First of all, please don’t judge or hate me-a lot of people are alcoholics, drug addicts, or gamblers, I’m none of these, I’m just a grossy. I am an extremely lazy housekeeper. I don’t particularly like cleaning, and apparently it shows, I guess I’ve been obliviously living in squalor. Most people assume that I’m exaggerating, or being modest by not bragging about my well-kept home, when I warn them of my “messy house.” Um, they assume wrong, I’m not kidding, I’m not exaggerating, I am being DEAD SERIOUS. My house is dirty, cluttered, and quite frankly it’s kinda gross.
My house is running rampant with children, (did you think I was going to say roaches, or mice, nope surprisingly not here, lol) four of them to be exact. The one bathroom our family of six shares is high on the ick factor, just imagine, 3 preadolescent males (oops, I counted my husband in this one) utilizing the same facilities, day in and day out. I think you get the picture, it’s not pretty at all.
I am mortified to share this information with anyone, let alone my readers. But you know what they say, admitting your problem is the first step, right? So, this is my step forward, I WILL post some “after” pictures very soon. This is my form of accountability, I have to get control, or I will go insane…….more so than I already am.
*Disclaimer-I promise I used to keep a spotless house, a long time ago, and I think that depression, and a feeling of a lack of control has contributed to my messy home, I am open to any/and all advice on organization, housekeeping, etc.
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So brave, and I totally relate. Thanks for being willing to share the grit, will be watching to see if you get/have any good tips for crawling out!
Girl, as someone who’s been there, done that as part of a big family, let me just say, don’t expect to tackle it in a week, or even a month. Don’t expect it to stay clean. It will take a while to train yourself, as well as the other members of your family, to stick to the new way of life… putting things where they belong when they’re done with them. They will do what you do. Keep your room clean. Don’t worry about doing theirs. Maybe once or twice help them, then maybe once a month, but the more you do it for them, the less likely they’ll do it themselves.
I’m sorry I’m not much help. I know how depressing it is, and I know how hard it is to change, especially once everyone is in the hang of tossing things wherever.
You’ll get it tho! You’re a strong woman! Start with one little area each day!
Thanks Erica, you’re awesome!! And this is just what I needed to hear, you’ve given me some excellent advice, and I plan on putting it to practice. Thanks girl!
I was going to say the same thing don’t expect it all to change overnight. It will take time and there will be set backs, we are working on the same thing here and it is frustrating when I am basically going at it alone. You can will succeed.
Thanks Bobbi, I so appreciate your comment, it is hard when we as Mom’s are the sole housekeeper, I’m hoping to put my kids to work helping!
To keep my house in order I normally tackle one room a day and take Sunday off to rest. Sometimes it seems futile but I promise it will make things easier if you can give it a good week’s effort at first.
I also make sure to do at least one load of laundry a day that includes folding and putting it away. I hate laundry! LOL
I was raised doing the room a day thing and it really works once you get a routine! Hope I helped. Hang in there, you’ll get it! =)
Sometimes (okay OFTEN) my house becomes overwhelming.
My advice: Start in your smallest space. Work for 20 minutes at a time…with your favorite music in your ears. After 20 minutes…take 20 minutes off. Then, go at it again.
When your smallest space is done…sit back, look at it, take a picture …feel good. YOU did it!
Then move on to bigger spaces. You can do it. Baby steps!
Much love!
Andrea and Megan, thanks so much!! Wonderful advice, I like the room a day advice, it’s like tackling a mountain, one hill at a time. I also like the 20 on, 20 off, that sounds extremely doable~
Thanks again girls, these are really helpful comments!
Oh it’s hard when you have children! Especially when you have boys!!! My boys can be real slobs sometimes, but I’m constantly getting on them about picking things up. I hate messes and get so frustrated when someone comes over and sees my mess. However, most people (especially those with more than 2 kids) have messy houses sometimes.
I can’t wait to see your after pics!
Start out with one room at a time. Get boxes and garbage boxes. Boxes for donating if it’s still in good shape and you just don’t want it, the garbage bags for garbage, boxes for kids clothes that no longer fit. And then get rid of it. You will get there.
I’m known to let the house go until I just can’t stand it anymore! My mom always tells me to start with the space that I have to be in the most or that is bugging me the most! Usually, I want to start in some obscure place that I never go anyway as an avoidance technique! Good luck!
Okay, I am going to send you some pics of my house dude. It honestly looks like my home was recently invaded by the FBI in some fast and furious search and seize mission. I’m a lazy housekeeper, but I do fun stuff with Little Dude everyday; we play, laugh, and love really hard; and my marriage is pretty darn close to perfect. Sometimes, the things that seem SO important, aren’t really that important in the big scheme of things. So we’ll just let our freak flags fly for now. Because honestly, freaks are just so much cooler than boring people anyway.
