Home needs recycling czar
DEARAMY » My wife and I have been married for eight years.
We’ve always shared household chores, which has worked well.
She recently put her career on hold to focus on our two small children, and she is an amazing mother.
My only complaint is her apathy toward recycling. I’m constantly picking recyclables out of the trash and trash out of the recycling bin.
Recyclables that do make it into the correct bin are often contaminated with food waste which, I’ve read, gum up sorting and processing machines.
I’ve gently reminded her of the proper way to handle recyclables, but I am usuallymet with a “whatever” attitude or dismissive comment about “washing garbage.”
More often, I just quietly pick through the respective bins and put things in the right spot, but I feel like that’s encouraging her to continue not to care.
I realize in the grand scheme of things this is a pretty minor infraction and part of the issue is my meticulousness, but I’mwondering if you have any suggestions on how to persuade her to care more about proper recycling etiquette?
— Wearied Waste
Warrior
DEARWEARIED » My solution is to suggest that you simply realize that your wife is a nonstarter in this regard, and to stop campaigning and correcting her. I am thereby appointing you the Recycle Czar of your household (your scepter is in themail). As such, you will take on this job with enthusiasm and without complaint. Furthermore, I’m appointing your two young children to be your official assistants.
Even very young children can enjoy the job of safely sorting (clean) plastics (no sharp metal edges, please). You should delineate a color-coded bin for the recyclables, teach your kids the basics, explain to themwhy you are doing this, place the clean plastics and paper goods on the floor, and ask them to put these things into the appropriate bin (there are some fun videos on YouTube illustrating the process). Then they can help you take the bin to the curb and watch the big truck take the discarded items away.
DEARAMY » Thank you for your wise response to “Frustrated in the Kitchen,” who was so upset that her two stepsons (both addicts) were so often extremely late for her special home-cooked meals.
As a mother who lost a son to addiction, I can tell you that I never stop wishing there was one more birthday or holiday meal with my son.
Establishing a “home” for those suffering with addiction is the kindest act a parent can do.
Yes, they can be late and unreliable and maybe they won’t stay long. But coming home for holiday meals can be a great blessing for troubled souls.
A family group like AA or NA could be of great help to these parents.
At the end of a meeting, they always say, “Keep coming back...”
And that’s what parents should always say to their children.
I would give anything to see my son at my front door. Frustrated and her husband can work out the kitchen problems. Time with family is so much more important.