What actually happened was more along the lines of my getting up still exhausted from a restless night during which I berated myself for not getting everything done the day before. Stumbling to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, throwing some milk and cereal on the table (after I had removed the dishes from the night before) and telling the kids to fend for themselves.
If it happened to be a school day, I would then try frantically to find matching (and clean) outfits for the children while they ran around screaming that they couldn't find their shoes, book bags, socks or jackets. By this time the bus would be honking, the cat would be on the table eating from the bowls of cereal and it would take everything I had within me not to break down and cry. Once the bus had left with my children finally inside it's door I would turn back to the kitchen to see that one or the other had inevitably left their homework or their lunch in the middle of the kitchen table.
My mornings usually dictated the rest of my day. Frustrated with myself and my lack of organization, I would then sit down and do a quick scan of my living conditions. If only I had some nice laundry baskets for the piles of clothes on the couch that still needed to be folded and put away... If only I had nicer dishes I would feel like washing them.... If only I had that new, highly-reviewed toilet scrubber that promised that once you were done using it you could just stick your face right into the bowl without smelling anything but sparkling freshness....
I would spend the rest of my day throwing in the towel repeatedly. Overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done, I would just never get started. I mean, why start when I was sure to be interrupted and not be able to finish, right? Why bother? Besides, I was out of multi-purpose cleaner and I didn't have any clothes clean to wear to the store..
I had every excuse in the book as to why I could not carry out any one of my good intentions. And I used them. All the time! And do you know what one of my most used excuse was? My lack of money. For some reason, I had it in my befuddled brain that I had to have some thing, some product, that cost money in order for me to have a clean, happy home. I blame commercials. (just kidding - kinda)
Now, let me just say that I had more than enough 'stuff'. My family was slowly being buried alive by 'stuff'. Why on earth I thought that I needed more 'stuff' to clean up the 'stuff' I already had is beyond me. Half the 'stuff' we had we never used. Or else we didn't know where it was!
I knew that I had a problem. I just never realized that I was the problem. Sure, my kids were messy and my Significant Other never picked up after himself. And I loved to blame them for the state of chaos our home was always in. But, on the other hand... how many times had I said "Never mind, I will do it myself." when they started to clean up or pick up something and I thought they were doing it 'wrong'? Could it possibly be that I had trained them to leave all the messes for me?
I was really in a state of insanity. And it took me years to finally learn how to keep a clean and happy home. I did this by re-wiring my brain with the help of a lot of resources. First, I utilized the cleaning and de-cluttering system of The FlyLady. I joined The FlyLady Facebook Page and met some amazing people, got my head together and leaned heavily on their support and understanding. Then, I went to work.
I eventually learned that all I really needed was what I already had on hand in most cases and some boxes and garbage bags! Being on a limited income, I even learned how to stretch my cleaning purchases and in some cases even make my own household cleaners. And if it really came down to it.. hot, hot water and a lot of elbow grease can do miracles.
I found I was saving money in other areas as well. I no longer had to replace our socks & underwear on a regular basis because they were getting lost in the piles of laundry. I didn't have to replace toys nearly as often, because we only kept what was loved and taken care of. They weren't getting broken all the time because they were (almost) always kept where they belonged instead of being thrown all over the house to be stepped on.
I know there are many, many others who have found themselves in the same mind-set that I once was in. And that is why I have chosen to write this blog. Here, I will share what I have learned in my housekeeping journey, show you actual progress pictures, experiment with new ways to get organized and do my best to inspire you to have the home you always wanted.
Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.
