I saw that one of my favorite always-honest-and-very-funny blogger friends, Mary at Giving Up on Perfect was participating in a 2010 Recap Carnival over at Musings of a Housewife.
The idea is to share the first lines of your first post from each month.
Hmmm.
I went to January, and saw that what I thought was my first post of the year was one that shows how far I’ve come in 2010. Of course, then I realized that it was actually my last post of January, and my first post was pretty boring. (Talk about pressure for tomorrow’s post to have a great opening line!)
So I’m cheating. Or breaking the rules. Or being artistic and true to myself. Or however you want to see it.
January – Title: Normal People Scare Me
“I love blogging. I’m generally an open person. But I don’t tell any “normal people” about my blog.”
I’ve come a long way. The majority of real-life people I know still don’t know about this blog, but I have started to share with a few. I’ve decided that I kind of have something here, and if I’m going to take it to the level where I want it to go, I can’t keep it a secret forever. The response of the “normal people” whom I’ve told? Generally, they’re very understanding and supportive.
And just in case you’re new here, I’ve now defined normal for my purposes. Because somehow, every time I refer to non-slobs as “normal” . . . somebody gets offended.
February – Title: Move . . . Fingers . . . Move
“Uh wn shpn.
That’s about as verbal as I feel right now. I just went on the shopping trip from . . . well . . . a difficult-to-relax kind of place.”
Totally a venting post, not too much about my deslobification process, but proof that having a blog is a wonderful thing as it allows you to vent, try to be funny, and get support from total strangers whenever you feel like it.
March – Title: Laundry Report – Week 1 and Daily Checklist
“Things I’ve learned during this first week of my new laundry routine:”
When I saw that title, I thought, “Oh great, a boring laundry report post.” But when I read it, I actually liked it, and laughed aloud.
Yes, at my own jokes . . . because that’s how I roll.
It was also nice to see exactly how long I’ve been doing this laundry routine. And it’s working! Not exactly working right this minute since we’ve been living in an out-of-routine stupor for two weeks and there are piles of laundry everywhere . . . but still.
April – Title: Even if I Find a Place for Everything . . .
“It’s my goal for 2010 to find a place for everything. No more frantic searching for lost items, no more sinking feeling when I realize that I need something that is probably buried in one of many piles of random stuff. No more piles of random stuff.”
This isn’t the first post of April. It’s the third.
It shows that I didn’t come as far in 2010 as I hoped I would. But it also is a fabulous illustration of how my brain works.
May – So Maybe I’m Not Martha . . .
“Maybe I’m not Martha, but these things are awesome! I didn’t make all of the things on my freezer cooking plan, but I did spend my Happening-Saturday-Night making these breakfast pockets,”
Mmmm. I need to make some of those again.
June – Bathroom Cleaning Supply Baskets for the Kids
“How incredibly cute are these baskets? Too bad they didn’t have any pink ones left, but at least my daughter got a pink sponge and a pink topped spray bottle.”
That was the beginning of the Summer of Clean. While the house was far from perfect, I’m glad I took the time to teach my kids some real skills.
July – June Decluttering Update
“When I saw on Twitter that Amy over at The Finer Things in Life had posted the June decluttering update linky, I thought that she must be doing it early since she’s going to the Savvy Blogging Summit.
Except that June IS over.
Wow.”
Me and time-passage-awareness. Not exactly compatible.
August – Hurry . . . Lock the Door, the Babysitter’s Coming!
Technically, the second post of August. I link back to this post regularly, because it explains quite a bit. It’s also the post with the only truly mean-spirited comment I’ve ever received. And my wait-a-day-to-be-sure-I’m-not-over-reacting-very-lengthy response.
September – Waaaaah! (High-Pitched Operatic Note) – I’m Making Progress!!!
“Yesterday was Wednesday, which meant I didn’t have a big cleaning task to do. Normally, Wednesday is my run-around day, but since most things don’t start up until after Labor Day, I was freeee!
I decided to spend two hours decluttering.
And I chose to work on . . . . the master bedroom. The big, bad, ugly master bedroom.”
Yay for progress, but ugh for the way the master bedroom looks right this very minute. But the space on my side of the bed is still better than the after picture, so I guess that’s something.
October –Letting Rhythm Rule
“Rhythm.
One of those things that I’ve begun to appreciate in a new way in this deslobification
Explains a lot. Though from that first line, you’d think I’ve finally grasped how to do this housekeeping thing, the end shows the truth.
November – A Clothing Explosion . . . and Various Other Things to Be Dealt With
“That’s my bed . . . at this very moment.
It’s scary looking, but could be much worse. I’m actually rather proud that those clothes are folded.”
That first line pretty much explains.
December – That’ll Show Me
“Noticed the lack of posts about what I’m actually doing to keep my home out of chaos right now?”
There you go. That post explains my December.
This was one time-consuming post. But I’m really glad I did it. How fun, encouraging, humbling, and sobering it was to go back through the year. I’ve come a very long way, but I have a very long way yet to go.
Here’s looking forward to 2011! I’ll be posting some ideas of things I’d like to try in the new year next week.
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I think you've come a long way this year, and I'm so proud to be reading it as you go! You really are an inspiration to me and I'm sure others.
I hope you have a wonderful New Year and please continue to inspire us all 🙂
I’m one of those folks reading your blog — several years later — from the beginning. I’m enjoying seeing how you use your blog to keep your focus and to try out ideas, not all of which work as well as you hope they will! But I don’t read comments since I’m years behind anyway, so I missed that nastygram until I got to this post. And while it is mean-spirited, my sense from her comment is that she’s just mad at EVERYone. Her comments about her daughter drip with self-pity and disgust, not with love for the child who needed her the most. You may be a slob, but you roll with the punches you’re dealt and love your life and your family regardless. I’d much rather know you than her!
No need to publish this comment, just wanted to give you another perspective.
Wow! Such pride from your commenter, and such grace from you. Excellent use of patience, especially in waiting to respond.
I used to scorn my MIL’s lack of housekeeping, until I had my 4th baby recently. With 4 kids, 6 and under, I suddenly find myself unable to keep up. A lack of sleep (baby is nursing, and the 2.5yo has bad nights sometimes) kills a lot of motivation. My healthy children run around and scatter messes everywhere. I rarely complain, except when someone is downright inconsiderate (like leaving all of his/her shoes in front of the door). But I now totally understand my MIL! She wanted to enjoy her children’s youth! If there was one correction I’d offer her (if I could travel back in time), it would be to spend time with her children while teaching them to clean. My husband could certainly have benefited from her instruction!
I suppose “Anonymous” may have the habits established that some of us need to learn. I think sometimes an extra baby tips the scale against you; more mess-making versus your own cleaning habits.