So excited!

[MommaLura]

Our house has been a disaster and I've always found myself so overwhelmed that I ended up not accomplishing! So, due to some extending circumstances we had to have our house treated for an infestation problem. Of course it had to be cleaned up. It finally got my dh to help

We cleared out 4 car loads of stuff to donate and our trash can is over flowing with the trash we cleared out! I can't believe how much trash was hiding, but I knew we needed to get rid of a ton that we had hoarded. Ds and I mopped the bathroom floor (who knew that was so fun?) Although the house still looks messy (it always get worse first, right?) I can see an incredible difference and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Now to keep it nice, despite being hot, very pregnant and having a dh who is worse than the 2 year old. I can do this.....

[laurabfig]

YEAH!!! Doesn't it feel great to even get started?
I'm focusing on doing 3 things a week- if more get done, then great, but 3 small decluttering/organizing projects a week makes a huge difference!

[MommaLura]

It does feel great!

[Kivgaen]

Unless you've been where you are, like I have, it's really hard to understand your feelings of being completely overwhelmed and powerless to change anything.

I think the secret for me and what I'm trying very hard to work on in my own home is to get in some kind of a cleaning routine when the house is in such a state. I realized that moping the floors from top to bottom until they shined would take more time than I had to work on cleaning. So instead of doing that and the alternative of doing nothing, I found a compromise. I made the floors a little bit better. I didn't do it perfectly, they still need lots more attention. But at least they are better than they were! Setting maintainable goals and cleaning routines, and sticking with them, has helped me a great deal.

I set a goal that, no matter what I was doing, that I would always leave a room in the same state that it was when I found it, or BETTER. And I made this rule not just for me, but for everyone in the house. I had a meeting with DS and DD and told them I was fed up with living in a dirty house and that we needed to work together as a family to keep it clean. They've been pretty receptive to the concept of "same or better", and I've been setting a good example that they want to follow. It really helps!

DH will come around (hopefully) if he sees the rest of the family is working hard at that goal. But if he's really not the observant type, you may need to spell it out for him clearly: The same, or better!

If everyone has that mindset, then the house really doesn't get in such a state as easily.

[MommaLura]

You have a good point, Kivgaen. And right now I'm discouraged because I need to clean up the mess that was left, but I'm so tired and my legs are screaming for me to stop

It's hard to get my ds to clean up, but he's getting better and I'm trying to set better goals. My problem is I need to see a difference when I'm done and that usually doesn't happen.

[Kivgaen]

Originally Posted by MommaLura

You have a good point, Kivgaen. And right now I'm discouraged because I need to clean up the mess that was left, but I'm so tired and my legs are screaming for me to stop

It's hard to get my ds to clean up, but he's getting better and I'm trying to set better goals. My problem is I need to see a difference when I'm done and that usually doesn't happen.

Stopping before you "finish" is almost as difficult as it is to get started -- but you really should stop or you might burn yourself out! Set a goal for a certain period of time, work quickly for that time, set a timer, and be sure to stop when it goes off. I assume that you didn't get into this mess in one day -- it's going to take a lot more than one day to get out of it!

If you need to see a difference in what you are doing, and you don't, then maybe you aren't starting small enough? Pick a powder room, if that's doable, or maybe even just a drawer in the kitchen or bathroom. Maybe a linen closet? whatever you think would be manageable. Start slowly, pick one small goal that you can complete in your alloted time for that day, and then keep on top of it every day before you go to bed. Slowly you can expand your area and work out from your starting point.

Remember -- your goal isn't just to get the house clean. Your long-term goal is to get it clean, and KEEP it that way! You need endurance and stamina to get there, and you have to pace yourself or you may be defeated before you even begin.

[Kivgaen]

I should have added to my last post:

YES, you CAN do it! And way to go for getting a good start. Don't let my ramblings discourage you. If I've said something useful that you can use, great! But if not... feel free to ignore me.

Good luck, mama! I agree with your initial post -- You CAN do it, with or without DS and DH's help!