Time Management: The Final Installment

In Review:

So far you've learned that my tips for time management are as follows:
1. Spread housework out over several days.
2. Make your kids do the stuff you don't want to do.
3. Don't drink anything, thus saving time with consuming beverages, and potty breaks.
4. Hire a nanny.
5. Run around screaming at your family to work harder, faster, and stop dilly-dallying....

So, I guess not all of these tips are realistic, and some of them are certainly not helpful. My youngest has this familiar lament every single time we clean house: Don't you wish it was like Mary Poppins and all you had to do was snap and it cleaned itself up?

Well, since I don't want you to run around screaming at your family, and much as I might wish, I really don't foresee Mary Poppins dropping, how about we see what the real experts have to say?

We will begin today's tips with my sister, Dawn. She seemed to be disturbed that I was rude in my post in an effort to get more comments. To that, all I can say is: Whatever works!
"So, since you're going to be rude that I went ONE day without reading your blog......my other tip is to keep all the lights in the house dim so that you can't see the dust. And don't rearrange tables or shelves--the marks give your lack of dusting abilities away. AND inform everyone that it is the girls bathroom to clean--it absolves you of all responsibility for it!"

I love this advice. Especially since it combos one of my own current practices. All dusting is the girls responsibility. If it isn't done well, then I have no accountability for that. Now, I haven't made them start cleaning their bathroom. I can see me adding that to their list in the near future, however. Especially since Dawn does it. Hey, if it's good enough for my sister, it's good enough for me!

Next, we will visit Megan. Megan has this piece of advice to offer:
"Plan chores out and decide what can "take care of itself" while you are doing something else. Although, I usually just sit down and watch TV while the laundry is going…bad habit!"
I used to try and claim that I did 6 loads of laundry, so I got a lot accomplished. However, we see here that dear Megan has outed me. Laundry does not require babysitting and each load will take a maximum of 10 minutes to fold...Darn her logic. Thanks for debunking my delusions Megan. Thanks. A. Lot...

Next we will visit the vastly entertaining Taylor. Taylor obviously has my fondness for lists.
"I make a list of everything that is bothering me. Like if I see that the tub needs to be scrubbed and the kitchen floor mopped, as well as all the regular pickup, I get overwhelmed. But when I write down what is really bothering me, what really needs to get done, and I do it, things look much better! Also, the girls like to pick a thing or two to do on the list to help. And today, they scrubbed the tub. I have yet to check it. But for now, in my dreams, I shall imagine it clean."

Taylor obviously has my sister's sense of wisdom to delegate certain chores to children. Good for her. So many of you are smart to include the whole family in the housework responsibilities! I decided to take that advice and run with it Saturday morning...



I made a list. I even divvied up chores so there would be no complaining of one doing more work than the other...

The plan worked well, until their daddy needed help with this:

Gentle Reader, aren't you jealous of our 1969 Apache pop up tent trailer?

Then, I fear that all thoughts of the chore list inside vanished into the land of Ne'erDoChores...

Which leads me to this commentators bit of advice:
"Usually around here I assign chores and they do a horrible job. Then a month later I get really mad and yell at everyone. And they do a better job. This cycle has been repeating for 17 years."
Obviously, Freckled Hen & I are kindred souls.

So that's it! That's the extent of wisdom I have to share with you! Now, if any of you have a piece of advice that you feel I simply must share with the blogosphere, please don't hesitate to add your thoughts to the comments section!

Oh, and for some extra entertainment, please, click on the above links and go check out the contributors blogs! It's always fun to have glimpse into someone else's life!

Funny Apples and Your Tips

I had bunco here Tuesday night. Bookworm took a bag of diced apples out of the fridge for her lunch the next day.

While those two statements may seem unrelated, they totally are.

Bookworm took out her apples, pulled a bite sized piece out of her bag, and had a strange discovery. The apples smelled very strong, were soft, and, and, slimy?...Her apples were actually diced smoked gouda cheese!

Oh, Gentle Reader, she was quite disappointed. Quite.

Aaaannnd then she and her lunch buddy Britni giggled like 5th grade girls do, and continued to share their lunches like they do every day...Minus the "apples" of course.

Now, on to the time management tips. I know the suspense has been keeping you all on pins and needles.

We will begin with a chat with Dawn. Remember Dawn? She's my sister who inspired me to blog with her post about wetting her sleeping bag on a family camping trip...Go on over and visit her! She's just full of interesting information!
"So--my best tip is to have a husband that doesn't work on Friday--and is a bit of a neat freak. That means he will do the vacuuming and the majority of the laundry! Yay Me!"

Yay you indeed, Dawn. Yay you, indeed.

And, please, no bitterness or resentment towards the girl who's husband cleans her house. He is in the ministry, so you can bet he works every. single. Sunday.

So, shall we discuss the convenience of such an arrangement? I guess it's probably unnecessary as I think it's pretty clear why it's such a genius set up...

