I really enjoy having people over to my house for a visit (once they get here), but leading up to their arrival is usually quite stressful for me. I like my house to look clean and clutter free. Who doesn't, come on?I often joke that I invite people over so I will get my butt in gear and deep clean my house. Are you like that too? I wish I would deep clean for me...not for others. I don't want our guests to be uncomfortable or see me on the dirty/cluttered house day and think wow she isn't keeping up. I want them to see the clean house day. I can always improve on this but for now I'll focus on the positives--We have started some great family morning and nightly routines that help me daily be prepared for having people over and feeling welcome.
Within the last little while I have been implementing some family "must-do's" in case I have people over unexpectedly. This is also my effort to develop more childhood independence with #4 baby coming this summer. We have been practicing and practicing these routines. They are getting better but not perfect. That's ok it's improvement and I am not doing all the work!
Our family goals for school mornings were: I wanted all this completed by 9:30 am
1. Everyone (including Me) dressed, showered, and make up on for the day by 9:30 am, put your own PJ's away, brush your own hair then fixed by mom, breakfast eaten and everything put away, teeth brushed & flossed and put away, clean dishes unloaded if necessary, 1 or more loads of laundry put away or started, and beds made. This worked on the days we were home and didn't have an appointment first thing.
Our family goals for after dinner nightly (Example is for a non bath night)
1. Tell one thing they liked and didn't like about their day at the dinner table, everyone has to clear their own place and thank me for dinner, table and counters wiped, load the dishwasher and start it if necessary, all dinner items put away, pans soaking if necessary, homework will be done before dinner or playing with friends after school, put dirty day clothes in the laundry basket, comb your own hair, brush & floss your own teeth-then checked by a parent, all toys and books put away before story time, a Bible story read, and a prayer as a family. If we are on the ball I will have them set out their clothes for the next day.
Now I know this seems like a list we all do but I wasn't doing it, whole heartily. I would clean up dinner alone and let the kids play. Why did I do that? Come on....They are old enough to help out so now it's a family effort. I know this will be in limbo with the new baby this summer but it is my hope that my kids will be trained fully by then and do some instinctively (or my husband will help more because he is trained as well) :0). The key word is HOPE!
I live a very real mommy life and I am not a put on a show kind of person. But, I do want to be more productive in the mornings this summer and have a home where I am not totally embarrassed to have people over. It is my goal, you gotta have a goal!
How do you respond to having people over? I'd love to hear some comments on this topic.
Here's a Bible verse I found that inspired me and this blog post.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you so much for your comments. I read each and every one. Blessings on your day. Come back soon.