FINISH OR HAND OVER: A HOUSEHOLD-TASK RECORD Original editorial worksheet for "Who Puts Away the Clean Load?" Use this sheet to agree an observable ending and, if needed, record a specific change of responsibility. The examples concern adults and already-clean dishes that their household considers ready for its ordinary put-away routine. They do not explain how to operate an appliance or decide whether dishes are ready. All people, quantities, dialogue and outcomes below are invented examples. 1. NAME THE ENDING BEFORE CALLING THE TASK DONE A completed action and an agreed ending can be different things. Write what each person actually means; neither person's unspoken definition becomes the rule. Worked example: Sam says, "I did the dishes." Jo sees four clean mugs and two clean plates still waiting to go to their usual places. Sam: "I meant that the load was finished. I had not included putting it away." Jo: "I understood 'the dishes' to include putting those clean items away." Sam: "Those are different endings. For this task, can we agree that I take the clean items through to their usual places?" Jo: "Yes. I will leave that part with you rather than keep asking about it." Record for this example: - Task now agreed: put the four clean mugs and two clean plates in their usual places under this household's ordinary arrangements. - Holder of that responsibility: Sam. - Observable ending: those six items have been put away; a completed cycle alone does not answer that question. - Closing message: Sam will say whether that agreed ending was reached. This is a newly clarified agreement, not proof that Sam had already agreed to Jo's earlier interpretation. The sheet records the clarification, not blame. 2. A REQUEST IS NOT YET AN ACCEPTED HANDOFF Keep the remaining stage specific. Ask a question that allows an actual answer; being present, seeing the items or not replying does not itself record consent. Worked example: after accepting the ending above, Sam is interrupted before putting the six items away. Jo is doing a separate household message. Sam: "I cannot finish the put-away part as planned. Can you take that remaining part, or do we need to agree another arrangement?" Jo: "I can take the put-away part for those four mugs and two plates. I will finish the message first, as we have agreed." Sam: "Thank you. You are taking that specific stage; I am not assuming you are taking every kitchen task. Tell me if that arrangement needs to change." Jo: "Agreed. I will let you know when those items are in their usual places." Record for this example: - Previous holder: Sam. - Remaining stage: put away the named clean items; no other task was transferred. - Proposed new holder: Jo. - Answer actually given: accepted, with the stated order of her two tasks. - Confirmed holder after the exchange: Jo, for that specific stage. - Fictional close: Jo later says, "Those four mugs and two plates are put away." Jo's message is an invented ending to this worked example. In real use, leave the ending unconfirmed until someone has actually checked or reported it. Do not enter this example's result as though it happened in your household. 3. A DECLINED REQUEST DOES NOT SILENTLY MOVE THE TASK Alternative worked example: start again at the interruption, before Jo has accepted anything. Do not combine this branch with the accepted branch above. Sam: "Can you take the remaining put-away part?" Jo: "No, I cannot take that part tonight." Sam: "Then it remains with me while we work out a suitable arrangement. Could I return to it after my call, if that fits what we both need?" Jo: "That works for our arrangements tonight. Please tell me if you cannot do that, rather than leave me to discover it." Sam: "Agreed. I still own the put-away ending; we changed the plan, not the person responsible." Record for this alternative: - Request answered: declined. - Holder after the answer: Sam, not Jo. - Revised plan actually agreed: Sam returns to that stage after his call. - Ending at the time of this record: not yet confirmed. - Next communication: Sam reports completion or asks to discuss a further change. The revised plan is only this fictional pair's choice. It is not permission to leave equipment, items or routes in an unsuitable state, or a general waiting period. If a proposed plan does not fit the household's real requirements, leave it unagreed and resolve an appropriate actual arrangement instead. 4. BLANK RECORD FOR ONE REAL AGREEMENT Task or group of items (name the actual scope): ____________________________________________________________________________ What action has already happened? What remains unconfirmed? ____________________________________________________________________________ Person A's understanding of the ending: ____________________________________________________________________________ Person B's understanding of the ending: ____________________________________________________________________________ Observable ending BOTH have now agreed: ____________________________________________________________________________ Current holder of that responsibility: ____________________________________________________________________________ How will the ending be checked or communicated? ____________________________________________________________________________ IF AN INTERRUPTION OCCURS Reason or change that needs discussion (only what you choose to record): ____________________________________________________________________________ Specific remaining stage being offered for handoff: ____________________________________________________________________________ Request made by: __________________ Proposed new holder: ____________________ Answer actually given: accepted / declined / not answered / still discussing State any condition or limit that was actually agreed: ____________________________________________________________________________ Confirmed holder AFTER that answer, if an agreement was reached: ____________________________________________________________________________ Next action and communication actually agreed: ____________________________________________________________________________ If no new agreement was reached, what remains unresolved? ____________________________________________________________________________ CLOSE THE RECORD WITH WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED Status: ending confirmed / remaining stage identified / arrangement unresolved Actual observation or completion message, and who supplied it: ____________________________________________________________________________ Any further change that was requested AND accepted (do not assume a transfer): ____________________________________________________________________________ 5. KEEP THE RECORD WITHIN ITS PURPOSE This is a conversation aid, not a fairness score, diagnostic test, household safety procedure or record of a service promise. It supplies no universal chore deadline, entitlement or evidence that one person always does more. An agreed split is also possible: name each person's stage and the accepted handoff rather than assuming one person must own every stage. Record only what the people actually agree. An unanswered request stays unanswered; an unfinished ending stays unconfirmed.