In case you haven’t noticed, it’s a new year. The sixth day of it in fact. If there’s anything that screams new year, it’s the word organization. For some this is a naughty word. For others it’s euphoria. For me, it’s a sickness.
In a gesture of full transparency I’m not an OCD-type of organized. I don’t alphabetize spices, books or movies. I don’t go crazy if things are out of place (unless it’s a lot of things at the same time). Really it’s two-fold. 1 – I hate visual clutter so to have things put away makes me feel better. And 2 – I thrive in efficient environs so when I spend time looking for things, it drives me bonkers. Organization is the only thing I can think of to solve this problem. It’s really all about my stress level.
I know you’re wondering where I’m going with this, but I promise I have a point. It is this: I picked up an organizational book written in the late 80s from the thrift store the other week and I’ve been reading it a few pages at a time. It has me thinking of all sorts of ways to get my house in shape.
One of the biggest is recruiting help to get things done. Hmmm…. I think I hit the jackpot. The last few months it’s become increasingly difficult for me to keep up with housework. Reading this woman’s words of wisdom made me realize I’m doing a poor job of teaching my children responsibility. So over Christmas break, Henry and I focused on getting them in the routine of picking up after themselves. Of putting something away when they are ready to move on to the next thing. Of picking up the few things on the floor of their room before going to bed at night. It’s made a world of difference. Shocker!
And because of that, I am feeling pretty good. For those who don’t know, I have a day nurse four days a week to help out with Ryan’s care. She is on vacation this week. I thought I would be going crazy. But I’m not. Admittedly I’ve only made it through three days… but so far so good.
Tangent – Henry and I are watching the People’s Choice awards as I type this on Wednesday night and I can’t help but note how much the internet has changed our world. Here we sit watching Johnny Depp accept an award and wondering how old he is. Ten years ago we would have surmised the first movie or show he was in and when that was and how old we thought he was at the time, etc. Now, we simply pull up wikipedia and type in his name. Voila! He’s 47. Kid Rock? 39. Who else you wanna know about? Cause I’m a fast typer.
And now to close this very random post – I will leave you with a few of the things the kids said to me this week. I wish I could remember everything Ainsley said, but I can’t and I’m kicking myself because she made me chuckle several times this week. But here’s a few:
Ainsley: Do you wanna see how fast I can pee in the toilet? Wanna? Wanna?
Natalie: Mom, can I say something really cute?
Ainsley: How do the teeth in the top of your mouth stay in?
Natalie: You touched Ryan’s penis! (It was during a bath.) Do you touch daddy’s penis?!
My mind literally went blank. What do you say to that? Help me, please…. She’s 6. I made the question go away, in a good way. But I’m so not ready to have these conversations with my daughter. Agh!
Ainsley: Do planets have wings? (She was trying to figure out how they stay suspended in space)
And on that note – I’m off to organize my kitchen command center!
Comments (12)
HAHAHAHAHA the things Ainsley said too cute and too funny and my eyes went WIDE when Natalie asked if you touched daddy’s penis hahaha! Have a fun day organizing!!! It’s a lot of fun! :o)
I love kids and their comments or questions!
Organizing and cleaning out gives me an adrenaline rush. I love feeling like I have “my ducks in a row.”
I think I would have said…”Daddy takes his own baths and showers…but I have to wash Ryan”…
And left it at that. That probably would satisfy a 6 yr. old. (:>)
Linda, that was a good one. My mind went blank too!
Oh my word! Natalie’s question had me laughing out loud!
omgness! I don’t know what I would have said. Like My 2 year old jumps in the shower with me but today my three year old jumped in WITH us and said “Momma, you got a big butt”.
and all I said was “thank you”
Laughing so incredibly hard! Seriously can’t stop laughing because the penis question is hysterical and I live the same world with Scott-Wesley. He calls it “his winker” and we don’t know why. Today he realized that Daddy doesn’t always sleep in pants and went running through the house telling his brothers that you can sleep with your winker out! I was scared to send him to preschool for fear of what would come spilling out of his mouth! Kids always keep us on our toes and most days make us laugh, it is wonderful.
As for the need for organization to be able to function well, I am so with you. My kids help out a lot and we wouldn’t survive without their help. If they want to do fun things then they have to pitch in with mundane tasks each day.
My 6 yr recently heard me say that I am so claustrophobic now and I didn’t used to be. He immediately said ” mama, you were scared of Santa Claus”. I laughed so hard. He took the word Claus and I didn’t even realize he knew what phobic was. Kids are so funny. We should write a book!!!
Okay, wow. Natalie’s question just made me lose it. And I have no idea what else I was going to say. Hi. 🙂
Wow! My mouth would have dropped and I would have probably laughed….. She is a thinker!!! That is for sure.
one of the greatest “organization” things – or just “save time” things i did the last few months was with laundry.
i fold the laundry on the couch in the living room. i used to put it ALL away. then…about a year ago i started putting the older 3’s laundry on their beds and THEY had to put it away. NOW, i leave their piles on the living room couch and THEY are responsible for getting it and putting it away! it’s SO great! messier drawers for them…but i don’t see them very often so it doesn’t bother me that much!
The english language is not my main language, yet I can recognize it utilizing the google translator. Superb article, have them coming! Appreciate it!