The title of this post may have you reciting all sorts of emotional adjectives: exhausted, bitter, disgruntled. And while there are certainly times when doing housework makes me feel a bit…well…like a servant (sorry, it’s true!), there are other times when it makes me feel something much better: connected.
When life is busy – as it frequently is around here – housework is the first thing shoved to the bottom of the priority list. But the longer I go without taking some kind of stock in my home, the less I feel connected to what is happening, what is needed. Everything becomes so vague. Getting down to the nitty gritty of housework helps me to clear my vision, see what is in front of me and by extension see where I need to fill in the gaps.
Maybe it’s attached to a sense of control. Or a sense of balance. Or a desire to do something more brawn, less brain. But there are times when doing housework is the single most effective way for me to hit the “reset” button and feel confident in taking on another busy stretch.
That’s not to say I’d refuse maid service or a cleaning fairy. I’m not crazy, after all!
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Carissa
on Aug 31st, 2009
@ 9:48 am:
I have no idea how to respond to this. Lately I hate housework so much I can taste it. The dishes? How do there get to be so many everyday?? laundry..? Ditto.
Ugh.
But your post below, now that I can relate to.. it’s been 2 months since I’ve been at the gym!! talk about backsliding into the flab.. but guess what? School started today.. I’m ON MY WAY there today!!
Jen
on Aug 31st, 2009
@ 1:34 pm:
Well if your house is all clean and you still feel like doing housework, you know where I live!
Erin @ Closing Time
on Aug 31st, 2009
@ 7:44 pm:
I can so relate to both feelings (servant-like and connected). This weekend, it definitely made me feel connected, and I needed that!
Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)
on Sep 1st, 2009
@ 1:16 pm:
I need to get down to the nitty gritty…I keep telling myself I’m going to clean and organize the living room while Princess Nagger is at school…here it is Day 5 of her being in school full days and I’m still pointedly ignoring the mess that needs attention. There’s always tomorrow.