Susie-Home-Maker...NOT

So...I'm getting ready to crush some of you. I mean, really.

I have good intentions, I really do. But I just can't seem to do it.

Do what, you ask?

Be a good Susie-Home-Maker.

Now, to be quite honest up front, the measuring stick with which I measure is P.R.E.T.T.Y. big. My Marmi Jo-jo is an UH-MAZING housekeeper. A perfect blend of Susie (HomeMaker), Betty (Crocker), and Martha (Stewart). No really. This woman is just...someone I can only attain to be.

When I was teaching (pre-kid), I thought I was struggling because I was busy. Especially those first 2 years...man, I spent a LOT of time in the classroom. There was rarely energy left for cleaning/cooking/picking up/straightening/being a good home maker. So I rarely did.

Then we bought a house. It had 2 more rooms than the past house (that I had already struggled to keep up with). Not to mention a yard, etc. So...Uhhhhh....Not sure why I thought "maybe here I will do well." Nope.

Then we got a dog. Love him to pieces. Don't even GET me started on the mess they make, smell they make, etc. (And mine even does his business outside! He's just a stink-er!)

Then we got a 4 year old. Oh, brother. Again...love him to pieces. Can't live without him (literally...don't think I could.) Can't BELIEVE the mess he makes. Every. Waking. Hour. {Though to be quite honest, I am trying to teach him to clean up after himself. 1.5 years later, he's not doing too bad.}

{Now, in case you're wondering...this post is not JUST about how I suck at being a house keeper.}

I've tried everything:

• Daily Cleaning Lists/Chores - Woops! I'd go days without looking at it.
• Fly Lady - she's neat, she really is. Just can't keep up.
• Weekend Cleaning - nope...doesn't work
• Week Night Cleaning  - refer to the above comment
• Split Cleaning - The Mister & I will split chores and take responsibility for only those chores. He quit that after there wasn't a clean towel (in the whole house)...Not to mention other things that are quite necessary.

All this to give encouragement to a few of you out there who secretly are not the best @ this ever-loving, never-ending job.

I found something that works!

 

Yup. It's an egg timer. I make a list of areas that need to be cleaned up (usually ALL of them). I split time up (usually 10-15-20 minutes). Set the timer. Give myself a few 5 minute internet breaks (because I'm severely addicted...maybe THAT'S why I stink at this). And work my way down the list. It makes it fun, quick, and I end up trying to beat the timer. After all, if the bathroom gets cleaned up before the 10 minutes is up, I can have a few free minutes on Blogger....so...ya know...it's worth it.

That's what I've been doing the past hour. Beating the clock. And 1 hour went by VERY fast, yet I got a LOT done.

Off to see if I can get dishes AND laundry done in 10 minutes flat...

First Day of School Blues...

I used to be on the other side of the door.

As the teacher, I pried children off parents, telling them they will be just fine and will have a great day. "You just wait and see," I would say. I saw mom's break down, drop & run, snoop (stick around much longer than needed), and I saw my share of silent tears, as well.

I didn't think I'd struggle. I've been needing a "break." Working and being mom and trying to balance hasn't been working terribly well (yet), mostly because he has to be there. {Try being productive with a hyper-active 5 year old on your heels...it's NUTS!} Add to our crazy equation...a week stretch where Daddy has to work a LOT extra. Not only did D struggle with that, so did Momma. I needed a break.

My Mister is so good about giving me a break when I need one (if he's able). And so I got several breaks this weekend.

But then this morning, as we walked to school, I was chastising myself. I should have enjoyed a few more summer hours with my sweet boy before shipping him off for 7 hours a day. I coulda just waited for my 7 hour break. And then reality hit me that I am not going to be there all day with him. Every day. For, like, 180some days.

180 days of not knowing what he REALLY eats for lunch.
180 days of wondering if he's going to break a limb (for he's not only accident-proned, but also just quick to action, slow to think.)
180 days of hoping and praying that he's standing up for those being bullied.
180 days of praying that he's not BEING bullied (or being the bullier, too, I suppose).
180 days of someone else calming his fears and insecurities for those hours in the day.
180 days of someone else seeing his lightbulb go off and watching him learn new things.

Ugh. I've never quite felt like this before. Now, more than ever, I want to spend every minute with him, soaking up his sweetness and hilarity. And so I did. After school. We were quite inseparable for those 5 short hours together. How fair is that?! (Not at all.)

I'm not one to worry. I don't really believe in worrying, and those who worry REALLY bother me. But I'm not gonna lie...in those 15-20 (possibly 30) minutes where I was having a breakdown once we got home, I mighta been a bit of a worrier. God & my Mister calmed my fears and my unknowns {and truth be told, my lack of control}.

And now, here I am. Wide awake (since I slept for many hours today) and wishing my D was awake with me. I can't wait to see him tomorrow.

A chuckle worthy moment from this past week.
Me: "Sweet D, I'm gonna miss you. You're going to be at school for a long time. What am I gonna do without you?" D: "It okay, Mom. I won't miss you. I be having fun at sool." {At least he's honest. And excited about school. I love that.}

 

 

Can you tell he's excited to be there?!