other people cleaning my house
[email protected]
I couldn't think of what to call this. That's okay.
When my leg was broken in October/November/December (sad) the house got
messier. Nobody was surprised.
Once I was up and about, it got cleaner. No big surprise.
It's March. The Christmas decorations' boxes are still in the living room.
Holly and I did pack them up tighter a couple of weeks ago, but carrying them
out to the shed in back (after sealing and clearly labelling) hasn't
happened.
There are various other boxes still unpacked/unexcavated from the room
switching Holly and I started in October. Still not finished on my part.
Her room is great and she's keeping it really nice.
But I went to Saskatoon for four days and while I was gone things continued.
Keith stayed home, and laundry was kept up, and dishes were done.
One funny thing: I have three little kitchen counter areas I keep clean and
open, and the stove top. The rest gets cluttery. There's a big kind of
island/bar between two parts of the room. It collects the odd jar and glass
and box of cards and book and schedule/flyer/ticket, art supplies... you know.
So my husband who hates such "piles" had shoved it all over so there was
about a foot clear in front, about three feet wide. I guess that was his
work space.
Not a problem.
But these flat surfaces hadn't been washed since I left. I wash the stove
top and in front of the toaster and all that. There might be a pile of
cards, but it's clean enough to put bread down to make a sandwich, when I
clean it. Keith wanted space to put plates and trays down.
Just a difference in priorities and habits.
When I was younger I probably would have been grouchy about it, but I'm not
younger. Good! <bwg>
Sandra
When my leg was broken in October/November/December (sad) the house got
messier. Nobody was surprised.
Once I was up and about, it got cleaner. No big surprise.
It's March. The Christmas decorations' boxes are still in the living room.
Holly and I did pack them up tighter a couple of weeks ago, but carrying them
out to the shed in back (after sealing and clearly labelling) hasn't
happened.
There are various other boxes still unpacked/unexcavated from the room
switching Holly and I started in October. Still not finished on my part.
Her room is great and she's keeping it really nice.
But I went to Saskatoon for four days and while I was gone things continued.
Keith stayed home, and laundry was kept up, and dishes were done.
One funny thing: I have three little kitchen counter areas I keep clean and
open, and the stove top. The rest gets cluttery. There's a big kind of
island/bar between two parts of the room. It collects the odd jar and glass
and box of cards and book and schedule/flyer/ticket, art supplies... you know.
So my husband who hates such "piles" had shoved it all over so there was
about a foot clear in front, about three feet wide. I guess that was his
work space.
Not a problem.
But these flat surfaces hadn't been washed since I left. I wash the stove
top and in front of the toaster and all that. There might be a pile of
cards, but it's clean enough to put bread down to make a sandwich, when I
clean it. Keith wanted space to put plates and trays down.
Just a difference in priorities and habits.
When I was younger I probably would have been grouchy about it, but I'm not
younger. Good! <bwg>
Sandra
Have a Nice Day!
I've noticed that since I've dropped any expectations about the chores, the kids are much more willing to help out, and often without my asking.
I remember when I was a kid, I HATED when my mother asked me to do chores. I wanted to be able to do it without someone telling me to do it, but I also wanted to do it on my own time schedule, not on hers.
She could never let me alone long enough for me to do something and surprise her just because I finally wanted to.
I never "finally wanted to" bec. she never let me alone. It was HUGE point of contention between us for many years.
I'm so glad that isn't true at our house most of the time except for those occasional neurotic moments that I have, or my husband has LOL.
I confess, after I put the milk away for the 4th time last night (in about an hour) I was just a little bit annoyed.
Kristen
I remember when I was a kid, I HATED when my mother asked me to do chores. I wanted to be able to do it without someone telling me to do it, but I also wanted to do it on my own time schedule, not on hers.
She could never let me alone long enough for me to do something and surprise her just because I finally wanted to.
I never "finally wanted to" bec. she never let me alone. It was HUGE point of contention between us for many years.
I'm so glad that isn't true at our house most of the time except for those occasional neurotic moments that I have, or my husband has LOL.
I confess, after I put the milk away for the 4th time last night (in about an hour) I was just a little bit annoyed.
Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 4:59 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] other people cleaning my house
I couldn't think of what to call this. That's okay.
When my leg was broken in October/November/December (sad) the house got
messier. Nobody was surprised.
