Anyone I know can tell you that my house is, nine times out of ten, a mess.
I don't know why this is - I don't actually LIKE living in a mess, but that seems to be the way it is for me.
Oh, I've tried different tactics. I've done flylady, I've done the note card system, made lists . . . none of it works for me.
I guess you have to have a certain mentality for it that I just don't have.
Here are 10 reasons why I hate it:
1) I have better things to do. Like crocheting. Or making Tutu's for my business. Or playing video games with my husband and kids. Or working on my books. Or washing my hair. You get the idea.
2) I get REALLY overwhelmed REALLY fast. I am the only one who does 99% of the cleaning around here. No matter what I do, I can't get my kids to clean up after themselves. Again, I've tried every tactic. Not even threats of spanking and throwing their stuff away works. These kids are stone.
3) You have to do it EVERY DAY. Really?? I have things to do, places to go, people to visit, and kids to homeschool? Housecleaning every day? Ain't nobody got time for that!
4) Folding laundry stinks. Why do we have to fold it if it's just going to get wrinkled on our bodies anyway?
5) Washing dishes stinks. Why do we have to wash them if they're just going to get dirty anyway?
6) Vacuuming stinks. I have a great Pyrenees that sheds considerably. We have to empty our canister vacuum 1/4 the way through each room! Besides, why do we have to vacuum if the carpet's just going to get dirty again anyway?
7) Organization is overrated. Seriously. I put something where it "goes" then I completely forget where I put it! At least when it's OUT I can SEE IT!
8) Clutter is underrated. Right now on my computer desk is my camera, my calculator, my daughter's bible, my devotion books, Velcro tape, a wall outlet, a headband, a pad of paper, a spool of ribbon and a red pin. I know where each of these things is right now.
9) It's impossible for a house filled with three kids and two dogs to be clean all the time. It really is. Try it sometime.
10) Christmas decorations rock in January and February. Really. They do. Try it sometime.
This week I am linking up with my good friend Nan over at her blog Mom's The Word for her weekly Make Your Home Sing Monday meme! Go run over there and give her a visit - she's really nice and I promise she doesn't bite . . . hard. :-)
Happy Monday!
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5 comments:
What, you don't utilize the kids to ease your home cleaning woes? They make great indentured servants when it comes to dishes, trash, folding,etc! LOL. I started the girls out by the tim they were in 2nd grade in the folding field.
You're so sweet! No,I don't bite hard, lol!
You know, you just might be one of those people who don't mind a messy home! Perhaps that's why you can't keep it clean, because deep down it just doesn't matter to you. And that's o.k. because you're the only one who has to live with it (well, you and your family but it sounds like they don't mind either!)
I have a neighbor like that. Her home is always a mess but she doesn't care. Some people really don't care. Some people might have a hard time functioning in a neat, orderly environment.
I cannot function in chaos. I lived in a messy home for years and all it did was frustrate me and make me feel overwhelmed and like a failure, because I really DID care.
I built chore training into our homeschool chores. I saw not being willing to clean as disobedience and we punished for that. If mom or dad tells you to do something, you DO it.
So they were disciplined if they didn't do their chores or put things away when asked. We had three toy pickups a day (before lunch, before dinner, before bed) so they got used to picking up after themselves, lol!
If you ever do decide to do chore training with them, you can tell them that you're teaching them a work ethic! That's what we told our kids because we thought chores would be one good way to teach a work ethic. :)
Thanks so much for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday!
Sis, I agree with Nan. Maybe internally you don't really mind a messy house. In the 24 years that I've known you I don't think I've ever seen a place you called home spotless, and that's okay! I've always thought you dealt better with organized chaos. You could find things in a messy room, and be completely lost in a clean one.
I do believe, though, that you are sitting on a gold mine with 3 kids. My mother started us cleaning when we were 8 years old. If she told us to pick our toys up or they got thrown away - she wasn't a force to be reckon with. It only took Angel and I one time to test her, and she threw all the toys that were on the floor away. Kids only take threats seriously when they come true. So if you tell them something will happen and you don't follow through, they won't believe you in the future.
PS - I'm still scared of my mom.
Most things we do in our lives are a mindset. When it comes to cleaning, my mind was set at a very early age. I get claustrophobic when there is too much stuff in one space. Thus the reason I clean something up, no matter where I am. Only you can find a way to either live with a messy house, or find a routine that will help you keep it clean. It's all up to you, sissy!
LOVE YOU! XO
Aimee said almost the exact same thing I tried to post yesterday!
Our mother was a force in cleaning... and so was Granny! It just became a habit after a while.
I wanted to let you know that I hate cleaning the house! I really do! But my spiritual director taught me that cleaning my house gives it dignity and when Jesus comes to visit I won't be embarrassed that the dishes are gross and I haven't swept or mopped in a month. I know it's hard with kids, animals and a husband because they seem to have a nack for being small little hurricanes around the house (I think it's my husband's goal to find an empty kitchen sink and an empty laundry basket and place something dirty in it). There's so many incentives to getting your children motivated to clean - and it may help you as well. You've got such a determined spirit - don't let the enemy keep you down just because you don't like it. And I agree with Aim - follow through is so very important. I wish I would have known that sixteen years ago - Heather might trust me more.
I know you can do it!! And it doesn't mean your house has to be spotless all of the time. I choose the kitchen and the office on most days to clean, and I make my bed every day. And then I take the other parts of the house one day at a time, one task at a time.
I couldn’t agree more! The most frustrating part of this is that it’s difficult to keep things the way were after you clean them up, because they would still end up crumbled again. Thank goodness there are professional cleaners you can call to do the cleaning for you.
Apple Volpe @ MaidPro
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