It's true. We have our good nights, our bad nights, our terrible nights, our restless nights, our "I'm crying at 4am while my husband does the 'there-there-dear'-pat on the back". But, if we just remember one thing....
The Dishes Can Wait.
You hear 'them' (whoever THEY are), say "When your baby sleeps, you sleep." What a bunch of crap...pardon the language. I can't follow "their" ruling. When my baby (and 3 year old) are sleeping AT THE SAME TIME (I love using CAPS, it helps me get my point across), I am doing dishes. My mom (whom I will mention LOTS in my posts) always says "Dear, the dishes can wait. They'll still be there later, or in the morning. Rest."
I've had to listen to that advise, although it's taken me 2 boys to figure it out...when they rest, I rest.
To each his/her own. For me, resting is photoshopping pictures (which I do, so if anyone needs help, I'm here!), or scrapbooking online (which I also do!), but anyhow, to each their own.
I just hope I don't add to that list...The laundry can wait, the mopping can wait, the vacuuming can wait, the ironing my husband workshirts can wait, my face and hair can wait....oh dear.
4 comments:
I was adamant that after Seth was born, when he slept I would sleep. Problem was I wasn't always tired. So I relaxed, but I didn't sleep. I'm still that way. I blog and write while he naps, but I hardly ever nap.
I also think the dishes can wait, but sometimes it's nice to get it done just to feel a sense of accomplishment...and it's nice not to have to sit and stare at your filthy house. :)
Mindi, you totally crack me up. And I totally agree, the dishes can wait... and making the bed... and cleaning the disgusting floor...
This one is a tough one for me. My husband was raised in a military home where there wasn't even trash in the trash cans. He didn't expect that, but I felt like it was expected of me. I think my kids sometimes suffered some amount of neglect because of me having to have a clean floor etc. It's taken me to the point of being an empty-nester, all my kids gone, and now caring for my elderly parents, to realize that there are certain things that make life a little easier.
Like what, you may ask? I have found that if you take two seconds to wipe a sink off after brushing your teeth or rinsing a dish right when you are done with it, things don't stack up so badly. When you are done with the laundry, put it away (not my strongest suit) and if you can't actually wash the floor, at least sweep. Just little things help maintain the sanity. To me, dishes can't wait because before long it's a HUGE job instead of just a job. Have the ones old enough to help, help. I have my grandson, B, stand on a chair or stool right next to me and he 'helps'. I get my job done and he has a very wet, soapy blast-and-a-half.
Another must is bed making. When our kids were little, and keep in mind their English grandparents have lived with them practically their entire lives (that should say a ton about expectations, manners etc.), we decided that in order for the children to have a successful bed-making experience, we would only require their beds to have a fitted bottom sheet, a top comforter, pillow and whatever blankie/toy/stuffed animal on their bed. Dragging up a comforter is one heckuva lot easier than the whole topsheet, blanket hospital corner stiff-upper-lip nonsense. My kids still employ this method to this day and three out of the four are married. You can call this being lazy, not giving a darn, or, and I like this best, call it good parenting being exhibited down the road by the continuing of good habits learned at the knee of their nurturing mommy. :D
Another quick piece of advice my own mommy gave to me. "There's clean dirt and dirty dirt. It's okay to have clean dirt, just make sure your home doesn't have dirty dirt." I think she's referring to Hoarders.
So, had to make this in parts because I had too much to say.
Another must is bed making. When our kids were little, and keep in mind their English grandparents have lived with them practically their entire lives (that should say a ton about expectations, manners etc.), we decided that in order for the children to have a successful bed-making experience, we would only require their beds to have a fitted bottom sheet, a top comforter, pillow and whatever blankie/toy/stuffed animal on their bed. Dragging up a comforter is one heckuva lot easier than the whole topsheet, blanket hospital corner stiff-upper-lip nonsense. My kids still employ this method to this day and three out of the four are married. You can call this lazy, survival or I would call it good parenting being exhibited down the road by the continuing of good habits learned at the knee of their nurturing mommy. :D
Another quick piece of advice my own mommy gave to me. "There's clean dirt and dirty dirt. It's okay to have clean dirt, just make sure your home doesn't have dirty dirt." I think she's referring to Hoarders.
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