One room at a time

 

I am actually organizing my house.

 

For real this time.

 

The hub was away for a week, so I kept very odd hours, and did chores at various times throughout the day and night, allowing me to get the other stuff done too.  It was great.  I missed him (it’s just not the same without him here, and I don’t sleep well) but I did get a ton of organizing and such done.

 

One thing I did, as I got each room under control, was to make a little list of to-do’s.  Things one would do before vacating the room in question.  This is to avoid the nag factor–I hate to nag.  I hate being a nag, and I hate hearing myself nagging others.  Plus, let’s be real–who wants to be on the receiving end of the naggage?  (It is so a word.)

 

For example:  here’s my checklist for the bathroom…I put it in a plastic bag with the instructions on how to CLEAN the bathroom on the other side.   It covers the basics (basics such as, don’t be a pig, clean up after yourself) and keeps things simple.  Then I’m not all, “Did you put the towel back on the rack?”  and “Why did I just sit in a puddle of piddle?”  I just ask, “Did you follow the checklist?”

It’s actually a good approach;  it depersonalizes things.  Then I’m not the bitch or the nag (the LIST is, heh heh).   And since my boy is nothing if not a glutton for organization (of which I seem to frequently starve him, thanks creative brain) he jumps right on board.  The girl, a people-pleaser, also willingly pitches in when prompted.  This has worked the whole week that the Hub has been away.  I imagine it will keep working, but this coming weekend will be the test.

 

It’s taking me some time, and various bits of research but I think I might actually be developing some kind of a system to keep my house organized.  Key word?  MIGHT.  I can’t commit to saying I actually have one yet, but I am working diligently to create one that works for me.  I’ve read a few different websites and e-books, and sort of going “buffet-style” [take what you like, and leave the rest] for my own purposes.

 

So I’ve got a checklist going for both bathrooms that the kids use (I think the Hub and I can manage our en suite bath without a checklist), the front hall and stairway (a favorite dumping ground), the living room, and the kitchen counter where the stools are.     The dining room is still covered with stacks of photos that we were going through in anticipation of my In-Laws FIFTIETH wedding anniversary that they celebrated recently, so I haven’t got that room under control yet.  Fear not, though–I shall eventually have a checklist for that room too.

 

I’ll keep you posted.  Who knows, maybe if I can keep a good routine going, I’ll share my secrets…Ha!  Who am I kidding?   If I don’t keep a good routine going, we shall surely never speak of this again…