It doesn't stop there either. Cleaning the house is a form of therapy for me too. Whenever something is heavy on my mind I get to scrubbing the baseboards. Existing within a clean house gives me a tremendous sense of control - it's sort of nice to know that I can control something. Getting a house sparkling clean and super organized is something I'm good at. Really good. Or at least I used to be.
After years of trying to counteract my husband, our mini-zoo (job hazard) and now a toddler I've practically all but given up. The battle is so uphill and the victories so few and far between that I just can't retain my enthusiasm and energy for achieving a clean house. Don't get me wrong, I still like to live in one but getting there comes only from great sacrifice. What do I mean exactly? Well, life is pretty damn demanding these days. We all have to chose how we spend our slivers of precious time. For this Monday's Listicles, the topic is:
10 Things I Would Rather Do Than Clean the House
Sleep: Duh. I can't think of anything at all that I would rather do than nap whenever I wanted. Sleep is so glorious. I fully recognize that I probably feel this way because it's been about 3 years since I've slept really well all through the whole night.
Hang Out With My Kid: It was easy at first cause all she did was eat and sleep. I couldn't really see how people couldn't keep up. Forgive me, I was so new at this. Sooooo naive. Time wore on, she changed, I changed...the evolution came to rest at me deciding it was OK to have a (kind of ) messy house and happy kid.
Connect IRL or Online: I miss my friends from grad school and vet school and beyond. I have the pleasure of calling some of the most wonderful people around "friend". I also have a rich online life. Don't mock it. Some of these ladies I've "known" for years and we depend on each other for support. They're very important to me.
Craft: This is where creative can meet perfectionist...or not. It doesn't really matter. Frankly, I like sewing because it can be done perfectly. It's also a great outlet for my artsy side. I totally dig having kid(s) because they give me the perfect excuse to craft to my hearts content.
Take Pictures: I'm still learning and practicing. I want to be better at this.
Read: I have a stack next to my bed of all these GREAT books just begging to be read (like THIS ONE). Ada won't permit it when she's awake. And when she's asleep I'm pretty much right behind her. I've finished exactly one book since she was born (not counting children's books of which I've finished hundreds).
Be in Nature: I used to hike and backpack a lot. I really loved it. We don't do it as much now that Ada outgrew the external frame pack but we are dying to get back into it. We've had some amazing hikes. Until then I'll take any tiny bit of time I can get. Plop me in the middle of a trail with dirt under my boots and the wind in the trees and I am a peaceful, centered girl. Nature is my church.
Play in the Garden: I come from a long line of gardeners. I even continued to garden when I was in grad school in Ohio. We grew the most amazing chard that summer. San Francisco presents it's own challenges. Especially since we live on the top of a cold, windy hill that often hosts the fog line. We have some carrots ready for harvest - we started them from seed 18 months ago. Yeah, it's like that but we're having fun!
Do Yoga, Go for a Walk, RUN!: God, I miss running on a regular basis. I really, really miss it. I would also love to do one of the 2 hours long ashtanga yoga classes that Tim and I used to do together in grad school about 11 years ago!
Fantasize: Instead of cleaning my house I'd like to have daily massages, travel the world, go shopping with no financial limits or, the best of all, live my regular life and pay someone else to clean my house.
7 Lovies:
I'm with you on ALL of these, especially all the ones in the fantasy-land department. (-:
Imagine what we could do if only somone else was keeping the house clean. Great list.
I like this. First of all good on you for loving to clean. I think it can be very therapeutic too. But what you chose to do instead makes perfect sense to me. My son is four and a bit and I have read one and a half book since giving birth...
I can relate to all of those. I guess it's part of being a parent. :)
Play in the garden. That sounds wonderful. Yes, I'd much rather "clean" outside -- if raking or watering -- than indoors.
The battle is to great most the time! And I fear will only get worse with another boy! You'll get to read soon, 2 years since my son is born and I officially finished 2 books! Maybe its because I can't sleep now...
These all definitely sound better than cleaning. For Christmas last year I decided we should get each other monthly house cleaning. I love it, it's great, but it is a bit ridiculous how quickly my two boys can make it look like they were never here. I still fight the good fight, but I'm losing the war for sure!
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