Comments on: Living the Myth of Sisyphus http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/ I'm the scofflaw in your mother'hood Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:09:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: gretchen http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12443 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:26:56 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12443 I am so sympathetic--I just have my husband and me and it's still overwhelming sometimes to keep everything in its place. Sometimes when it gets bad, I go through with a huge plastic bag and throw things into the bag, then put the bag in my closet. It's no substitute for real cleaning, but it helps me to get rid of the clutter. It's strangely validating to just unearth the surfaces and the floors. And then if I vaccuum--I'm in heaven! Good luck. I am so sympathetic–I just have my husband and me and it’s still overwhelming sometimes to keep everything in its place. Sometimes when it gets bad, I go through with a huge plastic bag and throw things into the bag, then put the bag in my closet. It’s no substitute for real cleaning, but it helps me to get rid of the clutter. It’s strangely validating to just unearth the surfaces and the floors. And then if I vaccuum–I’m in heaven! Good luck.

]]> by: SweetyPi http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12251 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:37 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12251 Nothing but hugs here. I have had illness' to contend with otherwise I would have sent the hugs sooner. Good on you for getting started. I noticed I started perking up a little bit the more the sun came out through february. The only thing that breaks up this month is Miss A's birthday. Have a glass of wine and set the Ladies to work. They made the mess and dammit, they can clean it up. Ok so that's me talking to my kids... At any rate, I've resorted to the ultimate threat, I can't tuck you into bed if you can't keep the floor clean. Whatever your resort, please make use of their capable hands, even if it's not the way you would do it, it will get done. Nothing but hugs here. I have had illness’ to contend with otherwise I would have sent the hugs sooner. Good on you for getting started. I noticed I started perking up a little bit the more the sun came out through february. The only thing that breaks up this month is Miss A’s birthday. Have a glass of wine and set the Ladies to work. They made the mess and dammit, they can clean it up. Ok so that’s me talking to my kids… At any rate, I’ve resorted to the ultimate threat, I can’t tuck you into bed if you can’t keep the floor clean. Whatever your resort, please make use of their capable hands, even if it’s not the way you would do it, it will get done.

]]> by: Anna http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12203 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:26:40 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12203 Perhaps a thorough de-messing of your apartment will be good for you? Have you parents come over and help you clean out and organise. In addition to the visual peace of a clutter-free home it's good exercise that makes you physically tired and that in turn helps you sleep well. Make a new rule: The girls are allowed to play in the living room, but everything must be returned to their own room before bedtime. Confiscate anything that is left in the living room, for a week or so. Give them boxes to store their toys in, lots of boxes, and make a system of organisation that is easy for them to follow - say, Barbie-stuff in one box, paper and crayons in another etc. You are the mom - not the maid! I hope I said something usefull. Best of luck! Perhaps a thorough de-messing of your apartment will be good for you? Have you parents come over and help you clean out and organise. In addition to the visual peace of a clutter-free home it’s good exercise that makes you physically tired and that in turn helps you sleep well.

Make a new rule: The girls are allowed to play in the living room, but everything must be returned to their own room before bedtime. Confiscate anything that is left in the living room, for a week or so. Give them boxes to store their toys in, lots of boxes, and make a system of organisation that is easy for them to follow - say, Barbie-stuff in one box, paper and crayons in another etc. You are the mom - not the maid!

I hope I said something usefull. Best of luck!

]]> by: Sandi http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12194 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:04:06 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12194 Eden is right. I miss my husband terribly; I cry everyday, but I do have to admit one thing, even with two toddlers, my house is neater than it ever was when he was alive. He was a good man, but a bit of a slob (ok a lot of a slob). Eden is right. I miss my husband terribly; I cry everyday, but I do have to admit one thing, even with two toddlers, my house is neater than it ever was when he was alive. He was a good man, but a bit of a slob (ok a lot of a slob).

]]> by: Eden http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12160 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:57:11 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12160 Our house is constantly in this state. And lemme tell yeah, having another adult human who lives in it doesn't give you another person to help clean up; it gives you more mess. Our house is constantly in this state. And lemme tell yeah, having another adult human who lives in it doesn’t give you another person to help clean up; it gives you more mess.

]]> by: anna http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12157 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:51:18 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12157 I can't imagine trying to keep track of someone else's mess in addition to my own. Hope you get some good weather soon so at least the girls can play outside rather than in :-) It sounds like you might be doing a bit better? I hope your climb up and out continues--I will be thinking about you! I can’t imagine trying to keep track of someone else’s mess in addition to my own. Hope you get some good weather soon so at least the girls can play outside rather than in :-)

It sounds like you might be doing a bit better? I hope your climb up and out continues–I will be thinking about you!

]]> by: mayberry http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12056 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:39:09 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12056 And honestly, the effort required to get kids to clean up after themselves is almost always bigger than the effort to just do it your own self. arrrgggh And honestly, the effort required to get kids to clean up after themselves is almost always bigger than the effort to just do it your own self. arrrgggh

]]> by: Heather C. http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12037 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:28:50 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-12037 Ah, the great spoonquest. And when you have that coupled with kid rash that covers all available surfaces, it's enough to drive an already unstable mind over the edge. It sometimes seems like an ever losing battle. Ah, the great spoonquest. And when you have that coupled with kid rash that covers all available surfaces, it’s enough to drive an already unstable mind over the edge. It sometimes seems like an ever losing battle.

]]> by: Christie http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-11998 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:10:40 +0000 http://parentingwithoutalicense.com/2008/02/26/living-the-myth-of-sisyphus/#comment-11998 Seriously, I once told my therapist that my apartment looked like I felt. It was horrible. And what you described is me to the T. Right now my desk has paperwork all over it, folders on the floor around it, glasses and all that. I never feel like I catch up. Even though I have someone there to help me pick up my slack, I still feel like it's not enough. I tell myself that I don't have time, sometimes, to clean it up. But really? My free time is spent lying on the couch, lazily playing with the baby on my lap and watching tv, while my brain screams at me to get out of the house. your lucky if you get a home cooked dinner at my house. Seriously, I once told my therapist that my apartment looked like I felt. It was horrible. And what you described is me to the T. Right now my desk has paperwork all over it, folders on the floor around it, glasses and all that. I never feel like I catch up.
Even though I have someone there to help me pick up my slack, I still feel like it’s not enough.
I tell myself that I don’t have time, sometimes, to clean it up. But really? My free time is spent lying on the couch, lazily playing with the baby on my lap and watching tv, while my brain screams at me to get out of the house. your lucky if you get a home cooked dinner at my house.

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