Donna's household manual
Before filming starts, each wife writes a manual explaining how their house is run. Below are highlights from Donna's manual.
HOUSEHOLD CHORES
How often do you clean your home?
My husband Craig does all the cleaning in our house. I am a working Mum and he has taken on the role of house-husband. All the cleaning is done to a strict routine every week ? Craig runs a very tight ship and that's the way he likes it.
Who does the general cleaning around the house?
I don't do any cleaning ? that's all left to Craig to do when I'm at work. I'm a full-time teacher and Craig looks after the home.
The boys help with the cleaning ? when they go on to university, they'll need to be responsible and independent. Once a week, they have to tidy, dust and clean their rooms. If their rooms aren't ship-shape by Thursday, then Craig will make sure that they do it.
WHO DOES THE FOLLOWING, AND HOW OFTEN?
Vacuuming?
Craig does all the hoovering in the house. He'll do it when I'm at work and he usually sets aside Monday and Thursday to do the whole house.
Dusting?
Craig does all of the dusting on a Monday. He does the whole house from top to bottom.
Straightening up?
Tidying is ongoing in this house and we expect whoever has made a mess to tidy it up themselves. Craig will do most of the general tidying throughout the day.
Ironing?
Craig does all of our ironing. As a rule Craig would probably iron every Wednesday and Friday - but he also does it when it's needed. I like my family to look good and ironing is done to a high standard ? Craig even irons my nightie.
Cleaning the bathroom?
We have three bathrooms, and it's Craig's responsibility to clean them. On Mondays he'll get down on his hands and knees to scrub the floor and the toilet properly.
The boys have been trained to wipe the bathrooms over whenever they've used them ? and we make sure that they do it; although sometimes they do need prompting.
Clothes washing?
Craig does all of the clothes washing ? usually on a Tuesday and a Friday. Monday is the day that he will wash all of the bed sheets and towels.
Cleaning the kitchen?
The kitchen is always kept clean. Craig does a big clean every Monday. After that, anyone who uses the kitchen is expected to clean up after themselves ? that includes the children.
COOKING / MEALS
How often do you sit down and eat together?
We feel very strongly as parents that our family should sit down at the table and eat together every single day. Every tea-time we have home-cooked food and discuss everybody's day round the table. We talk about what everybody's done that day, and we all take it in turns to share our stories.
Once a week we all go out for a family meal together in a restaurant. We can all sit down and have a chat. It's usually a Wednesday.
Who prepares meals?
Everybody gets their own breakfast in the mornings.
We all take a lunchbox to school. Craig makes lunchboxes for both of the boys ? I usually make my own.
During the week Craig prepares the evening meal which is all home-cooked from scratch. He even bakes his own bread.
One of Lewis's chores is to cook an evening meal for the whole family once a week. We believe boys should be able to look after themselves when they leave home ? it's all part of making sure that they grow up to be independent, responsible adults.
Does Craig help with dinner?
Craig does all of the cooking ? and he's very good at it. We all eat very well in this house.
DAILY ROUTINE
What time do you get up?
This whole house runs like a military ship.
Craig sets his alarm for 7:15am. At 7:30am, he'll do the boys' packed lunches.
Cory and Lewis get up at 7:15am. The boys get themselves up. We're all early risers. We don't do lie-ins.
At that time the boys will be having their breakfast and getting showered. Craig takes the boys to school at 8:15am.
My morning routine is separate from everyone else's.
I get up at 7am. I do my exercises in the lounge for 15 minutes ? stretching and toning. Then at 7:15 I have cereals for my breakfast. I also have one tablet each of cod liver oil, evening primrose oil, a cranberry supplement and vitamin C. After having breakfast, I get in the shower, get dressed and do the tidying up. I leave the house for work at 7.45am.
How much time do you need to get ready in the morning?
I have my own routine in the mornings and it runs like clockwork. I am up, and out of the house within 45 minutes.
What time do you go to bed?
Craig and I will be in bed by 10pm on a weekday evening. Even when we have our night out at the pub on a Friday, we go early so that we can be back home and in bed for around 10pm.
Even at the weekend, we rarely go to bed much later than 10.30pm ? we always seem to be tired as there's so much to fill our days with.
CHILDCARE / DISCIPLINE
Who does the childcare? What does it involve?
As far as the childcare is concerned, Craig and I split the responsibility 50/50. As parents (and also as a family) we discuss everything fully before we take any action. Craig and I almost always agree on everything with regards to the children.
How do you discipline the children?
We rarely have to discipline the kids as they are very well behaved. We believe that we are now reaping the rewards of the structure and routine that we imposed on the kids since they were born. If we do ever have to punish the children, Craig and I will discuss what we think is suitable. We will also ask the children what they think they have done wrong, and what they think is a suitable punishment. We will usually take away some of their privileges such as computer games or pocket money.
THE RELATIONSHIP
What tips can you give for coping with Craig?
Everything in our house runs like clockwork and so I would say that the best way to cope with Craig is to make sure that you fit in with our routine, for example, make sure you're around when Craig says the evening meal is ready because he puts a lot of work into making it.
There aren't many things that annoy Craig, but he doesn't like rude people or people who swear a lot.
How do you like to be treated?
I like to have my cake and eat it. I like equality between the sexes but I want to be treated like a lady at the same time ? I like Craig to be gentlemanly and treat me well. I expect him to hold doors open for me and go to the bar when we're out at the pub.
HOUSE PHILOSOPHY
Please sum up the philosophy of this house and life within it.
I'm a teacher at home and have brought some elements of the classroom to the family. I have rules and boundaries so that my boys know what I expect of them.
My husband and I have traditional values ? we think that education, hard work and respect are very important. We keep a close eye on our boys to make sure that they stick to the rules ? as a teacher I know how much children need routine and consistency.
We spend a lot of time together ? we like sitting at the table talking to each other and finding out about each other's days. We don't depend upon friends or family for our social lives ? I'm happiest at home with my family.
The house is run like a military ship. Routine and structure are very important to us. Things happen at a set time ? and they run like clockwork. No school could operate without a time-table ? and we have one at home that makes sure our family runs smoothly.
We are a happy family. Our children are what children ought to be. We have worked hard to bring them up, and now we're reaping the rewards.
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