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Post by skatters on Nov 6, 2008 8:48:53 GMT -5
This is the Working in Threes Thread (W.I.T.)
EVERYONE IS WELCOME, especially if you've never posted before!
The guidelines are simple:
- Do some little thing to make your house less squalorous.
- Do one more little thing.
- Do another little thing.
Once you have 3 things done, post them here.
- Post the next 3 things you plan on doing.
- Go forth and conquer, return and post again.
Remember - if you are tired or sick or injured or
depressed or overwhelmed, you are in the right place!
If the next 15 minutes consists of:
- Looked at hopeless living room and felt like crying
- Decided you could take empty pop can to kitchen
- Put away phone book
- Picked up fast food wrappers on coffee table and put them in trash
. . . YOU HAVE ACHIEVED THREE - DOM !!!
You could post:
Ta - Da's
- Took pop can to kitchen
- Put away phone book
- Threw away McDonald's wrappers
Then your To - Do's:
- Bring plates and glasses to kitchen
- Put dirty socks in hamper
- Bring folded towels to linen closet and put away.
Whether you do those three to-do's, or something completely different, once you've gotten 3, come back and post.
Remember to take breaks and drink water. Drinking water counts as a Ta-da!
If you can notice what the person before you did, it might cheer them up to hear from you.
Go forth, have fun, and be generous to yourself with the Ta-das.
YOU DESERVE THEM!
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Post by skatters on Nov 6, 2008 8:52:17 GMT -5
Good morning everyone!
I just got out of bed... and can't seem to keep my eyes open. So here I am.
ToDo:
1. Get MORE breakfast for DD.
2. Get DDs clothes out.
3. Get DDs lunch made.
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Post by skatters on Nov 6, 2008 9:09:23 GMT -5
Still not moving much. Don't know what is up with my eyeballs... just overly tired, I guess.
TaDa:
1. Got DD more breakfast.
2. Ate breakfast myself.
3. Took meds.
TaDa:
1. Get DDs clothes.
2. Get DDs lunch.
3. Clean out DDs backpack.
4. DD 'prettied' up.
ToDo:
1. Take DD and friend to school.
2. Stop on the way home and get caffeine.
3. Immediately come back here, rather than sitting in the recliner... which means napping.
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Post by Marie on Nov 6, 2008 10:47:00 GMT -5
Good morning skatters. Thanks for getting us started today.
TADAs
washed my cleaning rags, folded clothes out of dryer and put away
exercised 12 minutes - first time this year for 'official' exercise.
put away some dishes
showered, put on clean clothes
took meds
kids to school
made DDs bed
drank some water
TODOs
comb out hair
reboot laundry
unload dishwasher, put away rest of washed dishes
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Post by cando on Nov 6, 2008 11:09:57 GMT -5
Got a lot to do today as my DMom will be coming in town to stay with us tomorrow... She wants to help me so badly, and it is so hard for her to understand...but she is trying and is so sweet. I know she will make faces because she won't be able to help doing that... but it is okay. She's seen my the awful condition of my home, but I'd love to have things possibly better than she expects & please, oh please, don't let it be worse. I just had needed her to come as I had been so depressed and feeling so worthless. And, we had talked about how nice it would be if we could just go on a vacation somewhere together... but then it always came back to ...where would we go & what would we do & then all the expense. Then, she will say "I know what I'd really like to do because I like to work..." I knew she meant help me get my house cleaned up & I want that so badly as well. And, I know that if I were to leave town & just vacation--then I'd come back and things wouldn't have improved...and would have felt guilty except for the wonderful time spent with my Mom... I almost did not have her come, though. She can get very judmental & negative at times... I tried to explain about the situation & I think that she understands that I mainly just need to be with her & need encouragement and positive strokes. I have to do the decluttering & don't want her to do the cleaning... she's done enuf cleaning in her life & I feel that is my job. But, she can help with organization & just be there for me. So much can be emotional...particularly all the papers, medical reports, etc. She can help remind me to put it in "this place" & I'll know where it is if I want to read it, but at another time. It is so hard not to want to read it over before putting it away -- these things even though its been years, etc. etc. I don't know why I'd want to look at it except to remind myself why my house got the way it has... Or because it is just so hard to believe and I have this need for people to understand why my house is like this... I just need to get past all of that and now the kids are older & even though there are still some issues, not nearly like things were. Sorry to just go off here on this thread and in this post... I think that I'm done now...  Tada: 1)showered2shoes, brushed teeth 2)took DD to school 3)made my bed, then took DS to school *bonus*forgot I put front bathroom rugs in washer earlier. Todos: 1)fold/hang load of laundry from yesterday 2)put that load away 3)put Load #2 for today in washer CD  |
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Post by Marie on Nov 6, 2008 11:22:26 GMT -5
CD,
It is so hard to accept help. I have finally let my DH help me with the kids rooms. 2 of 3 bedrooms are desqualored now. We found the source of the feces smell in my teenage DDs room and now are down to stage 2 having removed and cleaned it up. That mysterious smell really got to me bad, but they didn't seem to notice. UGH. Many tears over the 4 bags of clutter removed, with an additional couple boxes put up in the attic to see if they still feel they 'have' to have it after a while, and their room is bright, sunlit and clean. Now they have to learn maintenence. After a month of maintenence, we have agreed to paint it however they want it.
