If You Know Me...

If you know me even a little bit, you know that I am a schedule-oriented person.  You also know that I usually do things the same way every time.  I have a certain way I go through the grocery store, a certain way I drive to church, and certain days I like to do certain chores.  Needless to say I have a schedule and it might not be posted but it is in my head.

Wake up
Breakfast
Clean-up - lately I have been setting out oven timer for 1 hour and Lilly and I get to cleaning:
          Mon - wash clothes and general straighten up from the weekend (Lilly sorts clothes and is my gopher girl running things back to the room they belong in)
          Tues - bathrooms (Lilly "stirs" the toilets and wipes the mirrors) and collecting all the trash to go out
          Wed - dusting, wiping down (we do this together)  This is also the day we usually have play dates or outings so I don't stress if the dusting doesn't get done
          Thurs - light laundry, floors (one day I will get a smaller mop so Lil can help me with this)
          Fri - general straighten up and any outside general clean-up like cleaning out cars or sweeping the sidewalk, etc.

School Time - I'll post more on this later
Planned Playtime w/ Mommy - pool, play doh, park, making a craft, cooking, etc
Lunch
Rest Time - some days we have a nap and some days not, but on the no nap days, Lilly has to play quietly in her room for an hour
Organizing or finish cleaning/ Lil has "free" play time
Prepare dinner
Dinner
Family time - games, movie, play, etc
Bedtime routine for Lil - bath, books, prayers, songs, sleep
Evening time varies depending on whether my husband is home or away

This is the schedule I use for Mon - Fri.  Weekends are a little different, but usually there is a "schedule" of some sort in my head before they day begins.  What I need to remember to do is to let God lead the day and not stress if something doesn't get done or if something "interrupts" the routine.  I'm getting better at this, but only by His help. :)

Setting an Example

I've tried various methods of cleaning my house, but the one that seems to work the best for me now is this:


Monday - laundry (all), general cleaning from the weekend
Tuesday - Bathrooms and gather trash
Wednesday - Dust
Thursday - vacuume and mop and laundry (just clothes)
Friday - catch up day - grocery shopping


I am thankful that I have a husband who isn't overly concerned with whether the dishes get washed each day or if the floors got mopped that week because sometimes I am really slack in my household chores.  The thing I have realized lately though, is that I am setting an example for my daughter, not only with what I am doing, but with the attitude I do it with. She has started commenting on the fact that I need to do ALL those dishes in the sink.  I usually reluctantly say, "I know, I know, I'll do them soon" 

If I want her to do her jobs the right way, all the way and in a nice way - then I need to do mine that way as well.


Lilly's Jobs:
 
Clearing and setting the table.
Wiping the table.

Moving the trash can to the back after the trash man comes.

Putting the silverware away.

Folding the wash cloths.


So, as I learned in the Frazzled Female study this past semester, I will make a list of the things I think need to be done that day and pray over it.  If it isn't important to God that I get it done then I pray He will let me know so that I only do what He wants me to that day.  All the rest, I pray He will allow me to do with a cheerful heart.