Cooperation is a Beautiful Thing

The view from my front door one morning this week. 

This has been just a lovely week.  The simple, ordinary things have filled most of my time.  From those things I draw great contentment. 

One of my goals this week was to work a little harder at keeping the house tidy each afternoon as a team.  It is easy to fall into the habit of letting things go, especially when no one is coming over and we are busy with school!  I've mentioned before how my afternoons seem to hit a wall and my drive to be diligent becomes nonexistent.  Well, not this week.  I was not going to live that way anymore.  Each afternoon, I assigned myself and the kids a chore.  One small chore to do that would make a difference with us all cooperating.  After our chores were done, we were free until it was time to make dinner.  Honestly, the chores did not take us all that long, either. 

On Monday, we all attacked the clutter that had collected over the weekend.  I also cleaned the kitchen and attempted to begin my assault on Mt. Washmore.  Oh, that mountain of dirty clothes was horrendous!  My oldest son vacuumed the living areas. The other two worked on their rooms, which had fallen into a state of untidiness that was unexceptable.   

Tuesday, I cleaned the bathrooms and my helpers did my bidding.  Plus, Mt. Washmore took a huge hit.  I was home all day making sure the loads were washed, dried, hung or folded.  My Mr.Wonderful, put the clothes away for us.  (Thanks, Darling!) 

Wednesday, I put my efforts upstairs in the Master, sweeping, dusting, putting away.  The kids were completely distracted by the first snow.  I worked hard keeping their in-and-out mess managed .  Boots, gloves, hats, snow pants, jackets, and water littered the entry way each time one would come inside! 

Thursday, found us with nothing but laundry to attack.  How did I get full laundry bins again?  Although this was not a chore attacked with dread, it did keep me busy in between lessons. Everything was either hung or folded by the end of the afternoon.  It did not get put away.  That will happen today. 

Two observations I made this week.  One is that I am most energetic in the mornings.  I can get more done in the hours before school than after.  Perhaps I need to focus more of my time on the house in the mornings and less on the computer.  (Ouch!)  Second, we really need to have a time or two each day that we stop and tidy up.  I think right after lessons are done and then right before bed would be great.  This did not happen each day this week.  I will be working on remembering this coming week.  I know it sounds simple and very obvious, but,  most times we get in a hurry to move on before we take time to pick up.  It's a bad habit.  Bad habits can be broken. 

Cooperating is essential.  We can get more done together and I am less frustrated when we are all working  in the same area or at the same time.  Now, I just need to keep this up for a few more weeks and make it a habit.  This is where I will be tested.  Follow through is difficult.  I am worn down in the afternoons.  The kids are distracted.  It is easier to give up.  But the easy way is not working, so it is time to do something different. 

~Jenn