Mommin' It Up!

November 29, 2007

Deck the Halls with OCD

Last night, Kate was dying to decorate the Christmas tree, so Andy hauled in the boxes from the garage and we got to work.

Ok, Kate and I got to work. Andy watched “Shawshank Redemption” in the living room.

He does not like to decorate the Christmas tree. AT ALL. I’ve wondered why for many years, but last night it hit me.

As I may have mentioned, I’m a little neurotic, so as Kate hung ornaments last night, I found myself taking deep breaths and trying not to ruin the whole experience by flipping out about where exactly she hung them. After the first ~~ten~~ few times she responded with “Mommy, I get to hang this wherever I want to” when I calmly suggested an appropriate spot, I realized that this year’s tree wasn’t going to be as, uh, balanced as usual.

After a while, she called Daddy in to help. He, of course, couldn’t refuse such a request, so he joined us. As I packed up the empty boxes and watched them hang the last few ornaments on the tree, I heard Andy’s breathing becoming labored. Then I saw the steam coming out of his ears. And that’s when I figured out why he’s the Ornament Grinch.

You see, Andy’s got about five times the OCD I do. So if he could make sure that an ornament of a two inch diameter could be hung on every third branch, he would be in business. But our ornament collection is rather eclectic and he can’t stand the chaos. Add a three-year-old’s randomness into the mix and we’ve got a recipe for disaster.

He was trying hard to be patient, but I could see he was getting close to the breaking point.

“This is like when she mixes different colors of Play Doh together. You’re just going to have to let this go,” I advised.

A few ornaments later, we were done… and no one was too overly traumatized.

Here’s what our tree looks like in the areas where I hung ornaments.

Here’s what it looks like where Kate hung ornaments.

And here’s what I discovered when I looked a little more closely at Kate’s area.

All of Daddy’s car ornaments are hanging in a row.

Isn’t that cute? Little preschooler OCD.

The ~~apple~~ ornament does not fall far from the tree.

November 28, 2007November 28, 2007

WFMW: Put Yourself on the List!

Okay, so if you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I’m a neurotic weirdo (though not as neurotic as Emily, thankfully ha ha ha ha ha)! I’ve been a SAHM for about six months now, and in that time my neuroses have increased a ~~hundred fold~~ wee bit. For a couple of months I really struggled with how to handle the daily tasks of housekeeping, child-rearing, and errand-running and also squeeze in time to take care of myself. Remember this post? Back when I wrote that I was one ugly ponytailed, wrinkly-clothesed, un-madeup Mama. Sometimes I wasn’t even CLEAN! Yikes! But I am happy to say, after a few months of getting the kinks worked out, I’ve found a way to balance things a bit better, especially when I have a lot to accomplish. My method is simple: I make a “to do” list, and I put myself on it! Here’s an example. This is my “to do” list from yesterday:

Dishes
Shower
Go to Bank
Laundry
Go to CVS
Sweep dining room
Clean up living room
Sweep living room
Makeup
Take out trash
Change Diaper Pail

I had a ton of cleaning to do and laundry because poor Joshua had no clean clothes and remained in his PJs until noon. But I also really wanted to get myself cleaned up as well. I wanted to have a shower and makeup on before I ran to the bank and the drug store. So, I put those things on the list. Then, after I completed them and crossed them off of the list, I felt not only clean and shiny, but also a sense of accomplishment instead of a sense of guilt for taking the time to take care of myself. This may seem stupid to you, but somehow I am able to trick myself into thinking that showering, doing my makeup, excercising, or reading my Bible Study book is not just something for me, but something that contributes to the success of my day.

I know I’m a crazy coo-coo nuts, but it works for me! So why not give it a try and see if it works for you?

For more great Works for Me Wednesday tips, head over to Rocks in my Dryer!

November 27, 2007November 27, 2007

My Solution to Seasonal Mood Disorder

Yesterday it rained steadily allllll daaaaaaaaaaaay. And it was cold. And yucky. And dark. And I hated it. It was my hubby’s bday, and I could not pull myself out of my weather-induced funk. I was feeling, as Joshua would say, BLAG. I just checked the forecast for today and it looks like it’s at least going to be sunny at times, which is great, because yesterday’s darkness really had me depressed. It just made the messes in our house look messier, the housework seem insurmountable, and I swear it somehow amplified Joshua’s whining tenfold!

Running errands with two kids in the pouring rain is, as I am sure many of you know, soooo much fun, but unfortunately we had a couple of stops we HAD to make after being out of town for a few days. Our driveway and the drug store parking lots had tons of puddles. Having not yet bought proper winter shoes, I was still wearing my Lands End Trellos and my feet got quite wet. I have no coat with a hood. I couldn’t find an umbrella. By the time we got hopme I was a soggy, grumpy, irritable MESS, and by the time we left to go out to dinner with friends for Bobby’s birthday, I was ready to throw the kids out of the car as we drove by my parent’s house! UGH! I hate feeling this way.

Perhaps my unpreparedness for this weather is really a form of denial. I am just not ready for it to be dark and cold by 5:30 PM . I’m not ready for the twenty-minute long coat-hat-and-gloving ritual that must take place before one can leave the house with two children. So, I’ve decided, I’m gonna make like a bear and hibernate. I’m gonna binge-eat really hard for the next couple weeks, and then just sleep ’til the end of March. Just think of all the money I’ll save if I just skip Christmas! I’ll emerge from my slumber thin, well-rested, and just in time to see Emily pop out another baby. I won’t have to spend the winter months wondering what the HELL the sex of said baby is either, which will be a relief.

So, yes. Hibernation it is. See you all in 4 months!