Friday, July 18, 2008

To Be Done

I made a to do list for today (which I am presently avoiding). Tomorrow we'll host a half dozen soon-to-be kindergarteners for a fifth birthday party. On my list, I should have just put "clean whole house" and "do everything to prepare for party". Instead, I compartmentalized it and am now mourning the busy day ahead.

I am not a very good housekeeper. I keep things sanitary at best. The toys, run away laundry, and popsicle wrappers are what bury me. I declutter several times a year, donate clothes and toys almost monthly, try not to buy excess stuff, etc. I follow the rules in that way. Yet, I'm still constantly chasing my tail. Or toddlers, if you will.

The frustration for me is in the mundane. If I tidy a room, and it's undtidy 6 hrs later. I must do it again? Really?! I enjoy tasks that are not quickly undone. I do not enjoy the repetition of picking up toys, doing the dishes, mopping the floor. I don't know why I detest it so, but I do!

That, and here I sit, loving on my cup of coffee. I've cleaned a bathroom this morning, two to go. I need to switch out laundry, do the dishes (from last night, flylady would be ashamed), tidy bedrooms, mop tile, vacuum carpet, spot clean hall carpet, and so on. We've also got to squeeze in errands today.

What is a girl to do? When she's got such a lengthy list and no oomph?
Back to the coffee, I say. A few more sips and I'm off.

13 comments:

Mad said...

Ya, I like projects way more than chores. I would rather re-organize the linen closet than do the dishes any old day. I guess that makes us spring cleaners rather than domestic goddesses, eh?

Beck said...

I'm motivated by stark terror - a few years back, my husband and I both had the flu, dishes piled up in the kitchen (well, of course) and a police officer dropped in because of an accident on our street. She then called children's aid on us because of the unwashed dishes.
I AM NOT KIDDING.

Nothing happened because of it, but to this day, my GOD, I have a clean kitchen.

Midwest Beach Girl said...

Crank up the stereo and enlist Brenna to help! (Mason may be a little bit young still.) I remember helping mom to dust or put away small things. I was always the runner when she found something that did not belong.

I would however, choose something a little better than Mich@el B0lt0n like mama used to play......

I like beck's motivation too. Remember the postcard I put on my blog last fall?
http://midwestbeachgirl.blogspot.com/2007/11/funny.html

Melanie D. said...

Maybe I'll just keep that in my mind every day. "I'm doing the dishes AGAIN today so that Child Protective Services are not called." That may be the motivation I needed. Thanks, Beck!

Jenifer said...

I take huge pleasure in the mundane it seems! What I don't like though is when it is all messed up again too soon. Yesterday I cleaned and in the afternoon we went to the library so no chance of messing it up!

Maddy said...

I'm a bit oomphless too, definitely need to recharge the batteries some how or other.
Cheers

nikkis30by30 said...

I always like cleaning someone else's house rather than mine. Thus, I propose this solution: You clean mine, I will clean yours. Look at it this way, I have one more kid than you but you have more square footage. So in the end, it's a wash! (PUN INTENDED!!!)

Mimi in the Midwest said...

We had a 75 year old lady in our church, Marggie. She started a china painting class in her home and then a craft shop. When she was nearly 80 and very busy with all of her "things" she said, "Sometimes I have so much to do I don't know what to do first so I take a nap and get that out of the way." I thought that was hilarious! To this day when I'm overwhelmed with my "to do" list I think, take your nap and get that out of the way. You're not the only one, OM. Relax, don't be a human doing be a human being.

Sus said...

I can't believe Beck got chidren's services put on her for a sinkful of dirty dishes! Surely our police have better things to do with their time! Anyhoo, here's what you do: complain to your mother. Who will eventually get tired of hearing you complain and give you some small stipend toward a cleaning lady. Hire a cleaning lady who does stuff you never dreamed of doing: dusting ceiling fans and magic erasering the mudroom sink, for example. You will find yourself inhaling the amonia smell she leaves in her wake like it's a drug, and loving life as much as if you really are on drugs. And you'll be back online in a jiffy.

Melanie D. said...

On my list this fall: use cost of living increase in salary to hire cleaning lady. My Hubs isn't totally on board, but I think will be when he sees the outcome! I hope anyways...

edbteach said...

Oh my gosh! I could have written this post! I hate cleaning because five minutes later you can't tell that I did ANYTHING!
Thanks for visiting my blog and your dragging the photos tip worked! Yea! I can now put the pictures where I want them.
Elizabeth (Teacher Mom)

Mimi said...

We! Just! Hired! A cleaning lady! Hooray!

The clutter kills me too. Lately it's this: by the time the dishwasher has finished running, and I unload it all, usually right away? I enjoy it's pristine emptiness for 10 seconds before loading up the dishes that seem to have accumulated WHILE I WAS RUNNING IT. Yeesh.

Anonymous said...

"sanitary at best"....hmmmm that describes my house most of the time, too. It's such a thankless job, this keeping the house clean business. I keep telling Hubby that I was made for better things. Not sure WHAT things, but better ones....