Once I was up and about, it got cleaner. No big surprise.
It's March. The Christmas decorations' boxes are still in the living room.
Holly and I did pack them up tighter a couple of weeks ago, but carrying them
out to the shed in back (after sealing and clearly labelling) hasn't
happened.
There are various other boxes still unpacked/unexcavated from the room
switching Holly and I started in October. Still not finished on my part.
Her room is great and she's keeping it really nice.
But I went to Saskatoon for four days and while I was gone things continued.
Keith stayed home, and laundry was kept up, and dishes were done.
One funny thing: I have three little kitchen counter areas I keep clean and
open, and the stove top. The rest gets cluttery. There's a big kind of
island/bar between two parts of the room. It collects the odd jar and glass
and box of cards and book and schedule/flyer/ticket, art supplies... you know.
So my husband who hates such "piles" had shoved it all over so there was
about a foot clear in front, about three feet wide. I guess that was his
work space.
Not a problem.
But these flat surfaces hadn't been washed since I left. I wash the stove
top and in front of the toaster and all that. There might be a pile of
cards, but it's clean enough to put bread down to make a sandwich, when I
clean it. Keith wanted space to put plates and trays down.
Just a difference in priorities and habits.
When I was younger I probably would have been grouchy about it, but I'm not
younger. Good! <bwg>
Sandra
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> When I was younger I probably would have been grouchy about it, but I'm notI love this!
> younger. Good!
Yesterday I was waiting for my midwife who was running an hour late. The
waiting room was filled with magazines, so i didn't mind much, although I
wish I had brought in my worm composting book. Anyway, I was reading one of
those Ladies-Home- Compantion-Day-Self-Book magazines and there was a list of
the top ten things never to try to change in a man. I can't remember what
they all were, but it included putting the seat down and such. I kept
laughing and thinking "why the hell would I try to change THAT!" As if there
aren't bigger fish to fry.
If I want the house cleaned the way I want it done, I do it. Usually with my
headphones on and a nice book on tape. If someone is wanting it cleaned in
a different way, that's ok too. I mean, why did I ever have to insist on a
separate bin for the dinosaurs? It's not like I play with the stuff. In our
house, dinosaurs build block houses with sheep and cows. Stuffed dolphins
yesterday gave me a beautiful bunch of tinker toy roses. And Drusselmeyer
(Nathan) helped Clara (Julia) off with her tights and underpants while I was
in another room.
It took me a long time and a lot of work to get here. I like it here. It's
a good thing not to be younger and grouchier.
Elizabeth
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 3/4/03 3:39:31 PM, litlrooh@... writes:
<< I've noticed that since I've dropped any expectations about the chores,
the kids are much more willing to help out, and often without my asking. >>
The afternoon's report on this:
In the recycling are about ten shampoo and conditioner bottles. Kirby, for
some reason no one understands, kind of likes for them to just be empty on
the floor of his shower. Nobody shares with him. Every few months, it seems
dangerous. At least three times I have myself gone and gathered them.
Keith did it once, and grumped loudly. Holly did it once, when she and I
were cleaning Kirby's room as a surprise. Kirby did it resentfully once
when I told him he really needed to do it because it wasn't my job,
na-na-na-na.
Today, without a word spoken, Kirby brought them all to the recycling.
Earlier today I was messing with kindling, making some sticks to use to make
"waxy sticks" (dipped in leftover wax, for fire-starting purposes). No
hurry. But while I was by the fire place, Holly was talking to me and said,
"We should clean the front of the fireplace." It smoked a couple of times
when the wind was high, and a few rows of bricks were grubby looking.
I had a lull while noodles were cooking and I thought I should do that. So I
sprayed it with orange foam stuff, found a scrub brush and a spray bottle of
water and some rags. Went and scrubbed a while.
Holly saw and said "Can I do that?"
Sure, I said. Showed her were the various things needed to end up and she
very happily and proudly finished the job, and well.
Sandra
<< I've noticed that since I've dropped any expectations about the chores,
the kids are much more willing to help out, and often without my asking. >>
The afternoon's report on this:
In the recycling are about ten shampoo and conditioner bottles. Kirby, for
some reason no one understands, kind of likes for them to just be empty on
the floor of his shower. Nobody shares with him. Every few months, it seems
dangerous. At least three times I have myself gone and gathered them.
