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Anna-Christina's household manual
Before filming starts, each wife writes a manual explaining how their house is run. Below are highlights from Anna-Christina's manual.
HOUSEHOLD CHORES
How often do you clean your home?
I clean my house, including my kids' rooms, every day. I hoover the entire house and clean all windows, glass tables and mirrors three times a week. I iron three to five times a week.
I clean the bathrooms three times a week, but wash-basins are cleaned several times every day. I clean the toilets and toilet-seats every day.
I mop all stairs three times a week; mopping is done by hand, not with a mop.
I clean the kitchen after every meal and mop the floor, by hand, three times a week.
I weed the garden once a week, which takes around two hours.
In Germany, it is the law to separate the rubbish for recycling. We have "rubbish wardens" that come twice a month to check it is being done correctly.
COOKING / MEALS
Who does the cooking in your house?
I do; cooking is very important to me and I love it. I like to cook from scratch with fresh ingredients.
How often do you sit down and eat together?
We always try to eat together.
Where do you eat?
We always eat at the kitchen table, never in front of the TV. I am also very fussy about which plates we use. I have 4 different sets: the 'flower set' is only used in the morning, for breakfast; the 'white set' with the gold borders is for 'dark' dishes such as meat and gravy; the 'antique set' with flowers on it is used for light-coloured dishes such as asparagus, vegetables and fish; the 'red set' with the landscape and hunting motives is only for 'heavy' dishes such as roasts and wild meats.
DAILY ROUTINE
What time do you usually get up?
I get up every weekday morning at 6.30am, at weekends between 7.30 and 8am.
What time do the kids start school? How do they get there?
School starts at 7.55 and 8.15am. The kids leave home by 7.30am. Viktoria walks to school; Julius and Lotti (Sophie-Charlotte) are picked up by friends.
What time do the kids finish school? How do they get home?
Viktoria finishes school at 12.50pm. Julius and Sophie-Charlotte finish at 1.30 or 2.15pm. I pick the kids up three times a week; they walk home the other days.
Do you help the kids with their homework?
I only help Viktoria with her homework. She does it in the dining-room while I'm ironing.
Do the kids have to be in bed by a certain time?
Viktoria has to be in bed by 9.15pm at the latest. Julius and Lotti have to be in bed by 10pm on weekdays and 12am on weekends.
What does the family do in the evenings?
We spend most of our time in the kitchen and talk or play ball-games. We like RISK, STRATEGY and card games. We talk a lot and rarely watch television.
What time do you go to bed?
I go to bed between 10.30 and 11pm. On weekends we go to bed by 12am.
DISCIPLINE
Who does the childcare? What does it involve?
I am responsible for about 90% of the childcare. It mainly involves driving and listening to their worries and troubles. I used to ground them or smack them if they were bad, but realised that nothing really helps – the older they get, the more they understand.
THE RELATIONSHIP
Who has the final say in family decisions?
We both have the final say.
What tips can you give for coping with your other half?
He doesn't like to be constantly talked to. He works from home and it's important to pay attention to that: don't start hoovering outside his door if he's on the phone. He always wants both sides of a story because the kids might be right too.
How do you like to be treated?
I like to feel part of everything: part of the family; part of my kids' lives; part of life in general.
What happens when you disagree on something?
Gerhard always listens whereas I just blurt things out. I get louder when I'm angry, whereas he doesn't.
HOUSE PHILOSOPHY
Please sum up the philosophy of this house and life within it:
We have an open house. Everybody is welcome and can talk to us about anything. We don't like it if we cannot be open with each other and somebody cannot say what is troubling them.
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