My sink is now shiny.
Sparkly and clean. I did it yesterday after a long hiatus.
See, I just had my second kid. I am determined to give them structure and teach them self-discipline. Problem is, I need to teach myself some first.
I grew up in an alcoholic home. Things were okay up until my freshman year, when we lost almost everything we owned because my dad quit his job and then didn't really find another one for years. The lack of anything reliable in my family's life led all of us to exist in survival mode. I moved out at 17 and went to college, and after many more years of spontaneity and no real schedule (besides class), I landed here. Married. With children. A mommy who wants to home school someday but can't even get herself dressed in the morning.
How do I begin? Well, about a year ago I read a book by a woman known as the "Fly Lady" to her followers. My old co-workers had told me about her and I had briefly given her website a look once or twice, but delving into her book, entitled Sink Reflections, really gave me a better understanding of what she is about. Basically, she is like the nicest cleaning drill-sergeant one could ever come across. I found her guidelines to be just what I needed to begin changing my habits and actually building some good ones. And when I fell off the bandwagon, I could go back and know grace--her words had the spirit of the grace and mercy of God. "You're never behind; just jump in wherever you are." I need that grace if I am going to be able to have the motivation to keep trying, to keep getting back on my feet and doing better. I was able to start forming some good habits like making my bed and washing dishes and changing towels on a regular basis! But when we moved to another state, I fell off the bandwagon, and have not returned since.
So far it sounds like I myself suffer from some sort of addiction, and I guess you could say I do. It's perfection. What? you may exclaim. Let me explain. If I don't have the time or space or energy to do whatever task at hand perfectly, I just don't do it. Fly Lady helped me see that (another quote) even housework done imperfectly still blesses your family. Yes. This blog is going to be my accountability for forming basic habits like keeping the house in order, the dishes done, the family fed, and my teeth (and maybe hair?) brushed. With some other thoughts thrown in for good measure.
Today my sink is clean. And my baby is clean too! There are lots of dishes next to the sink to be cleaned, a floor to be swept and mopped, laundry to be put away, a bed to be made, and a shower to take. There is a checkbook to be balanced and clutter to be rid of and toys to be put back in their bins. But for now I will take a breather and move on from the sink. It is my hub. From that one task maybe I can start changing myself again.
