It's made all the worst because it wasn't all that long ago that the routine felt like it was going so well, and I was getting on top of things. When I found out I was pregnant, I rejoiced. I am so happy to have another baby. And while I know four kids is going to be challenging, I looked at the 9 months in front of me as an opportunity to improve in my role as wife and mother so that I would be better prepared for having another little one around. And I was doing it too. I had developed a routine that got most of the daily tasks done, I was vacuuming at least once a week, working up to twice for downstairs, I was even planing on stripping the sheets in one bedroom every week and keeping up on clean beds that way! For some people, this may seem laughable, but I have always been the first one to say that I am a BAD housekeeper. It doesn't come naturally to me, some people rejoice in cleaning their houses, and I am not one of them. But I was trying to be. Then I stumbled.
I don't know if I got sick, stressed, tired, busy, or just in a funk. Probably a nice little combination of all of them, but I dropped the ball on my newly forming habits, and now I am having a hard time picking up the pieces. I'm sick of the mess, but catching up is intimidating. Especially when I'm just sick of trying to keep up with stuff like getting ready in the morning. School is out for summer vacation in less than 3 weeks. It would be nice if not having to worry about school would let me set my own schedule. But not having school looming over us is likely to have the opposite effect. I could do much if I would just get up a little earlier, and that was looking easy until Jeff stopped turning on an alarm clock. Yeah, we just have the one, I'll be moving it back to my side of the bed soon. Argh, we, ok I, do better when a routine is in place and getting stuff done just happens. I need to get back to that place. Where's my motivation? What helps motivate you? Really, I'd appreciate it.
2 comments:
I know that I'm super hard on myself for these very issues. But, really, we do need to give ourselves a break. Baby steps. ESPECIALLY when an actual baby (gestating or otherwise) is involved!
If it makes you feel any better I only vacuum once a week and the sheets get changed less often.
Here are things that make my day feel worth it.
1. If I get my time (prayer, scriptures, exercise, getting dressed, ...) before the kids are up it makes all the difference. Then I feel that the day has been productive, even if I get nothing else done except put out fires the rest of the day.
2. If I take time to just sit and read with my children. Again that makes the rest of a crazy day worth it.
3. A clean kitchen is important to my sanity. I can have toys everywhere and feel at peace with the house. But if I have dirty dishes scattered over a dirty counter I am stressed until I can get it cleaned up (at least consolidated by the sink and the counter wiped off). Find what is important to you to keep nice and then the other things get to as you can, but don't worry about them.
4. I try to not have anything scheduled for the morning, as much as possible. The 2hr to get going in the morning is standard for us too (from when I get up to when we are done cleaning up breakfast), sometimes its more. I think it is the nature of small children. So don't despair, this phase will pass too (I hope).
Anna, you sound like you are doing many good things. Especially how you are having your kids help you with chores. That takes discipline from the mom. Keep up the good work.
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