For many, family
holidays -
at home -
the vacation time
itself was catch22
for me.
I did not do well with holidays for many years - and I really think this catch22 was a big part of the problem.
Having projects that I needed help getting done, but not wanting to interfere with everyone else's down time.
When everyone was gone (work, school) I mostly saw things that needed done that I needed/wanted help. And I felt paralyzed.
When everyone was home - I felt bad asking for help - because I was always home - and they had limited time at home.
Everyone around here is now big - lots of REAL help. And this summer - we have really kicked back - very few activities - NO go, go, go - NO rush, rush, rush.
The middle child and I have been sorting and cleaning and organizing - at a fairly steady clip. Not every day - but some days - we tackle something major and work it through to the end.
My feelings about major chores are totally different with two sets of hands. And she abhors clutter and is a natural organizer - so she is a good work mate.
The other three (workers) are enlisted for hauling, putting bits away in other rooms, and trash. And this is mostly when we are finished (and tired) and they are just glad that they didn't get roped into the whole project.
It started last fall when the oldest purged his room before leaving for college.
And then based on what she saw with the oldest, the middle child did her own room last winter.
Then the youngest purged her room just after school released in May.
And then it continued when we finally dealt with the castoffs from the middle child's room - that I foolishly told her to pile in the entry way. (My original plan was to go through it all while they were on spring break - but I never did.) With the youngest - we were much smarter - only touched things once.
But that entry way purge got us moving.
We went on to the cupboards in the computer room, and then the files in the window seat in the living room.
And now are in the closet in my sewing/beading/craft room. I actually SEW in the closet - and it is a large one (under the stairs).
This is a biggie - it never really GOT organized 8 years ago when we moved in this house. And that is rather silly - because there is MAJOR storage in that closet - two big sets of floor to ceiling shelves and a huge bulletin board.
But it is my dumping ground - anything craft or sewing related - I set (dump) in there with the thought that I will organize it 'some day'.
The end result is that I shudder to go in that room. I sort of hold my breath and dive in quick - for absolute necessity mending.
And it is time consuming to find things. There are a lot of great things there. I don't think that I have re bought (much) because of needs, when I couldn't find what I have, but I am sure that it has happened.
So we are baby stepping our way through this really big project - and then will continue on - through the house.
If you want to read a really good posting of baby steps and weight loss - visit Debby - she wrote a very good one earlier in the week.
5 comments:
I hope to be organized by the holidays so I never again buy something that I already have.
Last summer my friend took over a area of her garage and organized everything- craft supplies, sewing, school, wrapping, and decorations,she labeled every thing and now knows where everything is.
You and daughter seem to compliment each other as a working team! Sounds like some bonding time.
Bean questio for you... I had made up a crockpot full of pinto beans with garlic, onion and cumin, and froze them. Last night hubby heated some up for me and they are way too salty-hubby admitted to adding salt when they were in the crockpot-grr-.
Any ideas or should I dump the rest in the freezer?
Anything fun planned for the weekend?
I would dump them.
And you might want to either hide or pitch the salt so he doesn't do this to you again. There are some people that can't NOT do salt if it is around. . .
today was a busy and a very social day:
took middle child for the morning to see a friend of hers compete with her dog in 4H Dog show - and then dashed home to shower and change and went to a high school open house for the afternoon.
Stopped to check on my mom on the way home and her husband was in the midst of a blood sugar dive (down to 56) if she hadn't checked on him when she did - we would now be calling the funeral home (literally). She got it back up to 150's. But he has had ucky tummy on and off all day. My guess is that I will be in the ER with him before the night is over. She has not been doing well herself all week. She is much better today - (otherwise I would have been guessing double phone calls to the funeral home. . .)
we are NO where close to afters - but she did get the befores. The wooden shelf is behind the door. and then stack of pictures is just beyond the cameras view past the door/wooden shelf.
those white cubbies are one of my favorites - they were in the living room at the old house. They had to be placed under the stairs before the walls/door went up in order to fit.
I had many things before we built - so that everything fit and blended (rugs, towels, shelves, etc) paint can be mixed to any color - but stuff can't. Many of our wall colors came from the old house. Computer room for example is one shade lighter than the old kitchen.
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