I’m back. Whew!
My husband and I went on a 4 night cruise celebrating my in-laws 60th anniversary. It was a great time of being together, but I still feel the waves! As I sit here, I can feel the boat rocking, even though I’ve been off the boat since about 9am this morning!
My fabulous mom stayed with our three kids. They had a great time, but I am so glad to see them, and we’re all happy to be back together. My mom did a fabulous job of keeping the house in order, and even put the kids to work with new dusters.
I must say that having someone clean your living quarters twice a day is great. They cleaned once in the morning and then straightened up again in the evening when they turned down the bed. Is there some way to get someone to do this in my home?
Oh yeah. That’s me.
It’s back to the daily task routine for me, starting now. My mom did a great job of keeping things orderly, (she’s always been great at this) and so we just get to keep on going from here.
Tomorrow we’re going to spend the day putting up Christmas decorations. I’m so excited because it seems like this year, there’s a point. In the past, I never felt like the decorations had their rightful place of honor because of the clutter. And I don’t have to spend an entire day cleaning before I start decorating. AND we can take pictures of the kids decorating without having to be careful of what clutter is in the background.
A picture of the kids drinking hot chocolate in front of the fire is just not as meaningful if there’s a pair of dirty undies hanging off the fireplace tools.
celina from canada says
omg too funny..i have cropped pics of the kids cause of the messes in the pictures….glad i am not alone..
Anonymous says
"And I don't have to spend an entire day cleaning before I start decorating. AND we can take pictures of the kids decorating without having to be careful of what clutter is in the background." That summarizes my goal for this Christmas season!
Wendy says
Hi there! Sorry for the mini-novel. I know this post is *really* old, but I’m a new reader starting from the beginning. 🙂 Anyway, I had to say something….
I know (and you may have worked through this) that you have been disappointed in the example you are giving your kids with your slob-ness, but you just said in this post: “My mom did a great job of keeping things orderly, (she’s always been great at this) …” See, it doesn’t really matter. LOL You had a mom who kept an orderly home, yet you struggle with it. Your kids may or may not, and being so young, I don’t think you’ll be able to tell yet how they’ll be.
I say this because I struggle with my slob side (my mom is a pack-rat and crisis cleaner) and my slobbishness essentially comes down to being suuuuper lazy. I can organize, I’m good at it, but I just rather not. Our daughter was a vicious pack-rat for years. I mean every piece of paper had to be kept. We cleaned, reorganized, redecorated her room, to no avail. (I’m a big believer in her space being *hers*–if she wants a disaster area, that’s fine, I can close the door) He room was indeed a disaster area until about 1.5-2 years ago. She’s 13 now and her room and bathroom are the cleanest, neatest rooms in the house. She cleans it on her own about twice a month and tidies almost every day. It’s great! But I had nothing to do with it. It was all her. I kind of believe that one’s natural tendency toward neatness is nature over nurture–which is huge for me because I’m way more a nurture over nature person. So your kids may well turn out to be naturally neat and orderly, like your mom. What I’m saying is I don’t think we necessarily have much to do with it….just do your thing, they’ll pick up on it…or they won’t, but stressing out your cleanliness example may be futile. I know my example has had *no* bearing on my kid, unless she’s rebelling and going the opposite way, which is fine. LOL
I love your blog, love the journey, but hate seeing you worry about this. I’m only sharing my experience. 🙂
Oh…and my non-negotiables are going great! I’m about 6 days in and it’s helping a lot. I’m a former Flybaby who never really got it. This is working much better for me. Thanks!!!
Kristy K. James says
I had to laugh at the photo problems. My daughter won’t throw much of anything away, meaning her room is almost always a disaster. But she’s always taking pictures of the pets and posting them on Facebook…and I’m always reminding her that some shots might be better left unseen. 🙂
Tammy M says
I found you through your podcast on iTunes. I’ve listened to all of them bought the two pack and have started working on these things in my home and it had definitely made a difference.
I am also reading from the beginning going forward.
I just had to comment on this one. As a scrapbooker (when I have the time, which is never lately) I am constantly aware of the clutter in the background…so I move the kids to a different spot where there is less mess to be seen. In front of a closed door is my usual go to so long as the floor around them is clean.
Thank you so much for your inspiration!
Hazel says
OMG – so agree with the “kids in front of the door” photos! I’ve got so many photos of the kids in front of closed doors in new outfits to show grandparents / aunts / friends etc! Really need to get a handle on this (and other areas of my life). Thanks all, particularly Nony.