I have been getting a lot of comments on FB about the fact that I am always cleaning. Since I am pregnant I was chalking most of my cleaning issues to nesting or whatever hormones may make you decide to up and clean like a crazy person. Then, as I was cleaning up the crib for its 3rd use in 5 years, I started thinking about the fact that cleaning is one of the only things I have complete and utter control over in my life.
I am a mother of 2 crazy and wonderful kids that ensure I don't feel like I have control over much in my life. I don't believe I get the amount of sleep I want most nights of the year, I don't remember getting to read a book recently, the meals I make for lunch are almost always dictated by what the children will eat, going out to eat is dependent on if it's a kid friendly joint and if my kids are behaving at that moment in time... I can keep going forever. While I believe that cleaning has a lot to do with my kids making constant messes around the house as well, it is something I can do from start to finish and see that I have accomplished a wonderful task.
I know that my kids will likely destroy any section of the house they are allowed to "play" in and therefore some of my cleaning may last about 20 seconds, but there is the fact that I can spend that time and clean something and watch it be completed before the kids attack. Something about this is so wonderful and appealing to me that I continue to try and clean things over and over and... well you get the point. By no means is my house considered a clean house. Most times people would define us as a "cluttery" mess of a family with way to much junk, to include my husband and me.
Life is supposed to be messy and challenging, so my being a control freak about cleaning, or trying to be, is okay with me right now. It's something I can make my own and appreciate for even just 10 seconds, and hopefully if the kids see me doing it enough and participate as well they may become cleaner people too. I know its a lot to wish for, but if you don't wish for the moon then what's the point of wishing at all.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Is it the pregnancy....??
Yesterday my husband received a phone call from a friend in town. He mentioned that the yard was needing to be mowed and asked if C wanted him to mow it for him. First off, what a nice offer to make as he knew C was out of town and I am about 7 weeks from my delivery/C Section date. C declined since he will be home "soon" and therefore didn't want to put anyone out.
I started looking at the yard and realized it has been driving me nuts too. Whenever we mow the lawn it is a joint task. This is because our yard is at least 1 acre and if we do it together the time is cut in half. We have a push mower and a riding lawn mower at our disposal and some of the yard is hilly so the push mower is a must. I usually do the push mowing (sounds like the crappy deal but whatever) on the hills and C does the sitting mower.
Anyhow, today was it. I decided to mow some of the yard, which may or may not have been a good idea. I mowed near my fire pit because it makes it more appealing to enjoy a fire at if its mowed. I also mowed near the chickens and turkeys because the grass here has some angry portions that get prickly and hurt whenever you walk within two feet of them. Then I mowed by the driveway (which is a ridiculous hill by the way) because it looks better mowed of course. And finally I mowed a portion of the grass that C had left from last time and was starting to look like the amazon.
While I was mowing I was trying to figure out why I would do this. I know I am 8 months pregnant and this was probably all my body will be able to take today, and I have a list of other things I want to accomplish also. Then I started thinking about my former life in the military. When I worked in one of my units we had people deployed year round. As such the unit made certain to contact the spouses on a weekly basis to tell them how things were on the deployment, any specific changes, any events they could attend on base, and to just check in to make sure they were okay. The unit also provided assistance to moms/spouses who may need it with chores like mowing the lawn or picking up furniture when something inevitably crapped out while their spouse was gone.
This made me reflect on my husbands unit now. We are no longer military but it is a federal job. He chooses and is asked to attend certain training programs that take him all over the country. While it isn't the same as a military deployment, it can still affect the home life for sure. Have they called to check on his pregnant wife? Have the stopped by to see how things are going? No.
Now, I always swore I would never be "that spouse" that asked for help getting the groceries in the door or whatever ridiculous task was upon me. While the people he works with are really nice and have checked in with me frequently I am a little saddened that his unit as a whole doesn't care about the welfare of their people and their families. So I wonder now if I am caring about this just because I am pregnant and took my pregnant ass outside to mow the lawn for almost two hours or if I am just sad my husband is still gone and coming up with something else to complain about.
Well, I guess that's about it. I'm off the soap box for now.
I started looking at the yard and realized it has been driving me nuts too. Whenever we mow the lawn it is a joint task. This is because our yard is at least 1 acre and if we do it together the time is cut in half. We have a push mower and a riding lawn mower at our disposal and some of the yard is hilly so the push mower is a must. I usually do the push mowing (sounds like the crappy deal but whatever) on the hills and C does the sitting mower.
Anyhow, today was it. I decided to mow some of the yard, which may or may not have been a good idea. I mowed near my fire pit because it makes it more appealing to enjoy a fire at if its mowed. I also mowed near the chickens and turkeys because the grass here has some angry portions that get prickly and hurt whenever you walk within two feet of them. Then I mowed by the driveway (which is a ridiculous hill by the way) because it looks better mowed of course. And finally I mowed a portion of the grass that C had left from last time and was starting to look like the amazon.
While I was mowing I was trying to figure out why I would do this. I know I am 8 months pregnant and this was probably all my body will be able to take today, and I have a list of other things I want to accomplish also. Then I started thinking about my former life in the military. When I worked in one of my units we had people deployed year round. As such the unit made certain to contact the spouses on a weekly basis to tell them how things were on the deployment, any specific changes, any events they could attend on base, and to just check in to make sure they were okay. The unit also provided assistance to moms/spouses who may need it with chores like mowing the lawn or picking up furniture when something inevitably crapped out while their spouse was gone.
This made me reflect on my husbands unit now. We are no longer military but it is a federal job. He chooses and is asked to attend certain training programs that take him all over the country. While it isn't the same as a military deployment, it can still affect the home life for sure. Have they called to check on his pregnant wife? Have the stopped by to see how things are going? No.
Now, I always swore I would never be "that spouse" that asked for help getting the groceries in the door or whatever ridiculous task was upon me. While the people he works with are really nice and have checked in with me frequently I am a little saddened that his unit as a whole doesn't care about the welfare of their people and their families. So I wonder now if I am caring about this just because I am pregnant and took my pregnant ass outside to mow the lawn for almost two hours or if I am just sad my husband is still gone and coming up with something else to complain about.
Well, I guess that's about it. I'm off the soap box for now.
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