Just so we're clear: So far my family has suggested a nanny to solve your time management problems, or have a husband do the housework on Friday while you are at work.

I'm sure you will find each of these tips very helpful and life changing.

Since all of my suggestions have been a family affair, we'll just keep that theme rolling. My Aunt C decided to chime in and share her advice. Guess what? Aunt C does not have a blog, but she did email me a super great picture of the two of us together!


Aren't we just too cute? If a little grainy! I did a quick copy image location, and it came across tiny, so I enlarged it...

Anyhoo, on with her super inspired words of wisdom:
"Make a list of things we needed to get done for kids/hubby."

Great advice Aunt C! Perhaps I somehow subliminally absorbed this as a child when I was visiting. Not that I ever participated in any cleaning or chores at your house. I only remember running in and out and eating and going swimming and basically just having fun. I guess you saved the chores for the immediate family...

Here's how I've implemented her words of wisdom: I made a list of everything to be done before bunco. I then ran around screaming like a drill sergeant until every single item was checked off.

Gentle Reader, I simply must confess that while I undoubtedly absorbed her list making skills subliminally, that is all I can place at her doorstep. Aunt C would never run around screaming like a drill sergeant. I remember very clearly thinking she never raised her voice or lost her temper when I was a kid. Even then I found it simply amazing.

Now, I find that impression nothing short of miraculous.

Hey! If you just stumbled into our time management series, please leave your best time management tips in the comments section!

I have a conundrum.....

Don't you just love that word? It makes me feel smart and verbose and well read....But, seriously, I have a conundrum....

Since we moved to Oklahoma I've struggled with guilt. And not just from my mother! I know! Shocking! I've struggled with guilt related to church. When we first joined our church it was hard to see where they had a need for me, where any of these women who've been together since practically birth would need a new friend, or where I would make friends....I struggled...

So, now time has passed. I'm making friends, but not as intimate as my friends in Texas. I realize that will take time, and part of it is my being willing to be vulnerable to them. I hesitate to call them, because they all seem so busy, and to have so many friends that I can't see where they would possibly need me. Have you realized I have a need to be needed? Hence, the career in nursing...I'm sure I've got some sort of diagnosis to go with this need along with a medication, but I'm quite content with my neuroses at this point. Thank you very much.

Now for the involvement thing...Maybe you need some background for me. You're getting it whether you need it or not. In Arlington I was in choir and heavily involved in MOPS. I was a small group leader, and if you've never done that it's hard to realize the level of commitment it requires. In La Vernia I taught preschool Sunday school, led ladies Bible study on Tuesday mornings, helped with children's church on Wednesday nights, and had a moms support group in my house once a month. And through all of this I worked. Only 2 days a week, but still, I worked.

Act 3: Move to Oklahoma. Where everyone seems VERY involved in our church. That is a great thing, truly it is. But, for someone who needs to be needed, I wasn't sure I was needed. *Boy, that was a grammatically ugly sentence! Again, time has passed....Now, I'm in choir. I help with youth choir and drama on Sunday evenings. I attend ladies Bible study on Wednesday mornings, and I'm serving on the ladies ministry team. I work 2 days a week. I'm going to start picking up most Fridays, so that will put me at 3 days a week. I know to many of you that is heaven. All I can say to you is, I'm sorry you have to work more. Really I am. I recommend everyone be a nurse so you can have flexible hours like me. Oh, and let's not forget my Devotional Divas group. But we only meet once a month, and let me tell you, I'm not giving up my girls night for nuthin'!

So, here I am, wondering why the heck I fretted about not being involved enough. Yet, I'm feeling guilty for not teaching Sunday school. At the same time I'm questioning "Do I really have to go to church every Sunday evening? What about Wednesday evening Bible study (pastor lead), do I really need to go then? It's not like I'm not spending time in church. I'm there 4 hours on Sunday and 4 hours on Wednesday by the time I eat there and have choir that night. Then, I wonder what the heck is wrong with me? I am not doing enough....

I know I'm being tedious here...I'm annoying myself. On one hand I feel tired and busy and overwhelmed, and on the other hand it feels like I can never do too much for God, because look what he does for me! Can anyone relate? Does anyone feel my pain? Or am I just being a pain with my whining?

Really, I need no response to this. I'm praying about it. Seriously praying about it. I know He'll give me answers and peace. I know that it's not about what others think I should do, but what God has planned for me to do. I want to be in his will. I know he probably hasn't asked me to do a million things, like I feel the need to do...He's asking me to do the thing He wants me to do and to do it for Him, not me.

So, there's my conundrum...I'll let you know what The Boss tells me. I am telling you this, though. I'm not going to church tonight. Even though that means I have to cook, which I don't mind, but then I'll have to clean. But, I haven't seen Studmuffin all week except in passing, and to say goodnight, roll over and start snoring...So, I'm spending time with him until time for choir. Yep, I'm rebelling tonight, and no one can stop me....