Cleaning Between Pews: Cheerios & the Snow Pony

Recently, we signed up to help clean the church one Saturday morning.  (In our church, the members rotate the cleaning responsibility.)  There were about 4 or 5 families/couples who showed up at 8am and the lead family handed out assignments.  We were actually a few minutes late (oops) and luckily for us, the vacuuming had not yet been claimed.  Here's something about me -- of all household chores, I love vacuuming!  I love to run the vacuum because I find it relaxing.  The hum of the vacuum helps me tune everything else out and believe it or not, I can solve a ton of the world's problems while vacuuming.  Not to mention, I get the instant gratification of creating those perfect vacuum lines in the carpet!  //squeals in delight//

I digress.  My husband took the large commercial vacuum and was charged with the hallways and classrooms.  I grabbed the regular vacuum and headed for the chapel - looking forward to it actually. Something about being in the Lord's house and serving Him in this way was very spiritually gratifying.  Plus, I knew there was no way the huge monster vac could fit between the pews. I also knew, given the fact that we have approximately 480 parishioners and that half of those are under age 18, the chapel probably held a few misguided cheerios from the previous Sunday.

As I began, most of the aisles between the pews were in good shape - the anticipated lost cheerio or occasional forgotten crayon here or there.  But then, I came upon a row and found myself utterly disgusted.  Fruit snacks and cheese crackers mashed into the carpet - a pile so large that no one could miss it if they would have just looked!  I'm going to give the family who sat there the benefit of the doubt and assume they did NOT check their surroundings before exiting their pew.  I just can't accept that if a mother or father saw the mess their kids made in THE LORD'S HOUSE they would simply leave it there.  (Right?  Please tell me I'm right!)

As I went on my dust-sucking journey of creating clean lines in the beautiful chapel, about every 4th or 5th row, I'd come upon something similar to the earlier scene.  Again, appalled.  I know some churches don't allow food/treats even for small children in their chapels or sanctuaries.  I also understand that it might not be completely realistic in a congregation of our size to implement that type of rule.  But I was a little disappointed of just how often I came upon a rather large pile of forgotten treat crumbs.  In one pew, I found a pencil that someone had manually ripped into shreds and then stuffed into the hymnbook rack.  In the row behind that I located a few small hairbands and a little plastic snow pony, just laying there in plain sight.  My morning of anticipated respite in serving was quickly beginning to shrink as defeat set in.  Had I been giving my fellow worshippers too much credit?  Are we just so used to living our fast-paced lives we don't stop and take two minutes to clean up after ourselves?

I remember while growing up my parents taught us church was not only a place of fellowship and faith, but also a place to show our gratitude and reverence to God for all that He has given and that reverence also includes respect.  We weren't even allowed to lean our feet up against the hymn rack or pew in front of us.  We weren't permitted to stand on the benches or run in church either.  My parents taught us to treat the Lord's house better than our own.  We understood this was a special place.  And when it was time to leave, I can still hear my mother's voice admonishing us to "gather up our things" and check around us for any garbage.  We not only cleared our own small toys or crayons, but often others' too.

Let's compare this to Disneyland - y'know, the "happiest place on earth"?  Yeah.  One of the corporate Disney philosophies is that EVERY team member is responsible to keep their parks clean.  If they see trash, they stop and pick it up.  It doesn't matter if they are the custodian, a groundskeeper, a ride operator, or an executive.    And yet did you know that there are only 4 workers per shift that are responsible to drive around and empty the trash bins?  FOUR!  In a park as huge as Disney World or Disney Land, that's incredible considering the immaculate state we usually see.

Well, in my opinion, shouldn't our churches be one of the happiest places on earth too?  Shouldn't we all take on the responsibility of keeping our sanctuaries just that - A Sanctuary?  Should we not be teaching our children this?  I can't tell you how many times in church I've instructed my kids to pick up a gum wrapper or other trash from the floor, whether it be in the chapel or the hallway. When they were little, they used to say, "but I didn't put it there."  Now they understand. I hope they do this even if I'm not around to ask them.

By no means am I trying to call anyone out for their child making a mess in church.  I just think if we all took an extra minute before leaving to check and clean our surroundings, and if we all picked up trash when we notice it (even if we didn't put it there), we would grow spiritually and deepen our connection with our Lord, both within the walls of our churches and out.

