March 12, 2011

  • I'm trying to engage upon some spring cleaning.  I've started, but it always leaves me feeling a bit torn, because I want to get rid of everything but then feel like I ought to keep it...  This is particularly true of the kids' things, since I'm not sure if we'll have another baby or not.  Even if we did have another baby, we could always get more stuff if we really needed it.  Do we really want to store all the baby clothes and toys and gear for 3 years (more or less) for a child that may or may not come?  Most likely we'll only have two...  But then I had a friend who got pregnant with her third as soon as she gave away all her baby items.  Hmmmm.  That's a reason in itself to not get rid of them, as a charm against unwanted pregnancy. 

    We also need better storage space for all the electronic gadgets and their paraphernalia.  Those gizmos and gadgets sure come with lots of cords and cases and whatnot.

    Madeleine is really reading a lot more.  I know I've said it before, but it surprises me.  She'll tell me what things say.  She looked at her calendar and knew that her next preschool class was called "Blast Off".  No one told her; she read it. 

    I'm really anti-lego at the moment.  I'm kind of anti-plants vs. zombies and anti-computer use too.  So it seems a good time to just organize my life... I do that from time to time.  I say "organize my life", but really I mean my house, I suppose.  It seems a bit overwhelming, but then I just say to do one thing, and then another thing, and then another thing.  And then it gets better and the tension is relieved.  I don't usually get it done perfectly, but it gets done "good enough".  I really appreciate tasks like laundry and dishes now, because I can finish them completely.  With organizing, one never really finishes, and there is always something else to file away or find a home for or fret about trying to get rid of. 

    I used to try to write down everything possible about my kids' lives.  Now I can't manage it, and feel guilty about it, so then I avoid it even more than I would have without the guilt, perhaps.  Then I have a talk with myself and kick all the guilt out by reminding myself that things like writing or building with lego or any other hobby are completely optional and unnecessary.  Then I try to think about what would be good for my family, and go work on that, whether it be making a book with Madeleine or playing ball on the stairs with Grant or scrubbing all the dishes yet again. 

    Spring is really on its way now:  it's warmer, it's lighter for longer, the seasons are all turbulent and changing.  I'm pleased.  The kids love to go outside and ride their scooters and trikes, and I like to ride the scooter down the hill, too. 

    Okay that's enough of me.