I'm not being dramatic when I admit that I kind of suck at being a homemaker. Despite being raised by a wonderful stay-at-home-mom who cooked every night and made our Halloween costumes; having a sister who feels guilty if her floors are not spotless and actually studies a homemaker's guide that was published at the turn of the century; and being raised in a culture where every Tuesday night from ages 12-18 I spent an hour or two in an organized class learning some sort of housekeeping skill like ironing dress shirts, sewing, scrap booking, knitting, and cooking; I am a horrible homemaker.
Appa totally got hoodwinked when he signed up for this domestic goddess.
I don't have good cleaning skills. I'm like a binge and purge cleaner. Dishes will sometimes sit in my sink for days or my dust bunnies will earn the right to register to vote in their corner precincts, but when I do clean, I am all over every little detail, from the baseboards to the inside of the stove vent. That just doesn't happen very often, and even less now that Little Bug is around. I'm a good, but inconsistent cleaner.
Last year I made a lot of New Year's resolutions that I thought were simple and manageable. Turns out, my single resolution should have been to keep my resolutions. I made decent progress on about half my goals (and considering that I am typing this while drinking a DDP, failed miserably with others).
This year I decided to try a new approach.
New Month Resolutions.
My theme for the year will be, to steal a phrase from a brilliant friend of mine, home care. Each month I will select a very small detail of home care that I can focus on. Conventional wisdom and inspirational posters tell me that 21 days will be all I need to make that small change in home care a habit.
My NMRs will be small because I know myself, and lofty goals just aren't working for this working mama. I'm still trying to think about which habit I will undertake for January, but I plan to document it on my blournal so I can hold myself accountable.
I'll tell you what it won't be....this giving up DDP completely crazy talk.
Ha! Please allow yourself the small vice of the DDPs. It would be cruel to discontinue those!!
ReplyDeleteI think the month resolutions sound more reasonable and manageable. Have you heard of the Fly Lady website (I think that's what it's called). Some people swear by it, so I thought I'd mention it to you.
The important thing to remember is that being a "homemaker" type of gal just might not be your thing, and that's fine too. For me, it makes me happy. It really does. But there's lots of other things I struggle with. You're really amazing at lots of things!!
That's a great idea! Monthly goals sound a lot more reasonable. Maybe I should try that--I never seem to reach my resolutions.
ReplyDeleteSmall monthly goals sound like a good idea...even considering giving up DDP does not. How would you even have any engergy to clean w/o the caffiene?
ReplyDeleteOooo - I like this. And I'm very intrigued! I can't wait to follow along! (Note that I have not signed up myself... I'm a realist.)
ReplyDeleteGood plan for 2011! I'm sure those dust bunnies would vote for that 'resolution' :)
ReplyDeleteyou can do it! and DDP is your friend. you can't say goodbye to her quite yet. especially since i think you will really need her in about 3-5 months :).
ReplyDeleteGiving up the DDP would not work with trying to have more energy for the home-making stuff! Not to mention two busy boys! I should make some of those home resolutions...
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