Housekeeping

Housekeeping. Defined it is the ongoing routine, procedures, operations, and management of a commercial enterprise, government, organization, or the like. I like to consider my house "the like". There is some semblance of a routine here. It may be chaotic to some, but to us, it's normalcy. There are definitely procedures, and sometimes even operations (not of the medical kind thank God). The management is left to me and my husband collectively. Doesn't sound that difficult right? HA!

I am a stay at home mom. If you are not a stay at home mom, you might be wondering...just what do you do all day? My husband wonders this hourly I'm sure. My daughter is in school from 8 am to 4 pm. My husband is gone longer than that. Surely I can take care of the house and the dog and the laundry and dishes (that never seem to end) and whatever else needs to be taken care during that time right? Nope!

Ok, so I can admit this now....I've always been a slob. No, really. I am a fabulous cleaner, but not a good maintainer. Some of this I might blame on my mom, as she was working (sometimes 2 jobs) and the only time the house got picked up and cleaned was when people came over. Mostly I can blame myself for just being downright lazy! I would let stuff pile up in my room (no matter what it was) until I couldn't stand it anymore. Then I would deep clean it to sparkly, then the downhill wave begins.

So, then I got married. Woe is my husband. My poor, poor husband. Neatnick. Yep! Not so much the dust and dirt, but the clutter and stuff laying everywhere, and undone dishes, and laundry. He just doesn't understand my world! Granted, sometimes I don't either....but we won't go there. My dear, dear husband. He puts up with a lot. (Love ya babe!)

Then enters flylady. I did flylady for a while (www.flylady.com). I will admit that it was too much for me. I'm a perfectionist to the core. It's all or nothing. There is no gray area. The binder, and the emails, and the routine....not for me. Works for many people! I will even go as far as to say that it did help me in several things. Making my bed and cleaning the sink. Great! Doesn't cut it any further than that. Especially the shoe thing. I understood the logic, but my feet just don't talk "sneaker". I can lounge with the best of them, sneakers and all. LOL

So, I need a solution, and I need it fast before my dear husband leaves me, and my daughter ends up with the same fate. (She got a lot of dh's tendencies, but has learned a lot from me...poor thing). In comes motivated moms (www.motivatedmoms.com) Guess what? It is a list! (If you have been following me, I'm a list maker to the core too) They take every day of the year and break it down into chores. Sweet! I can check things off which is even better! I definitely notice a difference in my home when I use it, and when I don't. I even give myself permission to not do everything on the list (which is a change of heart for me). Bonus: It even helps me to read the bible front to back during the year. It's a win-win deal for me.

If you are a hopeless slob too (I really need to start a support group) I suggest you give these two a shot. You and your family are worth it! May God bless you in your journey towards change!

Steph