Mome reads Mommy, My daughter's way to spell it when she was younger... It stuck. My son calls me Mome... just like it looks. I now sign all my notes to them "Love, Mome". It's our inside secret and makes them smile. I always want them to smile.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Are You Organized?

I'm an organizational failure.  Nothing in my house has a place.  I dream of everything having it's own special place but it never seems to happen.  Once I tackle an area I feel a sense of accomplishment.  I also know that it's only a matter of time before it reverts back.  My dining room and kitchen island are probably the most visible areas that, on occasion, become bothersome.  The island is a catch all for everything paper and random toys that get dropped off when a shinier object catches ones eye.  The dining area has turned into a homework/craft area and is rarely used for actual dining.

I don't stress too much about it.

I was raised in a pretty clean and organized house.  My mother had a house cleaner come in once a week to clean all areas except for kid's bedrooms, kid's bathroom and kid's playroom.  In an effort to teach us (I'm assuming that was the reason) how to be responsible, we were woken every Saturday morning and instructed to start on cleaning these areas.  My two brothers and I were not allowed to leave the house until our rooms, the shared bathroom and our (finished basement) playroom were all dusted, organized, cleaned, vacuumed and inspected.  Can you imagine the bribery that went on between the 3 of us each week to determined who would scrub the toilet?

I'm pretty sure this is why I tend to be a little messier.  I don't even pretend.  There are things more important.  While I could continue the tradition with my own kids, the truth is, I'd rather be at the zoo, or the park too.

I was recently sent a copy of the book Pretty Neat.  It talks about all the "org porn" we see in magazines and on TV shows.  The houses we dream of having.  Pretty and organized.  I love the term "org porn".   It talks about letting go of perfection and focusing what is most important to the individual.  Each of us has to determine what level of organization suits us and our families.  The book has useful tips, from real parents, on how to organize and how to "hide" those less-than-organized areas of our lives.  Where to start, tips and time-saving suggestions make this a favorable book for anyone who is working on getting organized or dreams of a more organized life without yet starting.  New parents and even the most organized of people may find it useful to create more time for "other" things. 

I think some day my kids may realize some of their friends have much more organized homes.  They may even decide that they want to have things more organized in their our house.  When it impacts them, they will be willing to help and maintain.  Doing it because they choose rather than waking them every Saturday sounds way more favorable to me.  I know I had a friend who's room was always immaculate.  She was not responsible for it.  I was a little in awe and a lot jealous, but it was just a room. 

How organized are you?  What is the least organized room in your house?  Do you hide messes behind closed doors?

6 comments:

  1. How organized are you? What is the least organized room in your house? Do you hide messes behind closed doors?

    Well, I'm actually an obsessive compulsive cleaner and organizer. It's a sickness. I cannot stand messy chaos. However, I don't force my brand of crazy on my son. He can do whatever he wants in his bedroom as far as keeping it clean, as long as he keeps the door shut.

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  2. Well you know that I am a totally OCD person. I hate for stuff to be left just sitting for too long. I would rather the furniture to be dusty than for crap to belaying around. The room that bugs me the most is the green room. Mike LOVES to lay tools and/or misc objects on it instead of taking them outside or downstairs. lol But I am not making too much of a big deal about that room until we can get the damn woodstove out of there!

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  3. I agree. There is only so much time in the day and so much energy to spend. We keep our house clean, but not immaculate. We like doing outdoorsy stuff better. But I guess the house is a priority of sorts, and we do give it a certain amount of energy to make it a joy to live in. Too much clutter would be a bit depressing. But I certainly don't mind dishes in the sink overnight. I guess it's all part of the balance.

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  4. I'm with you, I'd rather be at the park LOL and for the similar reasons. I was given a list of chores in school holidays..every day.

    anyhoo I'm talking messy not grubby,the cleaning gets done(hmm not so much the dusting) lol its the letters and paperwork that tends to find its way "on top of things" I pile it up and shove it in my undies drawer or behind the jumpers LOL

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  5. I agree. There is only so much time in the day and so much energy to spend. We keep our house clean, but not immaculate. We like doing outdoorsy stuff better. But I guess the house is a priority of sorts, and we do give it a certain amount of energy to make it a joy to live in. Too much clutter would be a bit depressing. But I certainly don't mind dishes in the sink overnight. I guess it's all part of the balance.

    ReplyDelete
  6. How organized are you? What is the least organized room in your house? Do you hide messes behind closed doors?

    Well, I'm actually an obsessive compulsive cleaner and organizer. It's a sickness. I cannot stand messy chaos. However, I don't force my brand of crazy on my son. He can do whatever he wants in his bedroom as far as keeping it clean, as long as he keeps the door shut.

    ReplyDelete

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