I’m a list maker. I make lists of everything, sometimes when I’m going especially crazy, I make lists of my lists. I know how crazy that sounds but if I write something on a list I can keep it from taking up space in my head because I know the list is keeping track of it for me. The feeling of accomplishment I get when I get to cross things off my list, well, it makes me feel like a I have a little bit of control over my sometimes chaotic life.
Maybe that’s why I dislike housework. Sure there are things that only have to be done occasionally that get crossed off the list, washing windows, cleaning the oven, organizing the linen closet. For the most part, however, housework never gets crossed off the lsit so I never quite have that same feeling of accomplishment.
Everything I do in my house to keep it clean needs to be done again almost before I’m finished the first time.
Straighten up the family room –done- oh wait, Hailey’s home, there’s her jacket and the movie case from the movie she wants to watch, and her drinking glass. I just barely walked out of the room. I like cleaning the bathroom because I love a clean bathroom, but as soon as I’m finished I need a shower and back come the water spots and soap scum.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could cross those things off your list and mean it? Dishes- done for this month. Making beds- done for this week. Vacuuming- done for this century because I truly hate to vacuum. So it looks like we have two choices, leave it off the list and just do it anyway or get rid of all the people you love, put cleaning on the list and refuse to let anyone live in your house.
It’s a hard choice but I think I’ll keep my daughter, even if it means I have to vacuum regularly.