Back to help. I feel like the house is my personal mess (despite that 6 people live here) and that no one but me should be held responsible. I work full time. That is rediculous. 2 adults, 3 teenagers, and a 5(almost six) year old and I want the whole load dumped on me. No wonder I am clinically depressed right now. Meds are kicking in, I have therapy for the first time today in 13 years, and I am starting to realize that this is a family home and a family mess and a family's responsibility. Even the 6 year old is able to run around with the swiffer! Come on! Learning to accept help is harsh.
I am so making this about me when I want to tell you Cando, that accepting help is awesome and you will be so pleased when your time is up and you are in such better conditions. Good luck making the best of the time.
TADAs
hung up my towel after shower. put dirty clothes away
put some things away in kids bathroom
combed out my hair
changed some doctor and vet appointments
mapquested my therapy appt for today
put on my tie on shoes, moisturized my face
TODO
unload dishwasher and finish putting away dishes
reboot laundry
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Post by syzygy on Nov 6, 2008 11:45:28 GMT -5
Stumbling along today... Ta dah * got up * cat meds * Breakfast- but I'm still hungry  * Initial email scan * Ordered meds * Checked window To do * grocery shopping * more * lots Good luck with your mother, cando. I hope you two can find a balance. Marie, you're not the maid of the family! They helped make the mess (or benefited from you doing it such as meals), they can help clean it up! |
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Post by cando on Nov 6, 2008 11:48:26 GMT -5
Wow, Marie. I can't believe that you have such a full house & work full time, etc. You sure do get a lot done, too. So glad you found the awful smell... Thanks for your post, Marie. Tadas: 1)folded/hung load from yesterday 2)put that load away 3)moved Load #1 into dryer *bonus* put load #2 into washer Todos: 1)hang dry Load #2 2)put rugs back in front bathroom 3)eat something CD |
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Post by cando on Nov 6, 2008 12:28:02 GMT -5
Thank you, Syzergy. My Mom is so sweet & I know she means well. I love her soo much and I am soo happy she is coming (even if it is embarrasing, etc). Tadas: 1)hung dry Load #2 2)drank glass of water 3)ate breakfast Todos: 1)put Load #3 in washer 2)file stack of papers away that are on eating area table 3)empty kitchen trash, spray can & replace bag ******************************************* Tadas: 1)put Load #3 in washer 2)went thru papers on top of box in Eating Area 3)emptied kitchen trash, sprayed can & replaced bag Todos: 1)file stack of papers on Eating Area table 2)15 minutes on one of the boxes in Eating Area 3)put stuff away from that box CD CD |
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Post by snailspace on Nov 6, 2008 13:42:18 GMT -5
Have a good time with your mom, Cando, whatever you end up doing -- that's all that matters.  tas: got up despite total exhaustion showered went to get groceries tos: ants in the kitchen again (dealing with this counts for three, maybe more!) |
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Post by merrymaid on Nov 6, 2008 13:53:50 GMT -5
Feeling very depressed.... not sure why. Ate chips and chocolate yesterday... probably effected my mood.
Going to try to do some work now:
1. Take a shower. Haven't done that in awhile and I know I'll feel better afterwards.
2. Load dirty dishes and start washing.
3. Recycle laundry.
Snailspace- your post is motivating to me.... you're exhausted but got up... I'm going to, too. Thank you.
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Post by greenfuzz on Nov 6, 2008 14:04:58 GMT -5
Hey folks, I know I've disappeared for a while. Mostly I was just maintaining. Cando, it's great you still have your mom around to help. I miss mine so much, and she did help me several times with my squalor at different moments, she never judged me about it either. So I got behind on dishes by having a friend over and then going out celebrating on election day. Also had to pick up my cat from surgery in the morning so my usual schedule just got screwed up and I slept a lot of the day. I'm digging out now, it's not so bad. Maintenance TaDa: Emptied the clean dishes out of the drainer had morning tea and meds Maintenance ToDo's:  Finish dishes clean counter feed and medicate cat start laundry Folks I've a lot of other cleaning to do as I fear that I may have bedbugs. I'm not positive at all so I have to look for signs that it's them. I'm a little scared here. Anyway the whole situation is an opportunity to clean and treat for the roaches as well. So after I do my maintenance i will post other tasks |
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Post by notsomessyshell on Nov 6, 2008 14:07:18 GMT -5
Tadas:
Got up. It was hard today, my bed was so warm and comfy...
Showered. Also hard because bathroom was awfully cold.
Got to work.
Todos:
Dinner.*
Dishes.
Fold last load of laundry.
*tonight will make 5 nights straight of eating dinner at home and cleaning up after! A new personal best.
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Post by snailspace on Nov 6, 2008 14:44:10 GMT -5
Ah, thank you, MerryMaid, you motivated me when you said that!
Good vibes for your kitty, Greenfuzz!
And wtg on the dinners at home, MessyShellby!
OK, I got through half the dishes AND IT WAS VERY UPSETTING having to just ignore the ants and rinse and wash stuff anyway, and toss trash and wipe counters. I'm sorry, ants! But there are too many now for me to be out trying to rinse them off into the yard and stuff. It's like a seige. I know this is going to keep happening, but every time I cook I'm so tired afterward I just leave everything on the counter. I've GOT to pull my socks up, so to speak, and at least fill up a sink side and put stuff underwater. ARG!
The Plan:
After the current drainerload has air dried a bit, will finish drying with a paper towel and put away, and start on the second batch.
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Post by greenfuzz on Nov 6, 2008 14:55:29 GMT -5
Snailspace I relate to your difficulty with bug infestation. I have so many roaches that I frequently have to just ignore them to continue with tasks. It's not as bad as it once was, but neither is it good. So I understand the difficulty.
Taking a break folks! then doing my next two tasks on the list
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