forget to pick up groceries or go to their dentist appointment.
9. Resetting the kitchen each night
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There's no worse feeling than waking up in the morning to a messy kitchen. With pots and pans thrown everywhere and leftover food not put in the fridge, the quickest way for a wife to absolutely explode is by leaving the house a mess. This is why a thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is resetting the kitchen each night.
Whether it's the husband or wife cooking, there's no denying that food tastes better in a clean kitchen. Especially if the wife is cooking, the greatest way to feel motivated is by cooking on a spotless stove with zero dishes in the sink. Unfortunately, this becomes impossible with a messy environment.
So, while some may roll their eyes at a wife's insistence on keeping the kitchen clean, she isn't exaggerating. According to a study published in 2010, a silent killer that's often overlooked is actually a dirty stove top. Due to the smoke and particles being thrown everywhere, it is essential to keep things clean and, if necessary, air out the area while they cook. Otherwise, women might risk compromising their health.
10. Creating a chores chart
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Once again, the key to a successful home starts with organization. This is why a thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is creating a chores chart. Sure, nobody wants to spend time writing down all the chores everyone has to do for the week.
But let's be honest: not doing so creates chaos. From dirty dishes in the sink to bathrooms that need to be cleaned, it is much better to have things listed out than wives yelling at their family to do things at the last minute. Now, will this completely prevent kids and husbands from forgetting? No, but at the very least, women can say, "Look at the chart," rather than repeating the same list over and over again.
11. Pre-washing fruits and vegetables
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Finally, the last thing wives do that seems small but keeps their whole family functioning is pre-washing fruits and vegetables. Everyone should know to wash their fruits and vegetables by now. However, there's a certain way to go about it if wives want to do so in a healthy way.
According to the Michigan State University, "The best time to wash produce is immediately before eating or cooking the product, not when it is brought home from the store." And while this is important, let's be honest: not everyone has time to do this after working an entire shift.
So, wives can either wash and try thoroughly before storing or wash the night before and dry thoroughly. Either way, as long as the fruit isn't sitting in wet water for a week, this should prevent microbes from growing and save wives a lot more time.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's degree in psychology who covers self-help, relationships, career, family, and astrology topics.
