Moms of Messy Houses 2009 Tribe - Page 2

[Lemon Juice]

I want an "Alice" too!!

Count me in...messy house, messy car, messy fridge! We try really hard to keep it clean. But usually it is the company that gets it really nice. I loved when the MW came each week...the house was SO nice all the time I have to keep it clean in certain areas tho b/c dp freaks out. So the playroom is a mess, boys room a mess, homeschool room is destroyed (giving birth at home means mama isn't watching us right now...lets DESTROY the homeschool room and toss out ALL of the glitter!!) Ugh.

[aniT]

I have someone coming to help me get it under control on Sat. and someone who is supposed to come in twice a month after that.

The Sat. person is a trade for DH fixing her computer. Have any skills to barter?

[TEAK's Mom]

Oh, I absolutely belong here. The rest of you can relax. The undisputed winner of the messy, cluttered, pit of a house award is yours truly. We are four people and two pugs in a just under 1000 square foot home. There are so many books that all of the shelves are overflowing; but, since the house was built in 1897, I try to think of the books as extra insulation. The kids can't really put their toys away because there is no "away."

However, I guarantee that I have the absolute cleanest bathroom counters. Mind you, this is only because the bathroom was kind of added as an afterthought with the advent of indoor plumbing and we have about six square inches of space that are also known as the rim of the sink.

[Right of Passage]

Originally Posted by AngelBee

You trying to kill me???

I thought the same thing!

Originally Posted by aniT

I have finally thrown in the towel. Admitted defeat. I wish I could afford a full time "Alice." I need an "Alice."

I want an Alice too. I tell DH whenever he ask if I need anything "A million dollar, a maid, and a butler"

Originally Posted by Collinsky

Knowing me, I'd try to make it look more presentable before taking pictures. What makes me really sad is that I don't take pictures or video of my kids very much, because I don't want the background mess on film.

me too

Originally Posted by Lemon Juice

Count me in...messy house, messy car, messy fridge! We try really hard to keep it clean.

Messy car!! That's us too. We're a one car family, and it's so gross, all the snacks need to be vaccumed out, and just eww.

I cleaned my bathroom today! : It looks great, DS1 spilled bleach all over the floor when I was almost done. Ruined his pants and made the floor clean enough to preform surgery on. And the only reason it got cleaned is cause DS1, just about mastered potty learning except he's had diarrhea for a couple days went to use the potty and the floor (and clothes on said floor as well as; toilet, cabinet, stool, and scale) got splattered in poop. Kids can be great motivators :

[Right of Passage]

Originally Posted by TEAK's Mom

We are four people and two pugs in a just under 1000 square foot home.

That's how big out apartment is. About 150 of it is a storage closet that I have to clean about 4 times a year and get rid of junk (so I have a place to stash the new junk) It's so awkwardly set up I still don't know what to do with the place, so even when I get the motivation to do something I have no where to put everything in an organized way. :

[Peppermint Leaf]

Ya know -- its only dawned on me this week that now that I have created a place for positively everything in my house --- the clutter isn't bothering me as much any more ...... I now know that when I get around to cleaning it up - I have a place to put everything : Its taken me years to get here!!

I finally realized that alot of my clutter stress and not wanting to deal with it is because I simply didn't know what to do with it all!!

I have this huge master list with hundreds of items on it from garbage bags, to lightbulbs, to shoelaces to balloons .... no matter what it is I can find it on my list and know where to put it!!..... Its a wonderful wonderful feeling ...

[Peppermint Leaf]

However ... I have yet to reach the point that I am comfortable with unexpected drop in guests!!! .... always freaks me out!!

[aniT]

Originally Posted by Collinsky

Knowing me, I'd try to make it look more presentable before taking pictures. What makes me really sad is that I don't take pictures or video of my kids very much, because I don't want the background mess on film.

I took some pictures of DS with is toy screw driver "working" on an opened computer. DH photo shopped the mess out. :

[Peppermint Leaf]

Originally Posted by aniT

I took some pictures of DS with is toy screw driver "working" on an opened computer. DH photo shopped the mess out. :

Ya know what -- you might just have something here !! ..

take pictures of your worst rooms -- photo shop out the mess ---- just so you can see how lovely and clear it could look!!! ....

it might help motivate you to work on the room because you have a pic of what it could be like:

(kind of the same concept as putting a picture of your thinner self on the fridge for motivation) .. LOL

[simonsmama]

Originally Posted by Eclipse95

I've got a messy house. I HATE cleaning and when things get out of control, I get totally overwhelmed. When I only had two children, I used to mop, sweep, etc. every day but since I had my third (now almost 3 yo) things have gone completely wacky.

