The one Kid Chore that’s actually a Game-Changer for Home Functionality (and helps the Planet.)

By your Friendly SE Portland Home Functionality Coach

Let’s talk kid chores. Yes, I said it. Chores. That thing no child (and frankly, most adults) wakes up excited about. But I’m here to sprinkle some fairy dust (and a little tough love) on the concept and show you how one tiny task can make a surprisingly big impact on your home’s functionality. And spoiler alert—it involves those reusable grocery bags that multiply like bunnies in every corner of your house. It happens to the best of us!

Hi! I’m your neighborhood Home Functionality Coach based in Southeast Portland, Oregon, where we take our composting seriously and give our rain boots names. (I’m kidding. kinda.) I work with families to streamline their homes and rethink the way their spaces work. And nothing brings me more joy than when a client’s kiddo starts beaming with pride over a job well done—because helping out feels like being part of a team, not just an annoying to-do list from Mom or Dad.

Let’s Set the Scene…

You’ve just hauled five bags of groceries up the stairs of your adorable-but-slightly-irritating split-level home. (Yes, I said split-level—don’t get me started. I have stories.) You’re sweaty, someone’s crying because you forgot the exact right oat milk, and now… now you’re staring at a pile of empty reusable bags. You know, the ones stuff under the sink, into the pantry, or into that one drawer you avoid opening? Yeah. Those.

Welcome to one of the most common “functionality friction points” I see in homes here in Portland. But don’t worry—I’ve cracked the code.

The Two-Part Fix (It’s So Simple It Hurts)

The bin that lives in the back of the car.

Step 1:Designate a spot in your vehicle (hello, back of the car!) for a crate or soft-sided bin where your reusable grocery bags live. Not visit. Not swing by occasionally. LIVE. This could be a classic milk crate, a cute canvas cube, or whatever container sparks joy and fits in your trunk.

Step 2: Make it your child’s chore to return the bags to their "home" after each grocery run. In our house, the adults unpack the groceries (or hey, older kids can do that too), but the kiddo’s job is to fold the bags neatly and walk them back out to the car crate.

This one tiny system packs a punch. Why?

This is a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN:

🥇 Parents win—because let’s be honest, after grocery shopping, you’ve already done your time.

👶 Kids win—because they feel like part of the home team, and that builds pride and responsibility.

🌎 The environment wins—because we’re keeping plastic out of our landfills and waterways. (Shoutout to Portland for charging for grocery bags—annoying, but effective.)

💸 Your wallet wins—because you won’t have to keep rebuying reusable bags like some sort of forgetful raccoon.

🏠 Your household wins—because you're not stuffing bags into every nook, cranny, drawer, and cabinet like it's a survival skill.

And guess what? Even the tiniest humans can handle this one. If they can fold a dish towel or sort LEGO bricks by color, they can absolutely fold a bag and walk it outside.

Bonus Coach-y Insight (I Had to)

If you’ve ever seen my Home Functionality graph (yes, it’s a thing and yes, I use it with clients), this simple chore hits three major zones:

✅ Home Organization

✅ Home Hacks and Habits

✅ Ability to Edit

That’s like the chore equivalent of a triple shot of espresso in your oat milk latte. Strong. Energizing. And exactly what your home needs. (Pssst: When you know you have a bin full of bags, you won't need to keep buying them.)

If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area—especially my SE Portland neighbors—and you’re tired of systems that fall apart after three days, or chore charts that end up in the recycling bin by Tuesday, I’m here for you. Let’s make your home function beautifully, and get some peace up in here.

Because teamwork makes the dream work. And sometimes that dream is simply not tripping over grocery bags ever again.

Need help building a custom system like this in your home? I offer in-home consultations for families in SE Portland and surrounding areas. Let’s make your home space support your life—not the other way around. ✨