Re: Housecleaning was opp's opinion, family bed, etc.
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/24/2001 4:39:25 PM Pacific Standard Time,
cmas100@... writes:
Chris, I am so far from one of those company ready people - I Can't even
begin to tell you either... But, last year our local newspaper printed and
essay I wrote for Mother's Day, regarding this issue - because my mother is a
compulsive cleaner as well. I copied it for you and I hope the rest of the
loop gets a chuckle too! Whether you are the "compulsive cleaner" or the
"quick stash in the drawer type" I think everyone can relate.
Dawn
A Matter of Style
My mother only had one child. She always had a spotless house that she
cleaned, scrubbed and polished all day long on Friday's when I was a child.
She also did all the laundry on the same day; it never sat in a basket
unfolded or not put away. There was never any clutter around on the counter
or in the bedroom. Everything had a place and everything was in its place -
always.
I have three children. I had them in 4 ½ years. They are now 7 ½,
5 and 3, two boys and a girl; in that order. I clean when I can; mostly when
I absolutely have to! My laundry rarely gets completed on the same day it is
started; often a basket may sit waiting to be folded or put away. Piles of
clutter decorate my kitchen and bedroom, they get smaller and bigger, but
never seem to disappear completely.
My mom made home cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was a
teenager when she went back to work full-time and then my dad took over,
cooking dinner each night.
The breakfasts I prepare come out of a box and sometimes go into the toaster
oven. Lunches may be prepared; but a few stops for fast food during the week
is common. Dinner, since we live in a mother-daughter house with my parents,
is still home cooked - by my dad. Or we go out, mostly all together.
My mom knew that when she put something away it would remain there. If she
cleaned, I knew better than to mess it up and would be careful with what I
did play with and of course, always put it away. She could count on peace
and quiet when she needed it - one child to hush usually does listen well.
I know the minute I pick up the Legos they will be out again. The puzzles
will be dumped and the toys will be littered throughout the house. I can
count on the bathroom floor and the toilet being piddled on minutes after
"the big clean" or the "quick wipe up". Getting a few minutes peace to call
the insurance company or a doctor's office is a trick when there are little
personalities reacting with each other all day.
My mom was the greatest mom around. She was young and I always considered
her a "cool" mom, unlike friends who were embarrassed by theirs. She always
managed to have time for me in spite of the fact that she kept a "perfect"
house. I know the reality is that one child, as opposed to three, made that
an easier task but there are some days when the guilt of not living up to the
example she set weighs very heavy on my mind. Not only when she gives a
disapproving gaze around the house, but when I take a good look also. Most
days there just isn't time to do it all. It seems impossible stay ahead of
their needs and to keep the house looking under control.
But mostly I find that I have made a choice.
Instead of cleaning, I choose to let my kids sit on my lap and watch cartoons
with them. I know all the characters and all the stories. Unlike friends I
have, I am never surprised by what my kids have on the television. Nothing
they watch has missed Mom's review first.
Instead of vacuuming today, I read my kids a story. My eldest was an early
reader and I expect his brother, my middle son to be the same. My daughter
often hands me a book and climbs into my lap. They love to be read to and
love to read to me. I am so happy to have passed on to them something I
loved so much from my childhood.
Instead of doing the rest of the laundry, I sang the Hokey Pokey and we all
danced.
I guess I take after my mom after all.
cmas100@... writes:
A part of me envies the people who are
organized and are always "company ready"; the other part loves the
fact that I enjoy my children and many other things in our lives, but
don't enjoy being tied down to a schedule, and I didn't hire on to be
a housekeeper.
So, thank you for your response; it's comforting to know I'm not the
only one...
Chris
Chris, I am so far from one of those company ready people - I Can't even
begin to tell you either... But, last year our local newspaper printed and
essay I wrote for Mother's Day, regarding this issue - because my mother is a
compulsive cleaner as well. I copied it for you and I hope the rest of the
loop gets a chuckle too! Whether you are the "compulsive cleaner" or the
"quick stash in the drawer type" I think everyone can relate.
Dawn
A Matter of Style
My mother only had one child. She always had a spotless house that she
cleaned, scrubbed and polished all day long on Friday's when I was a child.
She also did all the laundry on the same day; it never sat in a basket
unfolded or not put away. There was never any clutter around on the counter
or in the bedroom. Everything had a place and everything was in its place -
always.
I have three children. I had them in 4 ½ years. They are now 7 ½,
5 and 3, two boys and a girl; in that order. I clean when I can; mostly when
I absolutely have to! My laundry rarely gets completed on the same day it is
started; often a basket may sit waiting to be folded or put away. Piles of
clutter decorate my kitchen and bedroom, they get smaller and bigger, but
never seem to disappear completely.
My mom made home cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was a
teenager when she went back to work full-time and then my dad took over,
cooking dinner each night.
The breakfasts I prepare come out of a box and sometimes go into the toaster
oven. Lunches may be prepared; but a few stops for fast food during the week
is common. Dinner, since we live in a mother-daughter house with my parents,
is still home cooked - by my dad. Or we go out, mostly all together.
My mom knew that when she put something away it would remain there. If she
cleaned, I knew better than to mess it up and would be careful with what I
did play with and of course, always put it away. She could count on peace
and quiet when she needed it - one child to hush usually does listen well.
