So, DH read my post from 2 nights ago and commented, ” I like it.” Then he laughed, “You seem really put together on your blog.” I laughed back, “Everyone seems really put together on their blogs.”
That got me thinking. When I read other people’s posts about housekeeping or training animals or keeping chickens or homeschooling or raising kids, if I like their ideas, I try to implement them. Then I get frustrated with myself and beat myself up (a lot), because I can’t be so buttoned down as everyone I read about.
For example, I have read a bunch of books and posts that discuss putting housework tasks, laundry, etc all on schedules. If you do x, y, and z every day or on a set day every week, you will never fall behind on your housework, your laundry will never pile up in baskets, your dishes will never pile up in the sink, etc. If that works for those women, more power to them. I like their ideas, but right now in my life, I am lucky if the clothes get washed.
Give yourself grace and remember to laugh.
Try to slow down, at least occasionally.
I have tried putting things into routines and schedules, but, invariably, 3 or 4 days into it, a giant monkey wrench gets thrown in. Then, I won’t be able to get the ball rolling again for weeks. You know what I’m talking about, you finally get all the laundry washed and folded and all the dishes done, then someone (or more than just one) gets sick, the barn floods, the tractor gets stuck in the mud (so you do too), and you have hay and shavings and feed deliveries all within 2 days. You are lucky to keep everyone alive.
At the end of the day, you look at the kitchen and the laundry piles, turn the light off, and go to bed (after crying in the shower for 5 or 10 minutes because you are too tired to think and you feel like a failure for not being able to stay on top of it all). So believe me, I am not that put together. I live in chaos.
There are many mornings when the kids run into our room and get dressed out of the laundry baskets sitting next to my side of the bed. 🙂 I have much more to do than hours in the day. Recently, I added together everything that I “should” be getting done in a week and ended up with enough spare time to sleep for 5 1/2 hours per week – yes, per week not per day.
I can’t cut anything out right now so things get done as I can do them. Sometimes I prioritize, and sometimes I just start with something that I know that I can complete just so I can cross it off my list. I do try to sleep 6 1/2 to 8 hours each night.
So anyone reading this (I am writing this to myself too), give yourself grace and remember to laugh. Try to slow down, at least occasionally. Do a happy dance when the clothes make it back into the drawers, only to have a kiddo throw them out 30 minutes later looking for the perfect shirt. Celebrate when the kitchen looks clean for a minute before you get to make it messy again to love on those in your care. Notice the little victories and cheer wildly for accomplishing them! You are worth celebrating!
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