My home is a mess

Emm-in-a-pickle

Happy Mother`s Day to all mother Messies - good luck if attempting to get offspring to help with some de-messifying to mark the occasion - or just be realistic and try to find a flat surface to put a card or 2 on!!!

Pollypenny - Welcome! I think you have hinted at the answer to your problem (" everywhere I look there is a corner which is filthy") . DON`T look everywhere! You can identify little hotspots, just tackle them one at a time, say, a corner here, a flat surface there...and concentrate for a while on keeping them clear before moving on to your next target area.
Try to swap your "general panic about the house" for a bit of a victory gloat about a couple of corners sorted and kept clear! I`ve gradually reclaimed my living room this way, starting with the mantelpiece, then windowsills, etc.. it works. It isn`t just clearing a spot, it`s also insisting and persevering at getting others in the house to stop re-cluttering it. My OH is not the difficult one, but my DS is!! I`ve managed to `train` him to stop dumping carp on LR flat surfaces, one bit at a time - but he `s cluttered the spare bedroom with stuff he won`t sling! At least it`s restricted to that room and his own, now.

Another great help is the Timer. Do get one if you haven`t already, it`s so good for motivation to see just how much you CAN do in a 20-minute burst, especially in a grot-spot you`ve been putting off thinking it`ll take ages.
In your case it sounds like your kitchen doors are the thief of time, so how about rationing yourself to 20 minutes on them, instead of the forever wiping?

Mothernerd, Welcome (I like the name!) I had to chuckle about your brothers - and to think I always felt sad at being an only child!
I`m sorry you`re laid up from overdoing things, but however frustrating you`re right to rest that leg for as long as it takes. Baby steps is good, but now you feel you`re on the mend don`t try to do too many baby steps at a time and set yourself back!

KM, Welcome, and thanks for those points. You are right, once an area is under control it`s easier to keep on top of things, and stressing about what needs doing only makes it harder to do!

Chez-Emm :
Knowing that I don`t like cut flowers in the house (unless they`re `rescued` , like trampled daffs etc.)/don`t want to eat chocs as I`m gaining weight again while I`m off work/ and have a lousy track record with indoor plants, my DS & DD have both given me flowering plants to go outdoors....
Good job it`s a nice day for a bit of pottering in the garden!

My blitzed boob is a bit less like an angry beacon now, so it looks like the skin reaction has peaked....I hope!
Laundry is pretty much up to date, but I found a couple of jumpers that need hand-washing so I`ll do them then put them away till next year - also a cushion cover from DGD`s room. This will finally empty a little storage crate that`ll fold down before anyone gets chance to fill it with carp again! Every little bit is a victory...

tattycath

Hi everyone! I have emptied and refilled dishwasher twice today.
I have done 2 lots of baking today too.
Still trying to decide whether to defrost more chicken-thanks for this Emm
Or whether to make a curry...
Love the timer setting idea. I should do this. I tend to work faster under pressure. Tomorrow I shall try applying this method to get stuff done!

pollypenny

Thanks, Emm- in-a-pickle.

Feel a bit better after a lovely banquet at a posh Chinese restaurant.

dibuzz

Emm-in-a-pickle wrote: »

Happy Mother`s Day to all mother Messies - good luck if attempting to get offspring to help with some de-messifying to mark the occasion - or just be realistic and try to find a flat surface to put a card or 2 on!!!

Do you know, you are the first person to say that, wouldn't think I had 4 kids would you?
Ah well at least I don't need to find any flat surfaces.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

Welcome Pollypenny, I think you are like so many of us on here - you have a lot going on in your life and there isnt much time or energy for doing housework. Small steps, little tasks that can be done and finished and then trying to keep on top of whats already been done is the way to go. And never, ever beat yourself up about what hasnt got done.

Well, as we speak I should be out enjoying a meal with 20 other family members but I have developed a horrible sicky headache and so I sent OH and the kids off without me.

I really really hope this is not the bug DS2 had earlier in the week. That kept him off school for 3 days. I cannot be ill this week, I really cant.

So I am gently sorting some washing and pootling about rehoming shoes, school books, socks and other things that have lost their way. If I sit down I will sleep which seems like a bad idea. I think if I can keep going for another couple of hours I will take to my bed and hopefully a good nights sleep will do the trick.

tattycath

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Hi all

Welcome Pollypenny, I think you are like so many of us on here - you have a lot going on in your life and there isnt much time or energy for doing housework. Small steps, little tasks that can be done and finished and then trying to keep on top of whats already been done is the way to go. And never, ever beat yourself up about what hasnt got done.

Well, as we speak I should be out enjoying a meal with 20 other family members but I have developed a horrible sicky headache and so I sent OH and the kids off without me.

I really really hope this is not the bug DS2 had earlier in the week. That kept him off school for 3 days. I cannot be ill this week, I really cant.

So I am gently sorting some washing and pootling about rehoming shoes, school books, socks and other things that have lost their way. If I sit down I will sleep which seems like a bad idea. I think if I can keep going for another couple of hours I will take to my bed and hopefully a good nights sleep will do the trick.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

pollypenny

Thank you,Yorkshire Lass.

I haven't even got the excuse of untidy kids, only two of us now. I do have lots of great activities. The old cliche of being so busy in retirement!

Hope you feel better soon.

mummymaria

dibuzz wrote: »

Do you know, you are the first person to say that, wouldn't think I had 4 kids would you?
Ah well at least I don't need to find any flat surfaces.

Happy mothers day Dibuzz (It's still mothers day here as I haven't gone to bed yet)

tattycath

Good morning all.
Going to try the timer cleaning method today. Just doing my 'to do' list.

farmerswife75

Morning all!!

Hello to pollypenny!

I set off with great ideas this morning, actually got the washing out before 7am again, tidied in kitchen and did my jobs on the farm. I've since been to buy a new bulb for the heat lamp - needed for the chicks i hatched last week! Called at my friends house for a quick catch up and then listed a few tennis outfits on ebay that the kids don't fit into anymore. Now having coffee whilst avoiding all the other things i should be doing!!

Jx