I'm a Mom

Sometimes my children wipe some sort of slime on my purple sweater and it looks like a snail slid across my chest.
Sometimes I wear that slimed purple sweater into public places, not because I want to be a slob but because the trail is in a place I can't see.

Sometimes my children scream in the grocery store because I won't give them what they want, like cookies.
Sometimes I see the other people looking at the woman with the screaming children, and know they are wishing they could shop in peace. I wish I could shop in peace, too.

Sometimes I want to cuddle on the couch and watch a fun romantic movie with my husband, but the laundry still needs folded.
Sometimes he helps me as we watch the latest reality show, I count it as a date.

Sometimes there is an unidentifiable red splotch on the kitchen floor, but no one sticks to it.
Sometimes I don't mop for a really long time.
Sometimes the red splotch fades away carried in tiny parts on socks.
Sometimes I think that is gross and I mop.
Sometimes I think that is gross and want to mop, but there are books to be read, babies to be fed, and I'm the only one who sees the splotch.

I'm not perfect.

But as you look at this slimed woman with the screaming children who folded laundry into the night and hasn't mopped her kitchen in a while, remember

• she was slimed because she gave a child a hug or comforted a babe,
• she cares more about the character of her children than their momentary happiness,
• she will sacrifice her wants for her family's needs and find the blessing in what she has,
• she is going to chose those books, babies, art, walks, and smiles over the mopping, not everyday but enough for her children to know they are loved,
• she is going to keep a home clean and peaceful enough for her husband to know she loves him.

I am a mom. Perhaps I should tack this to my mirror.

Sunday Night

My house is always a mess Sunday night. Always. I don't know how to fix it, but after the weekend and the ways weekends free me from the regular routine, disaster is sometimes not to serious a word.

Then Monday comes and groceries and miscellaneous necessities find their way into the . . . kitchen and by Monday afternoon, I am

1. making dinner around a great multitude of stuff waiting to be put away, or
2. putting away the stuff and peacefully making dinner (wait that is in my dreams), or
3. putting away stuff and near tears asking to go out for dinner.

Does anyone else have this dilemma? If you don't, what is your secret?

What's on Your List?

Thursday Thirteen

What's on your to-do list today?

1. Dishes out of the dishwasher
2. Shower
3. Library for storytime
4. Target for milk
5. WAlk the Dog
6. Fold laundry
7. ANother load in
8. Dress Abigail
9. Make beds
10. Purge Abigail's toys
11. Organize Abigail's toys
12. Read my Bible
13. Take a nap (yes, I'm pregnant and Abigail was in our bed at 4:00 this morning, a nap belongs on the to-do list.)
    

Five Minute Tasks

One day in my fervor to get things accomplished, I decided to use the time it took to make tea to be productive. Instead of say reading a few blogs and getting so distracted, I forgot about the steeping tea till it was cold and bitter and found half an hour wasted for which I beat myself up the rest of the day.

Anyway, I have been thinking about time, probably too much, lately and I was wondering what kinds of things can be accomplished in a 5 minute time period. Or other short period of time often written off as too short to accomplish something.

In the time it takes to make old-fashioned oatmeal. These are ors.
Make my bed and straighten our room
Clear out the dishwasher, all but the silverware
Reload the dishwasher
Get dressed and wash face (I haven't tried the toothbrushing at this time because brushing your teeth before breakfast just defeats the purpose)

In the time it takes to make a cup of tea (waiting for the right amount of water to boil, not the amount necessary for pasta to cook). These are ands.
Put away the adults' underwear (who wants tea when the children are awake?)
Fold the blanket from my nap
Design a fabulous housekeeping series for a blog
Review my memory verses from the Mega Memory Month (I didn't make it. Currently blaming the child developing in my womb for stealing my brain cells.)
Get the mail and toss it in the mail area.

In 10 minutes. These are ors.
Pick up Abigail's room and the living room
Dress myself and do those little personal hygiene tasks to prepare for the day
Wash the dishes that don't make it into the dishwasher and wipe the table and counters
Write a post.

What can you do in a few minutes? And do you?

Honestly, I squander a large amount of my spare minutes. If you visit, you can tell.

Revisiting Resolutions

In my thoughts throughout the first part of the year, I wanted to develop some rhythm. I didn't want simply routine. I wanted something more than a schedule.

I fumbled throughout January. Trying to find that thing called rhythm without routine and schedule. I fumbled.

Toward the end of the month Rachel Anne at Home Sanctuary had me start thinking about that schedule and perhaps the wisdom of routine.

What about you do you have a housekeeping schedule? Do you keep time with you schedule or just have a general to-do list for the day?