Keith did it once, and grumped loudly. Holly did it once, when she and I
were cleaning Kirby's room as a surprise. Kirby did it resentfully once
when I told him he really needed to do it because it wasn't my job,
na-na-na-na.
Today, without a word spoken, Kirby brought them all to the recycling.
Earlier today I was messing with kindling, making some sticks to use to make
"waxy sticks" (dipped in leftover wax, for fire-starting purposes). No
hurry. But while I was by the fire place, Holly was talking to me and said,
"We should clean the front of the fireplace." It smoked a couple of times
when the wind was high, and a few rows of bricks were grubby looking.
I had a lull while noodles were cooking and I thought I should do that. So I
sprayed it with orange foam stuff, found a scrub brush and a spray bottle of
water and some rags. Went and scrubbed a while.
Holly saw and said "Can I do that?"
Sure, I said. Showed her were the various things needed to end up and she
very happily and proudly finished the job, and well.
Sandra
Have a Nice Day!
What are waxy sticks and how do you use them?
(I could probably use some of these too).
Kristen
(I could probably use some of these too).
Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 8:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] other people cleaning my house
In a message dated 3/4/03 3:39:31 PM, litlrooh@... writes:
<< I've noticed that since I've dropped any expectations about the chores,
the kids are much more willing to help out, and often without my asking. >>
The afternoon's report on this:
In the recycling are about ten shampoo and conditioner bottles. Kirby, for
some reason no one understands, kind of likes for them to just be empty on
the floor of his shower. Nobody shares with him. Every few months, it seems
dangerous. At least three times I have myself gone and gathered them.
Keith did it once, and grumped loudly. Holly did it once, when she and I
were cleaning Kirby's room as a surprise. Kirby did it resentfully once
when I told him he really needed to do it because it wasn't my job,
na-na-na-na.
Today, without a word spoken, Kirby brought them all to the recycling.
Earlier today I was messing with kindling, making some sticks to use to make
"waxy sticks" (dipped in leftover wax, for fire-starting purposes). No
hurry. But while I was by the fire place, Holly was talking to me and said,
"We should clean the front of the fireplace." It smoked a couple of times
when the wind was high, and a few rows of bricks were grubby looking.
I had a lull while noodles were cooking and I thought I should do that. So I
sprayed it with orange foam stuff, found a scrub brush and a spray bottle of
water and some rags. Went and scrubbed a while.
Holly saw and said "Can I do that?"
Sure, I said. Showed her were the various things needed to end up and she
very happily and proudly finished the job, and well.
Sandra
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 3/4/03 6:34:19 PM, litlrooh@... writes:
<< What are waxy sticks and how do you use them? >>
Just kindling sticks dipped in melted wax, kept separate from the other
kindling.
We used to go to LOTS of medieval feasts. Not so many lately. But we'd end
up with lots of wax drippings and candle stubs. When Keith and I were
younger and poorer, we would make more candles with the scrap. but now that
we can afford new candles and have a fireplace, we collect it in a can, melt
it, and dip sticks in. Holly loves to help. It might not be the best thing
for keeping the chimney clean, but luckily we can afford to have the chimney
cleaned too.
They make starting fires when camping easier too. When we are going to camp,
I throw in a basket of waxed kindling too. It's prettier (and more medieval
in appearance, for sure) than newspaper or cardboard, and safer too. Burning
paper can go up the chimney and come down on the roof (or worse, our
neighbor's roof).
Sandra
<< What are waxy sticks and how do you use them? >>
Just kindling sticks dipped in melted wax, kept separate from the other
kindling.
We used to go to LOTS of medieval feasts. Not so many lately. But we'd end
up with lots of wax drippings and candle stubs. When Keith and I were
younger and poorer, we would make more candles with the scrap. but now that
we can afford new candles and have a fireplace, we collect it in a can, melt
it, and dip sticks in. Holly loves to help. It might not be the best thing
for keeping the chimney clean, but luckily we can afford to have the chimney
cleaned too.
They make starting fires when camping easier too. When we are going to camp,
I throw in a basket of waxed kindling too. It's prettier (and more medieval
in appearance, for sure) than newspaper or cardboard, and safer too. Burning
paper can go up the chimney and come down on the roof (or worse, our
neighbor's roof).
Sandra