I have a confession. I am a horrible housekeeper. In fact, I am one of the most disorganized people you will ever meet. I thrive on chaos and struggle with order.
Most of us have heard the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” But what is a busy mom with three little mess makers to do?
In their defense, I have been disorganized from a young age. I constantly had a hard time keeping a neat back pack, bedroom or car. I tried very hard to keep things in order as a child; and even received extra help in school to do so. Still, it was always a struggle.
As a mom, I am worse. I have a hard time remembering appointments, managing time, keeping dishes and laundry washed and cleaning up the messes now made by a family of five.
In the Bible, women are given instructions on their duties in a household. These days many men take on some of that work while women work outside the home, but it does not mean we should let things go because of busy schedules. I am not lazy, but I think perhaps my priorities are not in line sometimes.
I would rather play with my children than clean the house. I put laundry and dishes on the backburner. My car is my biggest problem. I cannot seem to keep it clean, especially when there are so many fun things to do instead.
Now, I am beginning to realize that while kids enjoy having fun, they also enjoy having an orderly life. This is true at least for my kids.
All of my children seem to have inherited their father’s love for order. I am grateful for this, but because of my personality I am almost working against them when it comes to keeping our home in line. My oldest daughter lines her shoes and clothes up neatly. She makes her bed and even will help when she is not asked to when it comes to other housework.
Children naturally make messes. If you teach them well, they will learn to clean and take care of the things they are given. But because I have a hard time making order a priority, she often will fall behind in her own chores as well.
As their mom, I should be encouraging them more to keep their rooms clean. And I acknowledge that one of the reasons they struggle is because of my lack of putting this as a priority.
I actually love working. I love the reward of a job well done. But when that job is so tedious and it is daily, I get so frustrated that I let the chores go too often.
Today, I am turning over a new leaf. I am grounding myself to do this housework. I will not allow my laundry to sit in a pile and my dishes to overwhelm my kitchen sink. I am vowing to clean my car daily and to keep my things in places where I can find them.
I get so frustrated when I misplace things, such as keys and bank cards. I waste more time looking for them than I would spend just keeping things in order.
My husband, who is my opposite, helps maintain the chaos I cause. However, I do not want to rely on him to take care of our mess. That is not a good example to my kids.
The other aspect of this is that we should take care of and manage well the gifts God gives us. He blesses us with homes, vehicles and earthly possessions so that we will flourish. We cannot thrive in disorder.
Please share advice on how you manage your household. I need some tips to help me create a more consistent order in my home. I want to please God and my family by becoming somebody who can do so.
What are your biggest struggles with organization as a parent?