I don't want to be that OCD Mom that goes behind her kids and picks up immediately, to where they don't feel like they can actually PLAY. I don't expect or want to live in a showroom. This is our home. Where we live. This is where most of our memories are made. I prayed for 3 long years for God to give me babies so I could see toys all over the house. I don't ever regret praying for that.
I also don't want to be that Mom who brings her kids up in a filthy home and they in turn won't know how to manage/clean their own home when adults. I think you have to find a good balance. Our home growing up was always clean but my Mama never stressed over it. We always had a sock or laundry basket needing to be matched/folded but I don't remember her ever acting as though the house being clean was more important than us being able to play, have fun and just be kids.
I do know this - a clean home is a happy home. A peaceful home.
I'm working with Amelia to pick up after herself. I've done everything from setting a timer to offering an m&m.
She just doesn't like cleaning up her toys as much as she likes to drag them out. :)
So we'll keep working on it.
A few things that drive me nuts...
1. I don't like waking up to a dirty kitchen. Don't get me wrong, I've done it, but I don't like it.
2. I don't like waking up to a messy living room with toys every where.
3. I don't like putting Amelia to bed if her room isn't picked up.
Things like this don't take a lot of time but when you're exhausted and your un-made bed is calling your name (that's right...I don't make my bed every day) sometimes you just choose sleep over a tidy house.
It really just comes down to discipline. God has been showing me some areas that I need to be more disciplined and this is one of them. I really want to be the very best example for my girls. I want them to know that sometimes we have to do things even when we're tired. Because you know what? You do. That's life. And that's why God created espresso. I'm fairly certain that's what He was up to on the 8th day.
One of the verses Amelia has memorized this year is 2 Timothy 1:7.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
Alex is the most disciplined man I know. He doesn't go to bed until midnight many nights and wakes up at 4:45am every day - just so he can get to work EARLY in order to get more work done without interruption. This allows him to be home at a decent time in the evenings to spend time with the girls before bedtime. He works a full time job during the week and gets up EARLY every Sunday to go into church to finish his message for that morning. He taught me to stop praying for more hours in the day and instead pray for strength/stamina to finish what I need to accomplish every day. He truly believes that no matter your work - you're to do it as unto the Lord. And I do have to say, it makes for a much happier day when you believe you're folding that laundry for Jesus! (LOL)
My Mom sent me this website and I've enjoyed reading through her tips for keeping a clean home. She talks about The Daily 7. This is a list of 7 simple things you can do DAILY to keep your home tidy. She also gives a list of things you can do to prep for company within 30 minutes. I love that the first thing on this list is HIDE STUFF. (ha!) If you do the daily 7, your home is pretty much ready for company at any time. I just seem to have "clutter" in certain places that needs to be put away. Like my clothes drying rack, Amelia's tent, mail on the counter, that load of clean clothes on the dining room table...things like that. :)
So I've been using the Daily 7 list for a few days now. Alex and Amelia have even joined me and are doing some of them for/with me. Amelia's favorite is taking out the trash in the bathrooms and throwing the wet towels into the dryer. She's a good helper! We've managed to do at least 5 of them every day but we'll be doing all 7 in no time...we just have to get into the habit...and that takes 14 days, right? :)
Love to all,
9 comments:
I have found that doing laundry on daily basis does help. I typically fold laundry while my boys are playing in the bath tub (while I can still see them). I also try to file our bills immediatley so we don't have clutter on our counter. I MUST have an empty kitchen sink...the tip I need is how to keep our staircase from collecting items which need to be carried upstairs.
Love the list though!
Thanks for sharing this. I need to get in that mind set, of folding the laundry for Jesus etc. I think that would make it go by much faster and with out a negative attitude.
Will definitely check the site out. Maybe the daily 7 will have my children wanting to help. They also do not like picking up as much as they love dragging out.
I'm definitely a clean-as-I-go girl, otherwise my house would be a wreck. Every single morning the beds must be made and the dishwasher must be emptied. I clean the kitchen every single time I use it, which is probably ridiculous but it works for me. I also do laundry every week now because even then it still takes me 2-3 days just to get through it all. Amazing how 2 tiny people can change so much!
Oh, girl. I regularly choose sleep over tidying up and I know I need more discipline in this area. Working on it! And my boys like to drag out every toy they own from sun up to sun down, too! :)
I am in the same place in life. 2.5 year old who pulls everything out and a 4 month old that prevents me from moving rapidly to clean up. And I am WORN OUT by day's end. Cleaning is absolutely the last thing I want to be doing right now. Thanks for linking the Daily 7. I'll be using those!
I'll just tell you I was completely jealous of the tent in the living room...seriously - nat
I'm glad you have time to blog again. I enjoy reading your writing.
I also have two daughters (age 9 and 12)and it is a struggle for me to keep the house clean as well. I agree that a clean home is a happy and peaceful home. :-)
Tammy
You don't know how much I needed this post! My husband sounds a lot like yours. He doesn't struggle with keeping things orderly. Being home with two kiddos every day, I feel like it's a constant battle. At the end of the day, I don't want to clean my house, I want to sit and relax. I definitely need to take your husband's advice and pray for the energy to get everything done in the day. Got everything really clean today... now to work on maintaining. Going to checkout the blog you linked to now. Thanks for sharing.
haha! had to laugh about that one because I am just like that! mess is not a good thing but worrying about it is neither.
what has really worked for me is sticking to the one-minute-rule. this goes the following: everything which takes less than one minute I do immediately. no procrastination. once I notice/it is to be done, just do it.
this diminishes soooo many of the clutter that accumulates everywhere and really makes picking up in the evening so much quicker!
just thought I would share since I learned this rule from a fellow blogger also.
and the pictures show you really have cute daughters! love to see the pictures *hint* :)
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