After taking care of our 3-year-old nephew - Jon and I find that our own manners improve! We're not sure if it is because we are more aware of making sure "pleases" and "thankyous" are said, or because he is also the most polite little lad and it wears off on us. Anyway, we are much more aware of our own "thank yous' and "your welcomes" when we return! It's pretty nice. Thanks Heather and Sam!
I'm also slowly coming to terms that I'll never have this place perfectly clean. I was reading an Oprah magazine today about organization - one of the people they interviewed stated that cleaning is like gardening: it always has to be done and is just a habit of life. Not that this place is catastrophically messy, however after 2 weekends away (basically) it begins to build. We're both just learning new cleaning habits, and looking for systems to put into place to facilitate less-mess!
Additionally, I have a "new" sewing machine! Well, it's my grandparents, which they are letting me have (I think...) and now I'm trying to think of a creative way to set up a standing "creative space" in this apartment, that is also out of the way and easy to hide. Hm..... I'll let you know if I come up with anything!
Oh, cleaning. The bane of my existence. What I have found helpful is in doing a ten-minute pick up every night before retiring. Just walking around, putting things away, straightening pillows or sweeping the kitchen floor. That way when I come down the stairs in the morning, I am starting with a clean slate. It's surprising what a difference ten minutes a day makes.
ReplyDeleteI find that clutter begets clutter. But when you start off clean, the family tends to put things away rather than have their stuff be the only thing laying around. Keeps us all more accountable.
What a great idea Julie!! Thank you so much for commiserating! We'll have to try that!
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