Monday, February 22, 2010

I'm Not Going to Blog Again Until...

...I get caught up on laundry. So if I don't write anything for the next five years, you'll know why. ;)

Here's the thing: I like laundry! But I do NOT like being overwhelmed by it, having never-ending piles in the laundry room, seeing clothes from the top of the laundry chute because the chute is so full, having piles of folded clean clothes littering my bedroom as they wait to be put away, finding unmatched socks that are awaiting a mate that may still be somewhere in the clothes chute or laundry room, etc. I have been behind in laundry for so long that it's pathetic. And it's time to change that.

I know that with the FlyLady system of doing a load (or two) of laundry every day, I could stay on top of it fairly easily. But there are two problems keeping me from this goal: getting on top of it in the first place and making it a habit to do laundry even when I don't feel like it. I realize more and more as time goes by that I am far too emotion-driven when it comes to housework. I get inspired to start a project so I dive in, even if it's not the most important thing at that time; but I neglect the things that really matter because I "don't feel like" doing them.

No more! Not with laundry anyway. I am bound and determined to get caught up as soon as possible. That means laundry chute empty, no piles in the laundry room, washer empty, dryer empty, clothes baskets empty, all clean clothes put away, and the lonely socks in my bedroom sorted so that the ones who really don't have a match can be thrown away (actually, sent to the thrift store for cloth recycling). Until this happens, I will not blog. Not only will I free up some time to do laundry by not blogging, but also I'll provide some powerful incentive for myself. As my fingers itch to get on the keyboard and as my mind craves the mental release of blogging, I'll push myself to do the next load of laundry even if I don't feel like it.

But, before I take off on my self-imposed exile, I'll include a few pictures of Josiah from earlier today. The boys had pushed the couch out from the wall and put some of the cushions behind it to create a fort (or something). After David and Tobin had abandoned it and found somewhere else to play, Josiah moved in, stretched out, and used it as a cozy reading spot.
The book he's reading? It's The Fellowship of the Ring, #1 in The Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkien--the real deal, not a kid's version, not abridged. The real McCoy, folks.
If you had told me two years ago, as we struggled to get through Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons with more cheerfulness and less grumpiness, that when Josiah was 7, he would be reading Tolkien, I would have laughed just like Sarah.
And now look at him. Unbelievable!

Well, I'm off. If anyone needs me in the next few days, you'll know where to find me.

In the laundry room!

7 comments:

Sally said...

You have my sympathy in the laundry department. All it takes is a wet bed or two, some "accidents" in the clothes, and things can pile up in a hurry! All I can say is, I have become so happy with my dryer! It is so much faster and easier than hanging stuff on the line outside.

I sure hope I can say the same about my kids after they learn to read. I think you have done a fantastic job teaching your kids. I have no idea how you do it all!

Hang in there!

P.S. Have I ever told you about safety-pinning the socks together so they don't get apart, and so you never have to match socks? It's the greatest thing and works very well for us.

Charree said...

Who would have ever thought that adding one person to our family would cause our laundry to increase exponentially. However, Judah is a "spitter-upper" and can fill up a whole load of laundry in just two days. I feel your pain.

I started doing the FlyLady method of laundry a few years ago and I really like it. Every Monday and Thurday I wash blues/darks and whites. Every Tuesday I wash khakis and bed sheets...ect. It has helped me stay on top of my laundry even with the exponential increase.

Have a blessed laundry filled week!
~Charree

Bonnie said...

Hmm, I might have to try her system, I am not the biggest fan of laundry, but mostly, because I hate putting it away. And thats the easiest part!

Theresa @ Heavenly Glimpses said...

Okay, I am just starting "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" with my five,almost six year old son. He is very excited about learning to read so, even though very bouncy during a short lesson, he digs it. Did you like that curriculum for your son?! Thanks!

Marie said...

I hear u, I'm heading to the basement myself (which is the Dungeon on laundry days) and I don't know If i'll ever return.
I love that Josiah is reading Tolkien! Good for him!

JFisher777 said...

Hey... are you caught up yet??? How am I suppose to know what's going on at home when I am at work??? Can't we hire out this laundry thingy?

Patti said...

The bottom of the laundry basket is visible--right?? I realized this morning that I probably have at least a dozen unmatched white socks floating around somewhere. They were certainly not paired up and in the drawer where they should be. Sigh.