I’ve been debating with myself over this post.
I’m not sure if I’ll actually finish it, or if it will sit in “Drafts” like some others do. If you’re reading it, then I published it, and you’d better be ready for some pretentious, likely-delusional self-examination.
This is mostly about me, but it’s something I realized while looking in that lovely (and irritating) thing I call the Parenting Mirror.
That moment when you suddenly recognize your own frustrating qualities because you see them in your child? That’s the Parenting Mirror.
I’m going to try to be ambiguous since there are people who read this blog and actually know my children. I never want to write anything that would embarrass them.
My kids are smart.
I know. All moms think that.
But there’s this particular one who walks into any room and assumes he’s the smartest one in it.
Many times, he is.
Unfortunately, he’s also the one who serves as my most crystal clear Parenting Mirror.
Right. I’m saying I assume I’m smarter than most people. Not consciously. I’m not THAT big of a jerkface. I’m saying that I’ve realized this since watching “this child” whom I love so much.
So what does this have to do with cleaning?
Well . . . a lot, I’m realizing.
First, let me say that once upon a time in college when there was discussion of my pigsty dorm room, someone spouted off a bit of trivia that I latched onto and savored.
“Messiness is a sign of brilliance. Albert Einstein was messy.”
I had no idea if this was true, but I desperately wanted it to be.
(I just now swagbucked it, and guess what? It IS true. See pictures of his work space (as well as Steve Jobs’s and Mark Twain’s) here. )
Now before I begin pontificating, let me state that not all brilliant people are messy. They’re not.
But a lot are. And I do believe there’s a relationship.
Here’s what I’ve observed through my Parenting Mirror recently: Certain personality types who assume they are completely capable of figuring out a better solution than anyone has ever figured out before have a hard time getting things done that are simply . . . mundane.
There has to be an easier way to keep my bed made than . . . making it every day?
There must be a better solution for a constantly messy kitchen than . . . doing the dishes?
Surely there is a better way to keep laundry under control than washing, drying, folding AND putting it away! How monotonous!
I’m not sure where exactly I’m going with this post.
I’m not Einstein. I’m a mother of three and wife of one and my main job is running our family. The tunnel-vision tendencies I share with those certifiably brilliant people won’t result in something history-making, so I can’t justify letting my home fall into shambles for the sake of my work.
My home is my work.
As I look into that Parenting Mirror, I see how much harder it is to look for an easier way instead of just doing something the OBVIOUS way. It’s crystal clear when I see a child I love making something harder than it ever needs to be.
Here’s the thing. As I’ve gone through this deslobification journey, I’ve figured out how to wrap my brain around, to understand and explain, concepts that already existed. I now understand the logic and reason behind doing things the way women with clean houses have been doing them for . . . . well . . . ever.
And now I’m going to go there: Isaac Newton “discovered” gravity, but people had been using gravity in their every day lives forever. They didn’t need to understand it. They didn’t care about planets orbiting, they just knew that if they poured water from a pitcher it flowed down. Into a cup.
Duh.
But he needed to know more. Thankfully, he put his mind to it and we’ve all benefited from his passion to figure it out.
Here’s hoping my family will benefit from my desire to figure this all out. My discoveries may not be worthy of being published in a scientific journal, but it sure is nice to have clean undies.
--Nony
Joan says
Dude, that’s heavy. Heavy, man, heavy!
I like it.
Dawn says
I thought this was great – thanks for posting it. I, too, often see myself reflected in my children – the good and the bad. Ugh.
I am also glad that you clarified that you are a “wife of one.” *giggle*
Joanna says
Oh, my. How much did I need to read this? I have been trying to clean with the kids today. I am a disaster at this. They ARE my mirror. My mom didn’t teach me (she was the best mom everrrr, don’t get me wrong), and I didn’t teach them. Ack! I hate the mirror right now. Thanks for this- it’s a perfect fit for me right now.
Tracey says
The more I read the more I think we are twins separated at birth. It’s comforting and scary all at the same time. 😀
Ronda says
Once, again, I totally understand this. (are you my sister?) I have spent hours planning schedules, routines, and gimmicks to help me keep my house under control…hours that, had I just organized and cleaned, would have gotten an amazing amount done. On the other hand, I do still believe that there are better ways. I’m a huge fan of Don Aslett’s book Make Your House Do the Housework, for instance. Lots of cleaning jobs really don’t need so much work if you plan and choose wisely. And I am ALL about Planning…….the whole Doing thing? Not so much. 😉 I have to give myself pep talks on that one!
Lauren says
Well yeah, that totally makes sense!! My hubby would probably not understand it, but it makes sense to me!
Kathy B. says
” Certain personality types who assume they are completely capable of figuring out a better solution than anyone has ever figured out before have a hard time getting things done that are simply . . . mundane.”
THIS IS SO ME!!! Thanks for putting my feelings into words.
Jen says
I’m known as the organizer. I can time manage my way out of anything when it comes to work or planning events like my wedding. But when it comes to my home, I just can’t seem to do it. Now it all makes sense why 🙂 I’m just too smart… LOL JK 😉
Kristy K. James says
Maybe you’re not making or changing history in the same way Einstein, Jobs, and Twain did, but you are doing the same things they did. Einstein and Jobs made our lives easier with their discoveries. Twain helped people escape their lives, for a short while, in the stories he wrote. You are helping who knows how many thousand cleaning/clutter-challenged people.
Sigh. My office seriously resembles that of Steve Jobs…
Linda says
Interesting. Very interesting. Enlightening even. I’d say you HAVE changed history with all you’ve done here on A Slob Comes Clean. You are my Isaac Newton!!! I have a better understanding of how my brain works because you were willing to share your own journey through the mess of it all.
Lillian Simone says
Interesting my cousin says this to me all the time (while excusing my messiness) that very smart people are usually scatterbrained especially when it comes to house cleaning. I tested 8 points away from a genius at the age of 7 etc.
[email protected] says
I so know what you mean about that parenting mirror! LOL