I spent the morning working with a group of moms at my boys’ school. Cutting, plating, wrapping, and putting desserts on trays for tonight’s big fundraiser.
I’m guessing at least 700 servings. I enjoy activities like this because I enjoy meeting and talking to other moms. I also, contrary to what one would think if they walked into my home unannounced, enjoy accomplishing tangible tasks.
And I really enjoy . . . are you ready . . . organizing stuff like that.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t in charge. I walked in a few minutes late (since I was determined to get my kitchen clean before we left the house), donned my plastic gloves, and looked for a place to jump in and help. After participating for a few minutes, I made several suggestions that helped things run more smoothly.
So what’s my point? Maybe it’s that I’m bossy (although I choose to believe I’m just willing to say the things that others aren’t willing to say). Really, though, I think my point is that my slob-brain does have a functioning organization-section.
This is why my slob-problem baffled me for so many years. I’m a competent person. I enjoy problem-solving. When it comes to people, I actually enjoy and get a charge out of organizing.
So, why in the world does “stuff” throw me for a loop?
I was at school helping put garden-ish photos on notecards for the Garden Club kids to sell. Woo-hoo.
I think I handle things or see things differently when I'm out of my house and with others working on something.
hi remember me….i've had the baby, and no longer feel like I am at death's door with hyperemesis and diabetes…and my house sure looks like i've been off for 9 months..
i've read your blog throughout though….i'm the SAME way…i think it's cause once you organize something like that…you feel proud, people mention it..AND IT STAYS DONE…my kitchen doesnt ever stay DONE….it get's undone in 2.4 seconds..
Baby is 3 weeks old and I am now slowly getting a routine started again…so I will be posting more often, keep up the good work..you aren't alone in this battle..or war..i guess it's a war..
Celina in Canada
Nony,
I so get where you are coming from. For me the ability to organize other people or other people's stuff is so much easier because there is no internal dialoge or emotion attached. It holds no lasting place of value or stress in my life therefore I am more easily able to deal with it. I am not sure if it is the same for you, but as always thanks for sharing.
Betty
I completely understand how you feel. I am an organizer in my head, but things don't get done the way my brain wants them to. I love to make lists and charts and menu plans etc, the problem I have is follow through. I've spent a couple of hours today with my husband making a menu plan for the whole month. I usually stick with a plan like that for about 2 weeks, then I forget about it and it all goes out the window.
Because "stuff" falls into so many not so easy to define subcategories.
I completely understand what you mean. I love to organize things too. I love to do lists. I love when things in order and putting things in categories and groups. But when it comes to "stuff" some things go here and some definitely go there but some are so hard to figure out what to do with that I end up making a "don't know what to do with" area and that's when the clutter really begins.
My thoughts exactly