I found your post in my email, and I HAD to write in. Don’t feel bad about being a lazy housekeeper, I know how you feel, trust me! My house is a mess and I am right there with you! Before my kids, my house was perfect, after 4 kids my house looks like a tornado hit it most of the time. I am horrified to have anyone over my house because of the mess! Depression has a lot to do with it, just not having the energy. I hope you can over-come this and hopefully I can follow in your foot-steps and tackle my own place. I can’t imagine sharing one bedroom for a family of 6. 3 of my kids share the same room & my oldest has her own room.
I understand and let the ppl with bad comments say what they want, having a messy house doesn’t make you a bad person.
Just keep your head up, there are tons of people to support you!
Typical American Livin in Home!! Granted I am a neat freak….. to the spaces other people will see, My bedroom looks like a BOMB went off in it! lol Laundry has to be folded, and well I stopped caring about hubbys side of the bed cause it’s his mess to clean up.
I am sure as JoHanna gets older it’ll be harder to keep up but thats ok! The way I see it have a spotless house with a miserable kid cause your always preoccupied cleaning or have a lived in comftable home where the kids get all the attention they need. Ever watch Wife swap or Supernanny?? some of those ladies are crazy with their cleaning and ignoring their kids!
When visiting someone my biggest thing is how clean their bathroom is! the house could be cluttered trashed with toys but as long as the lou is clean then i’m ok! I’m always cleaning my bathroom! lol
You are my hero! No, really…
I have struggled with housekeeping my whole adult life. I grew up in a gross house and somehow the past keeps popping up in my world today. I really love it neat, clean, and well-decorated, but the reality is chronic migraine doesn’t allow me much energy. What I need is some teens I know (my children) to help. Period. They are old enough to do some of the work.
Thanks for sharing your state of the home address. Get those kids helping and so will I!
Sincerely a fellow grunger,
Kellie
Goodness with kids and a hubby it will be messy sometimes!
You ‘like’ to spend time on the computer- spend 30 minutes as a reward AFTER you’ve done something no matter how small.
The trick of it, is really assign the kids to do certain chores- make it age appropriate. If you give an allowance/cell phones/games/TV time etc, make those things hinge on them getting things done. Stick with it and dont waffle on the rules.
Same with you
If things stay fairly clean- give the family a reward ! Have fun, but dont sweat the small stuff. The lived in look also shows you ‘live’ there not just have a super clean place to stay.
Good luck!
I have so much to confess to you, YOU DON’T EVEN WANT TO KNOW. My house looks like this, worse probably. I’m floored because the words you used to describe your house is how I feel about mine. The one thing that I think is that my house issues are beginning to hurt my marriage. Seriously. Hubs hides in our basement (which is just as cluttered but with only his stuff), because he can’t come upstairs to look at the rest of the house and I hate anyone coming over. I dread it.
I love you!
Its ok Lizzy. Let me know when you can’t see the floor and I’ll call Hoarders for you. (That TV show.) I’ll help you when I come to visit.
Aw, thanks a lot Becky!! lol Okay, I’ll hold you to helping me little sis.
Thanks, it is hard with all the boys! But I am determined to get it at least more inhabitable!
Yes, I like the box and trash bag idea, we’ve got to declutter big time.
Lol, thanks Briana that makes me feel a little better, and that’s when it usually ends up really bugging me, when I’m absolutely fed up!!
Tricia and Krissy you two made me smile, and thanks so much for the encouraging comments.
I agree, the bathroom should at least always be clean, plus, then I wouldn’t be afraid to use my own bathroom lol!
Thank you! Anyone who calls me their hero is a friend of mine, lol!
If that confession isn’t enough incentive to get your bum in gear, I’m not sure what is. However I must tell you, you are much braver than I am.
You know the only thing that bothers me about your picture is the bed missing a sheet. lol
And don’t forget your kids can help too! My kids have this rule, and you just have to pretend to act on it before they get in gear. But no sheet on the bed, means I’ll take their bed. lol I know, I know sounds cruel.
My teen son blew me off until I was fed up of not seeing a fitted sheet on his bed, and in I went dragging his mattress off the bed. Now, I only have to issue ONE warning. Try it! lol
Now my house is by no means in perfect shape, it’s usually cluttered too. But the bed must have sheets. lol (warped I know.)
I agree with you Rose, the only reason the bed didn’t have sheets is because I was actually washing the sheets and mattress pad cover at the time, lol. I might be messy, and a tad skanky, but I forbid my kids from sleeping on a mattress without sheets, I promise!! lol