I've been thinking today about my housekeeping schedule, or as I posted earlier, about my lack thereof. (Haha!) I did actually plan out a weekly schedule for myself, but have already found it difficult to maintain. Not because I'm not putting forth the effort, but I'm finding that I'm having to do things on days which they aren't scheduled...in turn, messing up the schedule for the remainder of the week, and therefore defeating the purpose of my having a schedule in the first place. Ughh. Why do I feel like such a failure? (OK, I'm exaggerating a little bit; I don't feel like a failure--exactly--but, I am frustrated and confused as to why it is so difficult to put one together that works!)
It's not that I don't clean or anything, because I do. It's just that I would like to organize my cleaning. I have even looked online and found some helpful resources, (thank you, Jess!) such as FlyLady, but haven't come across anything that I feel I will be able to stick with. Viv left me a comment about a book which she has posted about several times on her blog--and highly recommends--called America's Housekeeping Book, which I just ordered from Amazon. I saw some excerpts from this book on Viv's blog, was instantly intrigued, and am now eagerly awaiting its arrival! I guess I'll have to let you know how that goes after it comes in and I have a chance to implement any acquired information. (I have a really good feeling about this one...!)Just wondering, though: am I the only one who feels like an inadequate housekeeper? Have any of you struggled with this? (I mean, geez! We don't even have kids--just Pippy, our Chihuahua!) Why is it so difficult to make an effective, successful schedule? (I'm beginning to think it's because housekeeping isn't the easy task so many believe it to be...hmm...) I'm tired of feeling really incompetent that I have a Master's degree, and speak two languages, but can't even make my own housework schedule work! All I want is some June Cleaver-inspired guidance that will assist me in achieving my goal of the Leave it to Beaver house...is that really too much to ask?
The only way to have an immaculate house is to never sit down, eat, or go to the bathroom. And even so, once you have children, even cleaning 24/7 will not guarantee a clean house. I struggle with this, too; it's hard to work at something all day long and never see any progress. If I didn't have my children, I would probably take a cue from "Little House on the Prairie", where Ma and the girls would do all their housekeeping in the morning before settling down to some sewing in the afternoon. Seriously. You can chase your tail a lot with housework, but maybe having set hours would work better than a set schedule. If only I could figure out how to only clean all morning....
ReplyDeletehomemaking is a very hard and it requires skill, my husband can clean very well, he gets the kids on board while I cook dinner, but by morning it is back to being messy and it all starts again, it doesn't end. I to am finding my schedule is not working, my husbad works every second week, has every second friday or monday off, and it just throws me off, and then he questions me on it. I have thought of trying to stick to my schedule for one more month but at the same time I was going to write down the extra stuff that gets done when they are not scheduled and see if there is a pattern happening. Maybe then I might get it right.
ReplyDeleteMy house is a mess most of the time, but it's always filled with love and laughter. I like to say my epitaph will say: She left this world a brighter place... but not necessarily a cleaner one.
ReplyDeleteI do my morning chores as I am getting everybody up and going. Make beds. Unload the dishwasher. Start a load of laundry. Make breakfast. Wash dishes after breakfast. Get the kids bathed/dressed. Most days I'm lucky if I get my first (hot) cup of coffee by 9am! Brandi is right...you just can't sit down, because once you do, you're done for. I'm at home with 2 boys (aged 4 and 2) and I am just trying to keep afloat. I am hoping that once they get into school, things will settle down a little bit here (but even I would be the first to admit, that's probably just wishful thinking). I've tried the set cleaning schedules too and they're impossible. So, I save my big projects for "when I can find the time." Good luck in your efforts :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone for the suggestions. Brandi: I hadn't thought about just setting a certain time each day and trying it that way...hmm. The only thing that really seems to be "sticking" is ironing on Tuesday and, of course, all my daily chores (dishwashing, dry dusting, sweeping, vacuuming). I don't know how those of you with kids do it!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I don't have any words of housekeeping wisdom...my house is a complete tip right now that I'm laid up with a bum knee! I have figured out, in the last several years, however, that it isn't okay to be obsessed about every little thing that might be out of order in the house. If you (or me) freak out about every speck of dirt, you are wasting time that could be spent with your family or doing something else that you love! In other words, don't be so hard on yourself. What's the worse thing that could happen if don't put those dishes away from the dishdrainer?
ReplyDeleteAngela
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