365 Days of a clean house

A few weeks ago I told my husband that I wanted to be happier. Not just happier as in less of a grump, although that too, but more content. See, in our house we do a lot of talking about "some day." We've used those words so many times in the past couple of years that it almost feels like something that doesn't exist or can't exist. Kind of like saying "if I ever won the lottery." Except our someday usually involves phrases like, when we have money, when we have a nice house, when we have our own house, when Dad can be home more. I've looked forward to someday for so long that I'm simply surviving in the here and now instead of enjoying it. Because I'm pretty sure that someday I'm going to look back on these times and remember how fun it was to come up with cheap creative activities to do as a family and how simple our lives were. I'm going to wish I could I could go back in time just for a second to peek in on all three of my kids at night snuggled up together in one bed because they're all afraid of the dark. These are the days for me to find happiness, not the some days.

Learning to be content is kind of like unlearning a bad habit though, and it's going to take time. I'm working on it quietly in recesses of my mind a little bit each day. I'm sure I'll slip up and have negative days, but the point is to keep working at it. I also have to know myself and know what actions and thoughts trigger my grumpy negative inner self. And the big number one problem is when I let the house work go a little. Pretty much what I'm saying here is that a messy house equals evil demon Mom. I'm serious, it's not pretty! It's at those times when I complain the most about our situation, and wish things were different.

So, here's my crazy new year challenge for myself. Keep my house clean for a whole year. Can it be done? Um, let's just say I'm not 100% confident, but I'm going to try anyway. So far I'm on day 5 and it's going great. The kids are not too happy about me constantly calling them back to pick up their messes, but I have heard that it takes 21 times to make something a habit so hopefully they will figure it out before I loose my voice. I'm thinking though that when it comes to hanging up their backpacks I shouldn't get my hopes up until its been at least 100 days.

Oh, and there has to be a reward right? I mean other than having a clean house and being happier. There has to be something to keep me going. I'm thinking that if I can actually pull it off I might have to do some guilt free shopping.

Anyway, I plan on documenting my progress from time to time here just to kind of keep me in check. And just for the sake of having a picture, here is my youngest making our first mess of the day, which we did clean up right away before moving on to Candy Land.