The Pedestal Plunge.......I have fallen and never want to return

So....I have this new obsessive compulsive behavior....it's called blogging. For some reason my mind in constantly thinking about what I might write about and......here I am again, writing about some insanely nonsensical things that really has no bearing on my life or the life of my readers.......or does it?

I was marveling today at how much I am enjoying my new mad house running skills (thank you Napoleon Dynamite). I have spent far too much time, in the last few years, berating myself for not being able to keeping house like I used to. What a joke, right? Was that not a completely different life time?

"The Time of Too Much Time"
Melanie: stay at home mother of one (Does that not say enough right there?). My house was deep cleaned once a week and spotlessly maintained throughout. The laundry was ALWAYS folded, Gabe was bathed ever other day, without fail. Dishes were done after EVERY meal and the kitchen was wiped down accordingly. Toys, books, and anything else touched by ANYONE were put properly back in their place the minute they left the hands of the user (no wonder Gabe never really learned to PLAY). I was known, amongst my friends and neighbors as "The Clean One" (or "One of the clean ones." Nicole was there too). What a pedestal to be put on. I don't know about you but I HATE being put on a pedestal. Inevitably you fall off..... and fallen, I have.

Now I have three children and a husband that is home full-time. The house is deep cleaned on a as-needed basis (or should I say, was-needed-a-week-ago-and-is-now-beyond-DISGUSTING- basis), I still TRY to keep the house tidy and not too unsanitary. The laundry is ONLY folded after two or more consecutive days of Gabe saying, "Mom, there is no underwear in my drawer,"or "Mom, I don't have any clothes to wear"...then I fold what is left of it (because inevitably, at that point, the clean baskets are starting to empty out and the dirty ones are filling up again), toys are always scattered around the house (we do try to pick them up at night but sometimes getting the kids out of our hair is more important than having them pick up their toys) and the status of the kitchen only enters my mind once a day.

The shining beacon in this life of anti-perfection is that I am coming to terms with it. Life is what it is and there is just no more time left in the day to get my "chores" done like I used to (unless I were to forgo all family (and blog) time). The important things are taken care of. My husband and children are fed and loved and are not forced to live in conditions that would attract the attention of social services. The rest just takes a back burner.

Rob.....my ever SO helpful husband and I, have come up with a nightly routine that is SO GREAT. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband. Every night after dinner he takes charge of the kids. He bathes them, dresses them, medicates them, and brushes their teeth. He even helps them pick up all their toys. Meanwhile, I am left alone in the kitchen to conquer the mess. And every night, I shut the light off and turn my back to a clean kitchen. I LOVE IT and I love him for allowing me the time to do it. I don't have to think about dishes all day, which includes not mentally scolding myself for not doing them after every meal, and in the end they get done and I don't even resent having to do them. It's WONDERFUL.

For those of you who knew me when I lived at Wrigley Apt, you would die if you saw my house now. Nicole (my former pedestal mate) and her family are staying with us this weekend. I think she will probably have a heart attack (or course the house will be clean when she gets here but after a few days I think my secret will be out). These changes in me are actually quite positive, I think, and hopefully she will see that too. Maybe I can talk her into taking the plunge with me.

Sunday's Spokesman Review Classifieds:
One "CLEANEST HOUSE IN THE UNIVERSE" Pedestal is now vacant and ready for the taking. Cost: Your ever living soul. If you are interested, please contact the Devil @666-6666.

Other pedestals that may be available soon, courtesy of Melanie G:
"THE MOST CONSISTENT MOM (Even If It Means Following Through With Something That Makes Her Mother Cringe)" Pedestal and "THE SKINNY ONE" Pedestal. Inquire Above.