The 15 minute cleaning Blitz

Chores, Blitzes, and Surviving with Eight People in One House

Some parents don’t believe in daily chores for kids. And that’s fine, we all have different parenting styles. But in our house? Chores are survival. With eight people living under one roof, mom and dad can’t do it all.

So my four school-age kids know the drill: after school, they have a chore that takes 15–30 minutes. Then it’s homework, and then they’re free to play and just be kids. They still get plenty of time to have fun, it just comes after they’ve pitched in to help.

But let me tell you about last weekend. The house was a disaster. I’m talking trash on the floor, leftover food, McDonald’s cups, clothes everywhere, couch cushions on the ground, toys scattered, it looked like a bomb had gone off. By Sunday, I’d had enough.

So I announced a family 15-minute blitz.

I set a timer, told everyone to grab whatever they saw out of place, and assigned one kid to dishes. And you know what? It worked. Fifteen minutes later, the house looked 100% better. It wasn’t overwhelming for the kids, the timer kept them focused, and while they grumbled a little (because, hello, weekend chores are not their favorite), they survived. And so did I.

The best part? It gave me a new tool. Now, when the house is looking rough or we’re short on time, like on football nights, we do a blitz. Fifteen minutes, all hands on deck, everybody works. It’s quick, it’s effective, and it’s teaching my kids that teamwork makes the mess go away.

I even cut them deals sometimes. Last Friday the house was pretty clean, so I gave them the day off. The catch? They owed me two blitzes on the weekend: one Saturday, one Sunday.

Fair trade, right?

Here’s the thing: it’s not about being perfect. It’s about survival, teamwork, and teaching my kids that a family works together. And honestly? Fifteen minutes is magic.

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You spend your days giving your all to your kids—feeding them, cheering them on, holding them up. What if you gave yourself a little of that same love? At Kristian Hutchings Portraits, I’ll handle your hair, makeup, and posing while you relax, letting yourself be seen and cherished in portraits that reflect the incredible woman you are.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.