I kept a pretty clean house when I only had my DS and he was a just crawler. Now I have two ACTIVE toddlers.When I had my DD, my house just never recovered. My DD is SUPER spirited, which just makes life more interesting.

Originally Posted by shukr

do i have to be proud of the mess to join in

Heck no! I'm not proud of the mess in anyway at all. I just wanted a nice little tribe where we could have encouragement, and support for mamas who have a hard time with cleaning/organizing, etc.

Originally Posted by Amila

Me! I try so hard to keep it clean...but I'm a slob. Having company is the only thing that gets me to really clean completely...sigh.

yeah......My house gets a good cleaning every other friday (that's when my mother in law comes over to be with the kids :

Originally Posted by *ami*

I wish I could just accept the fact that I have a messy house, car, and life, but it drives me absolutely batty. I'm usually too overwhelmed to do anything about it, though, unless there is company on the way.

This is totally me. I want to accept that I'm a messy person, but it bothers me so much. Not enough to actually clean up though :

Originally Posted by aniT

Oh man, we have a tribe??
I grew up in a trashed house, I never learned to keep house, DH is a slob, DD2 is a slob, the little ones are constantly throwing stuff on the floor. Every time I clean the family room DS clears the toy table and throws everything on the floor. I constantly find clothes in the living room. No one puts anything away. Oh the list goes on and on. I wish I could afford a full time "Alice." I need an "Alice."

I grew up in a horrible, dirty disgusting house that had no heat and was falling down. I don't even know how to clean somethings. I felt like such a dunce when I moved in w/ my DH and my MIL had to show me how to work a dishwasher (never had one growing up). I wonder if messiness is gene or trait that we inhereit?
Oh and....
We need like.....like... a timeshare maid, anyone interested

And I'm so proud of myself, I finally figured out how to multiquote! w00t

[simonsmama]

Originally Posted by Peppermint Leaf

Ya know -- its only dawned on me this week that now that I have created a place for positively everything in my house --- the clutter isn't bothering me as much any more ...... I now know that when I get around to cleaning it up - I have a place to put everything : Its taken me years to get here!!

I finally realized that alot of my clutter stress and not wanting to deal with it is because I simply didn't know what to do with it all!!

I have this huge master list with hundreds of items on it from garbage bags, to lightbulbs, to shoelaces to balloons .... no matter what it is I can find it on my list and know where to put it!!..... Its a wonderful wonderful feeling ...

so wait ...wait.....you mean, it IS possible?

Originally Posted by Nursingmama05

It's so awkwardly set up I still don't know what to do with the place, so even when I get the motivation to do something I have no where to put everything in an organized way. :

Um, do you live in my house? I was reading this then had to do a double take to make sure I hadn't written it. Yes thats right, on top of being messy...Im also horribly forgetful!

There are tons of things I need to do right now (It's friday and my MIL will be coming over tonight) but what am I doing instead?

Maybe we should try to set up goals for ourselves? What do you mamas think??

[Peppermint Leaf]

Originally Posted by simonsmama

so wait ...wait.....you mean, it IS possible?


Um, do you live in my house? I was reading this then had to do a double take to make sure I hadn't written it. Yes thats right, on top of being messy...Im also horribly forgetful!

There are tons of things I need to do right now (It's friday and my MIL will be coming over tonight) but what am I doing instead?

Maybe we should try to set up goals for ourselves? What do you mamas think??

yah -- I DO forget where I put things - which is why I finally did a master list.

[UUMom]

Will there be Flicker pix? Because I love the Flicker pix. :

I wouldn't say my house is messy-messy, but I would say I lack the vacccuuummmming gene. And the laundry gene.

I have cooking and decluttering genes. And that's all.

Originally Posted by simonsmama

We had a tribe like this a couple of years ago, but its been archived now. Just thought I'd throw it out there. I know there are more of us out there!

We can chat here about how messy we are, share tips and tricks, motivate each others, rant about the mess or whatever. If you're messy and you know it, then this is the tribe for you.