Something to think about, anyway.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day Twelve

Today I am grateful for cleanliness.

Truth be told, I hate cleaning.  I have so little energy by the time I get home from work, school and the gym, that cleaning is the last thing I want to do.  Funny thing is, it doesn't go away.  The mess just waits for me.

The kids have their chores and the things they know they are to do, but lets' be honest...  I didn't always do my chores voluntarily when my mom wasn't home....  did you?  So, it usually all waits until Saturday.  But then once it's done, it feels great and I feel so accomplished.  I believe in the proverb that Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

I am grateful for a clean house.

Saturday Scutwork

Gym - Check.
Clean Kitchen - in progress
Laundry - in progress
Enslave child in yard work - in progress
Nap - Can't wait!
Buy Pumpkins - after lunch
Head down to my sister's annual Pumpkin Dinner Party - w00t!
[Possibly late night movie?] - TBD

What are your plans today?

Shiny Objects

So, just the other day PrettyPrettyPrincess said to me, "I'm getting really frustrated."

I asked, "Why?"

To which she replied, "Well, I really want to deep-clean my room and get it organized. But every time I start, it's like something catches my eye, and the next thing you know, I'm doing a craft!"

Yep... she's my kid all right! Hahaha!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

So, I had several posts in the hopper. Ready to go. Scheduled to post. But then something happened.

I got emotional.

Y'know how when you get upset over something you totally go all neat-freak and clean? Yeah... me neither. But I've heard of people like that.

Well, let's just say I kinda sorta finally understand that sort of need for that sort of adrenaline rush. It happened to me, sort of. I cleaned...

I cleaned up my Facebook wall and I cleaned up all scheduled posts on the blog. And by cleaned, what I really mean is purged. Yup. I totally deleted everything I had in the hopper. I was like one of those celebrity hosts on one of those hoarder TV shows, where they go in and just start tossing. That is pretty much what I did; without even reading through them again.

Why? How the Helen Keller should I know. I just did it. Did it feel good? Yes. Sickeningly enough, it actually did. When it was all said and done, and when my somewhat slightly psychotic episode was over, I actually felt empowered. As if I had just achieved something. And not just any old something. Something important. All right, well not something important. But I felt accomplished nonetheless.

Am I ok, you ask? Oh sure. I'm fine. Keep on moving folks, nothing to see here...show's over! But for realsies. I am okay. Thanks for asking.

The bigger question now is... what to write. I mean, with nothing in the hopper I am gonna be writing cold turkey. Impromptu. On the Fly. Flyin' by the seat of my pants.

Please keep all arms and feet inside until the ride has come to a complete stop...

Why I Don't Ground My Kids...

... simply put - grounding is too much work. Seriously... when/if I ground my kids it is like punishing me too. I mean, if they are on restriction *I* have to be the one to remember who's not allowed to do what for how long and with everything else going on... it's too much work. I am more of the, "Go to your room" or "I'm taking your [insert fav toy here] away until further notice" or the "knock it off" type of mom. I like these because they are practically self-managed.

I mean, I'm sort of a forgetful person, and the few times I told one of my kids they were grounded, I totally forgot about it the next day when the one went to use the phone, or play the xbox, etc. However, if I forget that I left them in their rooms, sitting on their beds to "think about what they've done"... well, then, usually they will remind me... ("Can I come out now???") or if I take away things like the controllers for their games, then I do not have to worry about who is restricted from what. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in restricting or taking away privileges if the "punishment fits the crime", but I try to make it so that it is immediate - not the "you're grounded for 2 weeks" thing. It works for me and it is self-managed; and I guess it helps that I have fairly good kids. The last thing I need is another chore...

Speaking of chores... here's a few others I hate.

Checks. If you need to pay me money, please do not give me a check. When you pay by check, you are now giving me a chore. Bleh... I hate going to the bank. Yes, I know there is a drive-thru and a midnight drop and even ATMs that accept deposits. But I don't know when I am gonna be able to make it over there. So, unless I get one of those electronic check scanner/deposit things in my house, Pu-Lease don't pay by check! lol!

