Getting My House in Order

One of the things I missed the most while I was in graduate school and especially once I started working was having a few hours at home each day to get really get things done. Knowing over the last two years that all the kids would have been out of the house so I could work uninterrupted really made me sad, but I loved my job and I usually had a day per week at home to stay on top of things (with varying degrees of success); so I just made due with that.

In the next six weeks or so, I am determined to do two things: Get the house acceptably ready for our annual 4th of July party without having to do marathon cleaning on the 2nd and 3rd (especially since that's when Natalie will be performing in The Gondolier's) AND to have the house really decluttered when the baby gets here. Between Girls' Camp and a few other duties, I've really only returned to SAHM status for about a week now and here's what I have learned so far:

• While one day per week never seemed like enough to get things done, six days isn't really cutting it either.
• Even though it's summer, this household is still very scheduled by necessity. Don't worry, it doesn't feel that way to the kids-I promise. But it does make things much easier on me.
• If you don't use your library card for a few years, you do get dropped from the system. (It's OK, I'm back in there now.)
• I tend to "overdo" Flylady each time I start the program and then crash and burn. I'm being VERY careful not to do that this time. Babysteps MEANS babysteps and 15 minutes is just 15 minutes. It's going much better this time.
• Natalie really can make lunch, watch the younger kids (within reason), do her own laundry, load and unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, and do a lot more than I was requiring of her previously.
• Tristan can do most of these things too (no babysitting, needs laundry supervision), he took out three small bags of trash today while Natalie was gone and was super-proud of how helpful he was.
• Tristan does a lot better with a big amount of adult supervision.
• Tristan is really HATING my version of supervision v. his teacher's or his dad's. Yep! I'm mean and I have HIGH standards.
• Caroline is still really short when it comes to dish duty (it's kind of entertaining to watch, except I'm afraid my favorite plates will get broken), but she's very quick and thorough at setting the table, getting drinks ready, and putting away her laundry.
• Caroline is REALLY RUDE to Natalie behind my back. (Initially I was amused, but today it wasn't funny. Fortunately, Caroline never knew I laughed at it-and that's good because it's not cute anymore.)
• Elisa learned basic table-setting and clearing skills while in pre-school (God bless them!) and will clean anything you tell her to as long as you give her a rag to clean with.
• Also, she is still very much my "baby." I hope she does OK with the new baby.
• Dave has to be told to do something about 100 times before it gets done. (I thought me not being at home to remind him was part of the problem, turns out it isn't.)
• Dave really HATES being reminded to do anything.
• Dave never seemed to be much like my Dad to me until I realized that he has the same tendency to procrastinate. Oh goody.
• There is no worse chore in a house with (hard) well water than cleaning toilets, showers, bathroom sinks, and any other surface constantly exposed to calcium deposits.
• There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a clean sink or toilet when you know how much work it takes to get it that way.

Someday, I will write a post that isn't about cleaning house, the kids, or that makes prolific use of bullet-points, but at least now everyone knows why my blogging has fallen way beneath my usual standards.