It’s important to me that my house is at least clean, if not picked up. Panic and frustration flood me with ease when I get behind on my housework. The world has not ended if there are 5 naked Barbies in my living room, but I cannot stand a bathtub that needs cleaning, or a toilet that bears even the remotest witness of its actual use. Therefore, it’s important that I prioritize my time in an efficient way so that at no point am I ever behind. In my ideal world supper is ready to go on the table and the rest of the house, including the kitchen, is spotless when my husband gets home at 5:45 so we can enjoy an evening of family time. The plan for the day, of course, almost never comes without interruptions. Sometimes the day ends up like this: The Wiggles are blaring on the television while your child pulls your pant leg so hard you whisper a thank you to the inventor of belts, all as your supper is bubbling over in the chaos of your filthy kitchen. So, how do you cope when your ideal plan for the day doesn’t pan out?
1. Lay Down The Cape. Supermom is allowed to have an off-day. Give yourself a break, take a breath and force yourself to smile … it’s really a funny scene you’ve created.
2. Enlist Some Help. Sure, you’d like to bathe the kids, clean up the table and find your kitchen all on your own, but having your family help out is still family time. I have my 2-1/2-year-old daughter stand on a stool and put the clean silverware away. She loves it and it takes her the same amount of time that it takes me to empty the rest of the dishwasher. My husband is an enormous help … when I ask him. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
3. Prioritize. Take care of the most important things first. Your family does need to eat so some sort of food should be prepared, but it’s probably going to be ok if you didn’t get to vacuum. Make sure you take a moment and focus on the most important things … the people that live with you. Don’t make your family want to avoid Mommy on the Warpath.
4. Do Something Nice. Put your feet up on the coffee table and watch a show you’ve been missing. Take a long, hot bath. Paint your toenails. Catch up on some reading (or blogging!). Do not spend the entire night trying to make up for your day gone wrong. Let it be what it is and let it go. Whatever helps you take a cleansing sigh, do it, and pick up your cape in the morning.
So, what do you do when your day has gone down the toilet along with a toy or two? What’s the funny thing that happened to you and how did you cope? Leave a comment and fill me in.
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