Starting today our house is officially up for sale. ACK!
These past weeks we have been busy bees getting it buyer friendly. The biggest challenge for me is figuring out how I'm going to keep this place presentable with three children and a playful dog! It's unrealistic to think that it can stay spotless but I'm thrilled to be writing that the house has stayed very clean for over a week by simply getting organized. I've spent so much wasted energy expecting the kids to pick up after themselves just because it's "the right thing to do". I didn't realize until recently, that it's not them...it's me. Say it isn't so!
What I mean by this is that I can easily get sucked into a vacuum with the things I'm trying to accomplish - artwork,computer,blogging- and before I know it, I look around and the house is a disaster area! What happened???
So like I said, I'm a major role in this cleaning thing, and I am learning how to play manager. Make sure that they follow through on their jobs while keeping tabs on my own 'to do' list too. I'm just as guilty of not wanting to stay focused!
The biggest change was creating a daily chore list that wasn't too overwhelming for them but would help me immensely. My kids are 13,10 and 8 so are well old enough to be helping out. Each list is very specific to each child and personality.
And guess what? Now that cleaning first thing in the morning has become a priority, I have more time for freelance work and play because my mind isn't mentally blocked up with all the guilties! Just like excercising, "spend less time thinking about it and just do it already,Roz!"
So the house is clean and by golly the kids are even proud of their accomplishments. A win win situation!
http://www.essortment.com/in/Home.Cleaning/
Great book!
BOOOOOY do i need that book! Roz, you rock! My computer room is such a mess right now, and instead i'm reading blogs when i should be cleaning. i'll read your post a few times and maybe it will inspire me to do some cleaning of my own.. :)
Good luck w/ ur house - hope it sells for a bundle!
Posted by: Paige Keiser | August 01, 2005 at 04:32 PM
Good Lord, I'm sure this post must have been written for me .
Posted by: Lyn | August 02, 2005 at 05:25 PM
Sounds like you're super organised, more time freelance work and play sounds great.
Posted by: Michelle | August 02, 2005 at 11:56 PM
I am a big fan of child slave labor myself. Perhaps I should obtain a third child. Only then would my home would be super clean.
Oh wait. My husband kinda is a third child and my house still isn't clean for more than three minutes.
Maybe you and your cleaning team should just come here for a few days. Please?
Posted by: Shano | August 03, 2005 at 11:38 AM
Wow, that sounds so easy and great! Good for you!
Posted by: Hanna | August 05, 2005 at 12:07 AM
Well, you have me impressed! My three are a little older than yours and my house is a disaster. A lot of it is because it's summer and they're home and I'm here at work. Doesn't make it nice to get home at the end of a long day! Is it back to school time yet?
Posted by: Bettsi | August 05, 2005 at 01:09 PM
Best of Luck on the sale of your home Roz! Where will you be moving to? I hope it will be bright and airy and illustrator inspiring!
Posted by: Maggie | August 10, 2005 at 03:17 AM
I hope, your move will not be too stressful! As my father is in the military, too, I know how much energy a move can bind, but also how inspiring it can be sometimes. I have moved about every two and a half years until the age of twenty... Although I can´t imagine staying in one place til I´m old, I am happy now, that I don´t have to move so often any more.
Posted by: Bea | August 10, 2005 at 12:50 PM