Friendship Bread. Don't get me wrong. The stuff tastes good. But again - another chore. See, now I gotta knead the stupid bag x amount of times for x number of days. And sure, I'd keep up for a day or two... but next thing I know, I'd have a bag busting at the seams with a big dough bubble on my counter. (Yes, I speak from experience.) So, if you're really my friend... bake the bread BEFORE bringing it over! lol!

Questionable Gifts. "This sweater looks like something she **might** like... if not, she can just return it." WRONG! If in doubt, go without... or give a gift card. That's what I always say. Anyone who knows me knows how much I *despise* standing in line to return something. Bleh! I'd rather keep it and regift it. For Real. I have a pair of shoes, that I NEED to return. However, I lost the receipt (i think it got thrown out) and the lid to the shoe box has mysteriously went missing. And now it's been 3 weeks. Don't know if I can still return them... See, they didn't have 8 1/2s... and well, the 9's are just too big. Plus, they didn't end up matching the brown I needed them to match anyway. **sigh** anyone want a pair of brown heeled Mary-Janes?

Plants. Ah yes... Every Mother's Day I get a plant... something I have to TRANSplant. I do not have a green thumb; not even a white one... no. I have BLACK THUMBS! The gardeners thumb of Death! I kill everything. If they based our parenting skills on our plants, I would be forbidden any children. I did good for a while on the tomato plant (and it was ONE PLANT)... nonetheless, it eventually shriveled. The lettuce plant (the project from school) was so dry and brittle... yuck! I've even accidentally killed my fav Calla Lilies once. So please... Go Green with someone else.

Whenever I receive one of these "chores", this line from the movie Juno ALWAYS pops into my head... "Thanks a heap, Coyote Ugly. This cactus-gram stinks worse than your abandonment."

What about you? What "chores" do YOU hate? Do you ground YOUR kids?

My Mom Rocks

My sister blogged a while back that my mom helped her rearrange her kids' bedrooms. I commented to send her my way. Guess what? She came!

To-D0 List:

Downstairs Christmas Tree Put Away - Check
Main Christmas Tree Put Away - Check
Get caught up on Laundry - Check (at least to a manageable point)
Clean Bathrooms - Check
Clean All Bedrooms - Check
Clean and Organize Family Room - Check
Shampoo Downstairs Carpets - Check
Give each boy own bedroom - Check
Make Thrift-Store Donation Piles - Check (so far we have 4 big boxes full)
Install "baby gate" to keep Dog from downstairs - Check
Clean Stove - Check

And mostly SHE did all of the work. I was hacking up a lung the entire weekend. I was sore and tired and even managed to squeeze in a Dr. appointment while she was here. I had been feeling so overworked, overwhelmed, incapable, and on the edge of a breakdown. Having her here was a huge relief. I still cried all week after she left. But I suppose sleep deprivation does that...

The best part though? No. It wasn't the cleaning. It was being able to share with her much of what I have been feeling lately and have her listen and not judge and just offer up her love and support. As much as I don't want to be dependant on anyone, I am not good "alone"... I miss my mom. It's hard for me to not be near her.

Anyway - Does my mom rock or what???

Thanks Mom! I love you! I only hope to be able to somehow repay you someday. I never seem to get ahead. Of course you did give me life... so I guess I will always be indebted... :)

Friday Is Dooms Day!

So, lately I feel like I can't handle things. I can't handle dinner. I can't handle dishes. I can't handle helping with homework. For Pete's Sake, we already know that I can't handle taking the Christmas Tree down. Ugh! So, I have placed myself on restriction and set my own goals to get things organized.

Anyway, I guess during this time I have become a little bit lax with the kids and their responsibilities, since I really haven't been able to do all of mine. But here's where I DRAW THE LINE!!!

The other night, I went down to look for something in my boys' room (they are 10 1/2 & 14). I don't usually venture into their territory, cuz they're not babies and they don't need me to come in there often. Anyway, I went in to look for something and was greeted by a surprise. Yes. Our 4LeggedCreature had left a little surprise in there. Of course my Mom Alarm went off. Y'know the one. The one where you start rattling off your children's FULL NAMES, I.E. Mary Catherine Gallagher - Get Down Here! I get after them to get this crap cleaned up now - literally!

