Friday, August 17, 2007
My House is a WRECK! - Day 2
Shared in Cleaning and Organizing
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Today, we reflect on the fact I brought up in our last entry: things will happen throughout your day that you cannot control... so accept them as allowed by God! Last night, as I completed our freezing endeavors, 14 year old grew very sick. Then the two other older children began complaining about their stomachs as well. They all ended up going to bed early and I took over their evening chores. This prevented me from completing some of my own jobs, and caused us to have to "skip" our scheduled schooling for the night. One thing you'll learn quickly is that any jobs you were unable to do today, will wait patiently for tomorrow! So, now we're faced with day two. Get out your notebook. Take a look at the rooms that you've separated into your second section. At the top of the very next blank page of paper, write the day and date. Follow this with the rooms that you're going to focus on, this afternoon. Now, look at yesterday's page. What, if anything, couldn't you complete as planned? Write these tasks below your focus rooms. Are there any jobs that your husband hoped you would do? Work that you really wanted to have completed by day's end? Don't "go crazy". Be realistic with available time as you create today's "to do" list. If you're anything like me, you'll find it necessary to even note such things as a shower for yourself, and time in the Word. I even pencil in "blogging". Today, my list included the living room (from yesterday), the lower bathroom, several loads of laundry, homeschooling, and writing up a grocery list and menu for the coming two weeks. Organize your work for the day, as you did yesterday. Begin with the headings "Morning", "Afternoon" and "Evening". You do not need to note times. But by writing things in order like this, you can put the more intensive work at a time when you normally have more energy, and the more relaxed tasks at other times. Things like "homeschooling" are set at a time when it "fits" with the children's typical day. For instance, in our house, I school the four smaller children in the morning before the olders are up. And I teach the older children when the littles are tucked into bed for the night. Again, when it is time to do your scheduled room(s), take a trash bag and empty laundry basket in and work hard and fast! Get rid of everything that doesn't belong in there, and pitch all things possible. You'd be surprised at how much we humans keep that do nothing but create clutter and serve no purpose. Today, I have focus rooms separated in my notebook, again, that are not my responsibility. My 14 year old does not need my aid in cleaning her room. The kitchen is her responsibility this week, as well. As you move through the day, keep a simple eye on yesterday's rooms. Tidy toys and other small messes as necessary. I like to begin my morning just brushing through Monday's focus rooms so they're always neat and tidy. Again, these are the rooms your visitors see first. They are usually the rooms your family spends the most time in, as well. Remember to keep your little ones with you as you move through your tasks. Don't let them get into trouble or mess up things you have neatened. Get your older children active, too, with contributing to the family, if you haven't already. You can foster hard workers for tomorrow! Future productive adults! Again, as you move through the day, welcome any interruptions graciously. That knock at the door might prove to be a blessing to you! Maybe that phone call from Aunt Jane took considerable time to complete, but she went away refreshed and encouraged. The dog might have spilled his water bowl all over your floor, causing Toddler to trip and slide... but you got a great photograph out of it and lots of giggles! Time hugging your children and reading to them will serve as golden memories, later. Your listening to your husband's story from work will mean a lot to him. Accidents and unavoidable messes are temporary "bumps" with no eternal significance. Relax! Enjoy your productive day of cleaning, and when night comes, enjoy the peace that comes from a house neater than it was yesterday! |
Thoughts
