I’m glad I’m a thrill-ride kind of girl who enjoys ups and downs and stomach-floaty moments.
Because this Slob in Recovery thing could really get to me if I wasn’t.
I know it’s good to celebrate progress. I know it’s good to enjoy the changes that I’ve already made.
But perhaps . . . perhaps . . . . the part of my brain that was able to keep me from seeing the mess before it became a disaster is the reason why I am somehow able to convince myself that I’m a pretty-darn-good housekeeper. At least on the days when the floors of the main rooms are undie-free.
Last week I was rolling on my daily checklist, and the house was presentable more than 70% of the time.
70%!!! That’s nothing to sneeze at, people!
Sister-in-law is coming over for dinner? No problem! Home groups start in an hour? No problem!
In-laws coming in for the boys’ basketball games? No problem! I hope they can stop by for a while after the game!
Mother-in-law bringing her dog by before the game to leave in the backyard?
WHAAAAATTTTT?????!!!!!!!!!!
No, not the backyard . . . NO! Not the backyard which has windows looking into the playroom!
The playroom which leads from my dusted, vacuumed, AND picked up living room to the totally-ignored-since-before-Christmas backyard!!!!!!
The playroom which is really more of a toy-storage-room and a hotel for our dog to stay in in the winter. She enters through her we-don’t-have-a-doggy-door-but-we-taught-her-to-jump-through-the-open-window-into-what-is-really-an-enclosed-patio-and-since-the-window-stays-open-the-leaves-blow-into-the-room–and-then-mingle-with-the-leaves-4yo-has-cut-up-with-scissors-to-make-play-salad-to-attempt-to-feed-to-said-dog entrance.
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
In case you ever read this blog and think I have it all together, you should probably bookmark this post.
I don’t.
I’ve always (see how I said “always” just now?) been an all-or-nothin’ kind of girl. When I’m proud of my house looking so much better, I feel the full emotion of that pride and joy.
Since I personally sometimes misinterpret that pride to mean that I’ve kicked this slob-problem, I’m sure someone else could misinterpret it as well.
Unfortunately, the other section of the roller coaster is the part where I realize how far I have to go, and I plunge down into despair.
I seriously need to add something, anything concerning the playroom and backyard to my daily checklist or weekly task list . . . or something.
But the thought of doing that totally overwhelms me.
I love this post! That is exactly how I've been feeling lately. We've got to remember, though, that we need to start somewhere…anywhere! And any progress is forward progress. Oh, but some days, it IS SO hard. Keep up the awesome work!
These were my thougts on it this week: http://randerings.blogspot.com/2011/02/making-run-for-it-aka-promises-promises.html
Baby steps! 😉 You're awesome!
I've just recently discovered your blog and feel like I've found my dapple-ganger. I can relate to this post so well.
That magical, puffed-up confidence that for once, you don't have to be afraid to let someone in the front door, just pops and sizzles through the air like a balloon the second they head straight for the one area you thought surely would be safe from prying eyes.
For me, it's any of the bedrooms or the garage. On a good day. And it leads to fighting back hot tears when it happens.
I'm at that point (again) where I am attempting to get a handle on things–draw a line in the sand–and say to my mess NO MORE. In baby steps of course. I'm sure I'll be visiting your blog often.
I also really like FlyLady.net (surely you've heard of her).
Take care and 'Clean On'!
~ Michelle
I-just-love-all-your-comments-with-all-the-dashes. Is that proper punctuation? Did you study English in school? I'm just wonderin…:)
Love ya!
I thought I was the only one with we-don’t-have-a-doggy-door-but-we-taught-her-to-jump-through-the-open-window. Dang and here I was thinking I was sooo inventive!!!!!
I love this post – if for nothing but the shear honesty of it. Just curious tho- 5 years later… how does your playroom and backyard look now? I’m sure I’ll read more about these areas as I continue to read backwards through your blog – but for the sake of comparing THIS POST to how you feel about it today… I’m hoping you made huge progress. 🙂