Then, being it was Monday night - our usual night set aside for Family Night, I decided to change things up. My daughter asked if we'd be playing any board games that night or making any special treats for family night (like usual). I replied (still annoyed with the "Landmine" in the bedroom) that No, We will not be having a FUN family night. Instead this will be a State-Of-The-House Address. They sat at the counter as I dished up their dinner. Then, while they were eating I proceeded with an impromptu presentation of sorts, including a poster board and everything.

I scribble RESPONSIBILITY in big black letters. I ask if someone would like to define it. They are ALL spelling bee champs. They all know that I know that they know what the word means. So, of course to avoid further increase of vocal volume from the female parental unit, they each give a definition. I ask them to list what they think their responsibilities in the house should be. I then tell them what I know they are capable of. Then I asked each one of them if it would be fair to expect only one of them to clean up the house while the rest of us played. No one seemed to like that idea. I asked them why. They finally came to the conclusion that we ALL live in the house, and therefore we ALL have to take responsibility! Brilliant, I tell them. Just Brilliant. I tell them I wish I'd have thought of that sooner. They look at me like, "Okay, mom...we get the point."

But wait! That's not all! There's more. The last time we went through this, me being Mama-Tough-Love, I restricted them from the TV, computer and video games and even had the neighbor keep their controllers hostage at her house so they couldn't sneak and play while I was gone. (Thank you Desperate Housewife.) I thought for sure that would straighten them right out, since they act like they will DIE if they don't get to play everyday. But no. Desperate Housewife & Mechanic Man had their controllers for almost an entire month!!! No. I knew this time it had to be different. I knew the stakes HAD to be higher. But I also wanted to somehow make the "punishment" fit the "crime". This brought me back to 4LeggedCreature.

I reviewed, as part of their responsibilities, their commitment to the pooch before we agreed on getting said pooch. I said, "Do you remember who said 'if we get a dog, I promise to feed it! I promise to give it water! I promise to take it for walks! I promise to clean up any accidents!' Do you remember who said that?" They all answered, "We did" in unison. I replied, "That is correct." I went on to tell them that my observations of their chores and the state of the house in general was in indicator that not only are they not living up to their responsibilities, but they are neglecting their dog. Furthermore, I said, "If you can't manage your own responsibilities, then you should not be given the privilege of having a dog. I will give you until Friday to turn things around, or I will be getting rid of the dog!" I know - Knife to the Back. (Hey, Desperate Housewife - wouldn't LittleAngel just love a dog???)

At any rate, jaws dropped and tears were shed. Even I did my best to choke my tears back so they wouldn't see. But honestly. I HAD to do it, right?

So, on the one hand I feel sort of bad. But on the other, I feel like I have accomplished something. Who knows? Maybe on Friday the Post will read, "One Puggle: to Someone Who has the Patience to Train and Take Care of Her Better than We Obviously Have."

What things have worked in your house as far as responsibility goes? I need your tips. Keep in mind I am a single mom, working 8 hours a day outside of the home. My kids are 14, 10, & 9.

Oh - and I did end up making Chocolate Chip Cookies after dinner - while they cleaned. I think i did it more for me. Y'know...redeeming myself from that earlier "mom alarm".

Poor thing. It really isn't her fault. Really.

The To-Do List

I LOVE having parties. The thing I HATE about them is getting ready for them. Why can't I just have a staff of about 10 people to come and clean and decorate and get the house ready for occasions like this? Oh yeah --- that little thing called "Money".

Bummer. Looks like it's up to me and my kids (yeah, right) to get the job done before our family Christmas party this Saturday. Here is my "wish-list" version of a to-do list. I doubt I will get it all done, but at least it is a goal, right?

• Clean all bedrooms
• Vacuum entire house
• shampoo carpets
• deep clean bathroom
• finish/clean up/put away Christmas project that is consuming my dining table at the moment
• paint main bathroom (may not happen)
• wash down (magic eraser) all door jams and light switches
• dust
• get caught up on laundry (this is the one that'll kill me)
• Clean out storage room
• put up Christmas Tree (it is a Christmas party, after all)
• wrap gifts for guests, place under tree
• shop for food
• make/prepare food
• rake the forest of leaves that have overtaken my backyard
• take a deep breath - a xanax every night before beddy-bye

In the meantime I've got Dr. appointments, ortho appts, hair appts and there's sure to be something unexpected too! :) Looks like I'll be pulling a few all-nighters. :)