Part I
I met my friend Jen for coffee last night, and she looked a little concerned as we slid into our chairs. “How are you?” she asked. “I read your blog…”
“Oh dear,” I thought, with a small inward grin, “It really is time to write an update so that ‘Depression?!’ isn’t at the top.”
The truth is, I am here and you are there and I wish we could all just meet for coffee to have a heart-to-heart over where we’re all at.
The truth is, my life’s going fine, thank you God!
It’s just very, very busy.
Yes, that’s a naked 3-year-old on the table.
You see what I mean? Busy!
* * *
Plus my six-year-old has discovered the joy of reading, and is quite literally devouring all the age appropriate literature in the house.
Okay, not literally.
That’d be too much fiber for his little body.
It’s been fun to watch his world explode, especially since his favorite series is The Magic Tree House and there are civilizations galore for him to explore. Two more favorites were Daniel Boone, Boy Hunter and Moby Dick, which, I have to say, even as an abridged version was a surprisingly long tome for my little man.
(When he asked the librarian if they had a copy, she said, “Let’s see!” And then, as she was doing a search on her computer, she glanced over at Francis and said brightly, “What does Moby Dick begin with?”)
(“Uh..’m‘?” Francis said, a bit confused by the question.)
So I’ve been running to the library a lot. What else can we do here in Minnesota when the temps rival those of Antarctica? We try to stay warm; we read, read, read.
* * *
And I do love to read which is a problem. Some days that’s all I want to do—just retreat to my room with a toppling stack of tomes—but my vocation (alas) doesn’t permit it just yet. Instead, I read in fits and starts; I read in snatches then take those deep thoughts to the dishes.
There are always dirty dishes.
It’s discouraging, really, how many dirty dishes there are.
And yet—and yet!—because I have made TEN BIG GOALS FOR 2016 and because “A Clean Uncluttered Home” is at the top of the list, (quite literally), I know that the kitchen is where I should be. I want—no, I need—to love my kitchen, and it’s been real work to get my heart on board.
(I prefer Facebook and Downton Abbey.)
(Escapism in all its glittery forms!)
How about you? Do you struggle with spending time in your kitchen because you find the mess discouraging? Would you like to know what I’m doing to change?
In Part II of this series, (Ha! I’m calling this a series!) I will tell you what has worked for me.
I love this post!! I can so relate to your goal, to your feeling of discouragement in the kitchen, to wanting to read all day, to liking Downton more than cleaning … Looking forward to part 2!
I know, right? That said, I am SO looking forward to hanging out with you at the WINE conference!!
Me, too! I am so, so, so, so glad you are going to be there!
😀 oh the kitchen- For years I dreaded the kitchen- we finally took action last fall! We had two dishwashers installed! I don’t have words to tell you the difference it has made in our lives. Thanksgiving cleanup took less than 15 minutes. Oh, we also installed a fire place so the next time your in North Dakota bring your books and curl up in a chair before the fire.
Linda, I would LOVE to hang out! (And not just for your fabulous cooking… 🙂 )
Oh, how I wish we could go for coffee…Perhaps next year when we inevitably trek up there to look at colleges with our oldest? (sniff!). I can’t wait to hear more…I am in a huge slump-winter doldrums, depression anxiety and all that. Thanks for being a light in the darkness! xoxo
Are you taking your Vitamin D, Therese? Are you drinking copious amounts of coffee?
(Just sayin’…. 😉 )
I would love to visit when you come up!
Oh, the kitchen!! It’s a nonstop work in progress, like the laundry. I do love a clean kitchen though….(I know you know that because I’m a “clean as you cook” person) (but my kids are NOT)
I think one big thing (and a friend once told me this was the best advice I gave her) (in which, I thought, “Really? Nothing spiritual?”) was to get the dishwater ready when you start cooking. Make it the first thing you do before cooking.
There’s my 2 cents.
I also never left a comment on the depression post, but thought I did. I know I planned to.. I know I answered you in my head. I just forgot to type it in!
Our kitchen is in the entryway of our new house, as it was in the old house (I guess we got used to that), so when it is a disaster zone (as in when mom has the flu for 2 wks, followed by a slip on the ice and a head injury), it is a real bummer. We used to have a full contingent of dish-doers and a schedule that worked, but now that 5 out of 8 have left the nest, it’s not running as smoothly. Of course there are many fewer dishes. I couldn’t believe the VOLUME we had when everyone came back recently, plus 2 new sons-in-law. I should have planned ahead to reinstitute the ol’ schedule! Used to have a white board so that everyone could see just who was “on duty”, and no disputes, as we have now. I should take a hint from myself.
My mom was an expert in using the kitchen to be free of all distractions. If us kids or dad started bugging her we got handed the dish rag and finished the dishes and that included our drying them and cleaning the kitchen.
So good to read from you again, Margaret. Winter seems to be a distracting season for me. So much time inside makes me realize all of the little and big projects I’d like to accomplish. I blame it on being inside and being an at home mom so I see all the stuff to be done 24/7. My kitchen is my need to be clean/tidied space. I often tell my husband that it’s my office. I am here a lot (even my laptop sits here on the corner counter), so when even a few pieces of mail, a Lego creation, dirty socks, scraps of paper, art creations by preschoolers, etc lay abandoned, it takes up my ‘head space’ if you will. I don’t need perfection (not realistic in a household of 7), but tidied once or twice a day makes all the difference to me in feeling less stressed.
Hopefully our paths cross again soon, perhaps for coffee or a short little visit. Blessings!
Off topic, but how do you monitor internet with your kid’s devices? I know I should probably comment with a kitchen sort of thing in reply to your post, but I’m in my kitchen right now, it’s clean, and we’re all fasting today for the March for Life…so I’ve got time. Does that count?
The pic of your little guy makes me wonder. I remember your writing about phones and your older son. I have the same range of ages and I just want to throw all cell phones in the ocean for Moby Dick to swallow up after the experience of letting my older teens have them. (See how I did that? Forcing my comment to be relevant to your topic I am.)
I’m not talking screen time, I’m talking about the junk that is placed in front of their faces every single day through Facebook friends and messenger and snapchat (threw that one out long ago,) etc. Texting alone…goodness, what girls text to boys deezdayz! Arg!
When my 3 yr old reaches for my phone I’m thinking “nooooooooooooooo! I must save you!” Seriously, I page through the friends and what they put out there and I’m left thinking they must all be a bunch of orphans.
What’s working for you there? Can it be part III in the series? IV? III & IV? 🙂 🙂
The dishes! Yes! They are always there! Once they’re cleaned up it starts all over again!
Wow! My feedly hasn’t shown any posts for you since July! I have some catching up to do I guess. I wonder whomelse’s blog feed hasn’t been showing up….weird!
Be patient doing post II. I sense that taking care of your family is vital and you can delay having post II.