Keeping the stress level down in the kitchen

Here are some things that I have done over the last year that have helped keep the stress level of my Aspie down, which have, in turn helped keep my stress level, and the stress level of everyone else in the house, including the pets, down.

My children must empty the dishwasher as part of the weekly chores. My Aspie really hates to work together on it. Sometimes there are reasons where he just needs to suck it up and empty it with his sister, but there are plenty of times where one can do one rack and then the other can do the other rack. Well, it takes less work to empty the top rack, so after spending several frustrating months of having them alternate who did the easy rack and trying to keep track of whose turn it is, this is what I came up with. They alternate at the beginning of each month.

We also used this same system for setting the table. The person who empties the top rack of the dishwasher has to set the plates and cups on the table, because those take more effort right now, as the kids need to stand on chairs to reach the glasses. The person who empties the tougher bottom dishwasher rack gets to put on the silverware – no climbing on chairs involved.