Doing the laundry is like raising a family

Washing laundry is kind of like raising a family. 

You have all different sorts of clothes to deal with just like you do personalities.  
Some people are like jeans, rough and tumble yet laid back and comfortable.
Others are like sweaters, a little heavy and restrictive but generally nice and warm.
There are always a few dressier clothes.  They're a little higher maintenance but they sure  can make a good impression.
Towels are like the family members who hang back and just soak it all in while washcloths are the ones who come in and clean up the messes.
Then there are all those delicate items that take special care but with whom you have the most intimate relationship.
And every family has a red sock once in a while, a trouble maker who needs sorted out and dealt with individually.


When doing the laundry or raising a family, it's important to know the following things.
Temperature matters...not everyone is the same, some can handle the heat and others shrink under it.
Picking the proper setting for the situation is important.  Some situations will require a gentle cycle while others will demand something a little more aggressive.
Detergent is like love.  It filters out the dirt and covers up the smell.  Every load needs it.  So does every person.
Sorting is optional but just because you can put everyone together at once doesn't mean you should.
And no matter what, there will be agitation. 

So next time you're turning the kids' clothes right side out and picking tissue pieces from the dryer vent and you're feeling overwhelmed by the pile spilling out of the hamper, just remember that someday, when the kids are grown and gone, the loads will be lighter.  But you may just be surprised to find that you miss it.