Keepers At Home

Its At The Well Monday again.  I haven't been able to participate lately but the theme for today made me laugh.  Because I took these pictures this morning before I read what todays topic would be.

Keepers At Home

Well, you can imagine my chagrin when I read that today we would be discussing the practical and never-ending aspects of housekeeping!  Just perfect!  Look at the whirlwind above.  This chaos was created in record time by Lauren.  With exception of the shot of the dining room table and kitchen.  This was school materials/candle making equipment/laundry and a few odds and ends that needed my attention.

"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:4-5

Here are a few questions that Chelsey wanted us to come clean on!

1. Let' s get a little vulnerable here ladies - do you keep a neat and tidy home? 
   
2. If so, what do you do to keep on top of this? Schedules? Routines? If you have children at home, do they get involved?
   
3. If you are lacking in this area, why do you think that is?

I would say that I keep a fairly neat and tidy home.  Now mind you it isn't picture perfect and you aren't going to see my home featured in Better Homes and Gardens.  But, just the same I like to keep my home clean and organized.

To keep my house in order I have assigned each of the boys a daily household chore.  For example, Mondays are our general pick-up day, Tuesdays are vacuuming days, Wednesdays they clean the bathrooms, Thursdays they dust and Fridays they clean the mudroom.  We keep a chore chart posted so that they know exactly what is expected of them each day. Each day is laundry day here so, I tackle that pretty much non-stop.  My only other focus on school days is the kitchen and meals.  I can't seem to find the time for any other chores, my days fly by too quickly.  On Saturdays, I clean the bathrooms, vacuum, sweep and mop or I may clean windows and do a thorough dusting.  It just depends on what the house needs the most.  Each day the boys pick up their play room and I pick up Laurens.  I make each, age eligible, person responsible for taking care of their items.  My mantra- take responsibility for what is yours!

I'm not lacking in the area of keeping a clean house, but I do believe in my younger days of being a wife and mom, I took it to the other extreme.  You know the one- Perfectionism! However, I have learned a thing or two over the past 15 years. 

• While homeschooling don't attempt to have a perfectly picked up home.  The first few years we homeschooled, I strived for a perfectly tidy home.  That notion blew up in my face!  I would get all tied up in knots when things got cluttered.  I had to change my ideal of what a beautiful home was.  Nowadays, I am comfortable with my house.  Yes, there may be a stack of books and school papers on the end table or baby dolls and their accessories littering every square inch of the sitting room floor, but I've come to accept that!
• There is more harmony in our home when I don't keep a perfectly picked up abode.  The more I try to keep things spotless, the more stressed out I become.  I have learned to let a few things slide.  However, on the other hand, if things get to cluttered, you can bet there is going to be one stressed out Momma to deal with.  That being said, I think there is a fine line that I must walk to keep everyone in this house sane and happy. And doom to those who don't tow that line! 

I was going to end this whole post with a picture or two of my clutter free home, but alas, my sweet, angelic, whirlwind of a daughter has awoken and there are babies, strollers and blankies decorating my floors once again.  SIGH!