- Image by Valerie Morrison – Four Thirds Photographer via Flickr
Hi my name is Sunny and I’m a messy. Flylady would call me a SHE (Sidetracked Home Executive). I’m not lazy, I just distract myself rather than making the decision of where to start. I’ve never been a cleanie. I was not BO (Born Organized). I call it Messy Room Syndrome–a genetic tendency towards disorganization, difficulty making decisions, and a love of projects and crafts. The combination spells disaster. That and lots of unfinished projects.
Wiggles, on the other hand, I think he is BO. Born on his due date, first smile at 6 weeks, rolled over at 2 1/2 months, first tooth at 6 months, crawled at 6 months, walked at 13 1/2 months… He thrives on order. Even as a little bitty baby I could tell the difference in his disposition when the house was clean compared to when the house was messy. At 9 months, he started helping unload the dishwasher. His job is silverware. After every meal I hand him a wet wipe and he washes his hands before proceeding to wipe down his high chair tray. Somewhere way back in the family line there must have been a recessive BO gene. Wiggles got it.
My mom told me to foster that cleanie instinct in him. I promised to do my best.
I used to wonder what life would be like living in a clean house. After I found Flylady, I went on a 5 year decluttering binge. I could see gradual changes in my home, but something still hadn’t clicked. I was quite distraught after my Birthday decluttering. I could only find a few things to part with.
“I’m running out of stuff to declutter” I complained.
“That’s wonderful,” my sweet husband replied.
“But the house still isn’t clean.”
Only then did Brenton let me in on a little secret, “You know, you might actually have to start cleaning instead of just getting rid of stuff.”
Oh how I loathed the thought, but I knew he was right. I began looking for a system that works for me. My root problem is not that I am lazy, but that I have a hard time deciding where to start working. I look at a room and feel overwhelmed. Instead of deciding where to start, I find a book or pick up the computer and distract myself from the stress.
Brenton was reading the parenting book Dare to Discipline which suggested using rewards to motivate children. Now, we have a chore chart posted on the fridge. Brenton and I have 4 daily jobs each and we get our pay every 2 weeks. We are paid per the jobs completed and if all the jobs are completed for 14 days, we get a small bonus pay.
For a month, the house has been clean. Brenton’s mom came to visit and we did a quick clean the night before but nothing as tiring or stressful as my usual marathon of hypocrite housecleaning before company arrives.
While she was here, she helped us take care of some nagging projects. When she left, I looked around the house and said, “What do I do with my life now?”
The house is clean. Our plan is working. What can I do after Messy Room Syndrome?
Anything I want!