I know the minute I pick up the Legos they will be out again. The puzzles
will be dumped and the toys will be littered throughout the house. I can
count on the bathroom floor and the toilet being piddled on minutes after
"the big clean" or the "quick wipe up". Getting a few minutes peace to call
the insurance company or a doctor's office is a trick when there are little
personalities reacting with each other all day.
My mom was the greatest mom around. She was young and I always considered
her a "cool" mom, unlike friends who were embarrassed by theirs. She always
managed to have time for me in spite of the fact that she kept a "perfect"
house. I know the reality is that one child, as opposed to three, made that
an easier task but there are some days when the guilt of not living up to the
example she set weighs very heavy on my mind. Not only when she gives a
disapproving gaze around the house, but when I take a good look also. Most
days there just isn't time to do it all. It seems impossible stay ahead of
their needs and to keep the house looking under control.
But mostly I find that I have made a choice.
Instead of cleaning, I choose to let my kids sit on my lap and watch cartoons
with them. I know all the characters and all the stories. Unlike friends I
have, I am never surprised by what my kids have on the television. Nothing
they watch has missed Mom's review first.
Instead of vacuuming today, I read my kids a story. My eldest was an early
reader and I expect his brother, my middle son to be the same. My daughter
often hands me a book and climbs into my lap. They love to be read to and
love to read to me. I am so happy to have passed on to them something I
loved so much from my childhood.
Instead of doing the rest of the laundry, I sang the Hokey Pokey and we all
danced.
I guess I take after my mom after all.
[email protected]
Dawn,
Thank you so much for sharing your essay with us! It meant a lot!
Chris
Thank you so much for sharing your essay with us! It meant a lot!
Chris
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., Zahmiller@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 1/24/2001 4:39:25 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> cmas100@h... writes:
>
>
> > A part of me envies the people who are
> > organized and are always "company ready"; the other part loves
the
> > fact that I enjoy my children and many other things in our lives,
but
> > don't enjoy being tied down to a schedule, and I didn't hire on
to be
> > a housekeeper.
> >
> > So, thank you for your response; it's comforting to know I'm not
the
> > only one...
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> >
>
> Chris, I am so far from one of those company ready people - I
Can't even
> begin to tell you either... But, last year our local newspaper
printed and
> essay I wrote for Mother's Day, regarding this issue - because my
mother is a
> compulsive cleaner as well. I copied it for you and I hope the
rest of the
> loop gets a chuckle too! Whether you are the "compulsive cleaner"
or the
> "quick stash in the drawer type" I think everyone can relate.
>
> Dawn
>
> A Matter of Style
>
> My mother only had one child. She always had a spotless house that
she
> cleaned, scrubbed and polished all day long on Friday's when I was
a child.
> She also did all the laundry on the same day; it never sat in a
basket
> unfolded or not put away. There was never any clutter around on
the counter
> or in the bedroom. Everything had a place and everything was in
its place -
> always.
>
> I have three children. I had them in 4 ½ years. They are now 7 ½,
> 5 and 3, two boys and a girl; in that order. I clean when I can;
mostly when
> I absolutely have to! My laundry rarely gets completed on the same
day it is
> started; often a basket may sit waiting to be folded or put away.
Piles of
> clutter decorate my kitchen and bedroom, they get smaller and
bigger, but
> never seem to disappear completely.
>
> My mom made home cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I
was a
> teenager when she went back to work full-time and then my dad took
over,
> cooking dinner each night.
>
> The breakfasts I prepare come out of a box and sometimes go into
the toaster
> oven. Lunches may be prepared; but a few stops for fast food
during the week
> is common. Dinner, since we live in a mother-daughter house with
my parents,
> is still home cooked - by my dad. Or we go out, mostly all
together.
>
> My mom knew that when she put something away it would remain
there. If she
> cleaned, I knew better than to mess it up and would be careful with
what I
> did play with and of course, always put it away. She could count
on peace
> and quiet when she needed it - one child to hush usually does
listen well.
>
> I know the minute I pick up the Legos they will be out again. The
puzzles
> will be dumped and the toys will be littered throughout the house.
I can
> count on the bathroom floor and the toilet being piddled on minutes
after
> "the big clean" or the "quick wipe up". Getting a few minutes
peace to call
> the insurance company or a doctor's office is a trick when there
are little
> personalities reacting with each other all day.
>
> My mom was the greatest mom around. She was young and I always
considered
> her a "cool" mom, unlike friends who were embarrassed by theirs.
She always
> managed to have time for me in spite of the fact that she kept
a "perfect"
> house. I know the reality is that one child, as opposed to three,
made that
> an easier task but there are some days when the guilt of not living
up to the
> example she set weighs very heavy on my mind. Not only when she
gives a
> disapproving gaze around the house, but when I take a good look
also. Most
> days there just isn't time to do it all. It seems impossible stay
ahead of
> their needs and to keep the house looking under control.
>
> But mostly I find that I have made a choice.
>
> Instead of cleaning, I choose to let my kids sit on my lap and
watch cartoons
> with them. I know all the characters and all the stories. Unlike
friends I
> have, I am never surprised by what my kids have on the television.
Nothing
> they watch has missed Mom's review first.
>
> Instead of vacuuming today, I read my kids a story. My eldest was
an early
> reader and I expect his brother, my middle son to be the same. My
daughter
> often hands me a book and climbs into my lap. They love to be read
to and
> love to read to me. I am so happy to have passed on to them
something I
> loved so much from my childhood.
>
> Instead of doing the rest of the laundry, I sang the Hokey Pokey
and we all
> danced.
>
> I guess I take after my mom after all.