Come on, Mamas! Share the love :

[aniT]

Originally Posted by simonsmama

I grew up in a horrible, dirty disgusting house that had no heat and was falling down. I don't even know how to clean somethings. I felt like such a dunce when I moved in w/ my DH and my MIL had to show me how to work a dishwasher (never had one growing up). I wonder if messiness is gene or trait that we inhereit?
Oh and....
We need like.....like... a timeshare maid, anyone interested

And I'm so proud of myself, I finally figured out how to multiquote! w00t

I don't think it is a gene. My mother was the youngest out of 8. My grandmother's house was always clean. Both my Aunts houses were always clean, (the other 5 were boys and their houses were alway clean too.) My parents divorced in the early 70's when my brother and I were very young. I don't remember my father ever living with us and I was the oldest. My mom always worked, I was a latch key kid. I think my mom was just tired from working all the time, then later just too lazy to clean it. She never taught me anything worth while. Any "domestic' skills I have I picked up on my own. I need to find a cooking class or something. Maybe I wouldn't hate cooking so much if I knew how to make more than the most basic stuff.

[Right of Passage]

Originally Posted by UUMom

Will there be Flicker pix? Because I love the Flicker pix. :

I wouldn't say my house is messy-messy, but I would say I lack the vacccuuummmming gene. And the laundry gene.

I have cooking and decluttering genes. And that's all.

I love how you put that! I have the vaccuming gene just not the pick up everything off the floor before vaccuming gene.

Originally Posted by simonsmama

We need like.....like... a timeshare maid, anyone interested

And I'm so proud of myself, I finally figured out how to multiquote! w00t

I love multiquote, and I would love a time share maid haha. With enough of us a traveling maid would make some big bucks!

Originally Posted by simonsmama

Um, do you live in my house? I was reading this then had to do a double take to make sure I hadn't written it. Yes thats right, on top of being messy...Im also horribly forgetful!


Maybe we should try to set up goals for ourselves? What do you mamas think??

Maybe I do and we jsut haven't found each other yet! I think goals are a great idea. I got a clean bathroom yesterday. Today my goal is to get all the laundry done 2 weeks worth of . By done I mean, washed, dry, folded/hung up, put away, and the necessary items ironed. Must wash, sort, and put away diapers today too. Saturday my goal is to get LOs' room clean. Which means bed made, toys back in their bins, organized (like items with like items), and diapers stuffed and put away in their bins in the diaper changing table.

I'm hopeful but I better get started soon, and I know some laundry will spill over into tomorrow morning. It's already 10:15 and here I sit : :

[Peppermint Leaf]

:IF YOUR MESSY AND YOU KNOW IT - CLAP YOUR HANDS :

[thewaggonerfamily]

:
I soooooo belong here.
That is all.

[~bookcase~]

I have someone coming round for 3 hours, twice a week for two weeks.
This will be the first time I have hired anyone, and I have asked her to sort, fold, declutter and find homes for things. Just that

Yesterday I cleaned the hallway.
Today it's, ummmm, not like it was yesterday.

My plan is to have my children in on the plan, because I don't stand a chance otherwise! It seems to be very, very slowly taking place that we at least have a vision of how it could be.

So far:
Girls clear table after lunch.
Boys clear table after tea.
Everybody is supposed to be dressed before going downstairs and have their (shared) rooms taken care of.
The boys (older two) are doing well with that so far :

I home ed, so everybody uses the house A LOT.

[VBMama]

Oh hello, this is me! I am so ashamed of my house. Thank goodness I have one IRL friend who is also a terrible housekeeper, and we can laugh together about our disasters.

[*ami*]

Originally Posted by simonsmama

I felt like such a dunce when I moved in w/ my DH and my MIL had to show me how to work a dishwasher (never had one growing up). I wonder if messiness is gene or trait that we inhereit?

I didn't learn to work a dishwasher until I was an adult, either. Now I can't stand how anyone else loads the thing, though. When my MIL was visiting recently, she would load the dishwasher to help out, and I kept sneaking behind her to rinse and rearrange things.

I think messiness is definitely influenced by how we grew up. My parents' house wasn't dirty, but it was definitely cluttered. My mom always had piles of stuff everywhere. Clutter is my biggest problem, aside from never managing to get all the laundry folded.