We used to let our dogs have the run of the house but, since I developed asthma and we removed the carpet, our dogs get as far as the utility room. Dh built a half door between the utility room and the kitchen so the dogs can't blow through the house. That cuts down a lot on dirty dog feet and hair being left behind on the floors. I dry mop at least twice a day because it drives me nuts to step on something on the floor bare footed.
I spent the last two days really really cleaning the house because we were going to have guest over. I could have just cleaned it in one day but I had good motivation to really clean so I went ahead and did it. But while I was cleaning I had a thought that I think might help change my attitude and therefor my ability to keep the house clean. I have always thought of cleaning the house as a job,( I mean everybody suggests that books and such) and that sucks. Because I hate it. Who wants a job that you hate, my dh is quiting his job because he hates it. But that makes me feel very traped. Because i want to be a SAHM, and a HSM, but not a maid. I also can't think of it as a ministry to my family I have tried that and it just made me feel like a dork who was letting God down. But I realized that isn't really what I was doing. I feel different when God really calls me to do something. ( I hope that makes sense.) So I am going to try and change my thinking to where I am being a SAHM, and a HSM but to do that I have to keep the house picked up. I don't think I verbalized that well, but in my head I have it figured out. I also am going to relax a little bit on my self. My friend that we had over said, a few times when we talked about my "projects" that me and dh have going, that we were very ambitous and hard workers. She said that 90% of americans wouldn't know how to do the stuff we do, or wouldn't even attemt them. So that was like an ego booster and an eye opener. She is almost ocd on how clean her house is, so that was even more important coming from her. She also hs'ed her children and they have a small business as well. So she knows more then I do. Does this make sense to anybody but me? We will see if it helps me any.
I couldn't do that to my kids. I mean my dogs. They are so much part of the family it would be wierd to have them not with us. One of them I have had since I was 16 yo. It is kind of funny because they do make a mess of the house, but so do my real kids. My dogs are at least alot quieter then the kids. :lol: I understand with alergies and such. But it would have to be something like that for them to be regulated to the outside all the time. I also like them for guard dogs inside. It makes me sleep better at night knowing they are sleeping in the kids room. One night my yellow dog came and woke me up and went and sat in the kids room right next to my dd's bed. I sat down next to her and found out that she was running a really high fever. I know they add to my mess, but they are just part of the family.
I never thought I would do that to my kids (dogs) either. But, since I developed severe-persistent asthma and one of my triggers is dog dander, well, we really had no choice. Our utility room is not outside the house, it is right next to the kitchen and when we walk in the kitchen we see them and they see us (the reason for the half door). They haven't been kicked to the curb, they just can't have the run of the house like they used to. One of the joys of developing a serious medical condition. If I had my choice they would still be sleeping on our beds!
I agree with you. My DH is gone for days (otr truck driver-owner operator). He doesn't get much sleep and comes home to usually a tidy house. If it's not he may say a little something but no big deal. He knows what having 5 kids in the house is like. He knows that I work at it and I do try to make sure it's all cleaned up. He is such a big help! He doesn't care to mop, vacuum, dust or clean the bathroom (we only have 1 bathroom until our other 2 get finished). He does things so much quicker than I can. He doesn't mind doing the laundry either but I don't want him to. He uses way too much laundry soap!! I can't aford him to do the laundry. LOL I love him and he's by my side whatever. I love getting to chat about house things w/you all. Have any of you checked out flylady ?? This helps a lot of people. I get the e-mails. If I stay on what she's doing I feel so much better, but I'm a SHE (Sidetracked Home Executive) If you haven't ever gone there you should. Lots of recipes and tips there too. Going to read somewhere else. Angie
I can't stand cleaning. I claim it should be illegal . I'd rather cook or read a book than mop a floor. However, we do what needs to be done because there are 5 of us living here. However, everyone pitches in at our house. Everyone lives here, everyone makes a mes..so we all clean it. I make a chore chart that my older two girls use and they switch every week for the other side of the chart. My ds helps us all with our chores. My dh takes care of the yard, taking the garbage to the dump and washes his own clothes (because he prefers to)
This is something where I struggle like crazy. I try really hard to stick to a schedule, but here is where things fall apart for me. Something happens -- someone gets sick, something breaks, someone comes over, you know, life gets in the way. I fall off my schedule and then I can't get back on it - it all flies out the window and my house is a total disaster in no time. What do you do when your schedule gets messed up? It may be a dumb question, but things are sloppy here again - bad -and I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to start again.
Side note: someone mentioned that they can't do Flylady because they don't have a computer. The emails are nice (but bothersome), but I found what really helped me was to check out her book, Sink Reflections, from the library and put together my own control journal, at my own pace, WITHOUT the annoying emails. So that might work for anyone else struggling with limited or no internet.
When we get off schedule which is often because things mess up our day, then I just try to climb back on the wagon. No matter how over whelming it is, I also have to involve the whole family because they live here too. It's a lot easier for all of us if we just pitch in and get it done. And then I'm not overwhelmed and upset because I can't see the light of day. I hope this helps.
I am a horrible domestic goddess! What I find works for me is: 1) Put kids to bed 2) Pour myself a glass of wine 3) Plop my butt on the couch 4) Close my eyes and pretend that I am actually on a tropical island/the mountains/ or anywere else!
