Friday, February 2, 2018

What Parenting, Green Cleaning and Groundhog Day Have in Common

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT FEBRUARY 2ND?  

One of my family’s favorite movies is “Groundhog Day.”  The journey of discovery the character, Bob Wiley (played by Bill Murray) goes through in coming to terms with his predicament could be pulled right out of classical psychology books!

Stay-at-home moms often feel the repetition of daily tasks mimicking the movie “Groundhog Day.” (Watch the movie—you’ll understand!)

The never-ending clean-up, pick-up and wash-up that stay-at-home moms do daily and often without a “thanks mom,” can leave a disheartened, “what’s the point,” feeling.  How do I know? Let’s just say… “been there, done that.”

When I was a younger mother with preschoolers and toddlers wrapped around my ankles, I would hear older women tell me (what I’m sure you’ve been told) “love this season, they [the children] will grow up before you know it!”  At the time, I thought to myself, “yeah-easy for you to say!”  But, guess what?

It’s true.

Before you know it, they do grow up and it almost seems like you were in a dream. All of the sudden; the home is a little emptier, there are less dishes to wash, less food to purchase and smaller meals to prepare.

It hits you all at once—where did that time go?

The life of that child flashes before your eyes from the moment you brought him home to the time he launched off on his own, and you wonder—wow, how did that happen so fast?

From a mom whose nest is shrinking –
to moms whose nests are filled with diapers, & toys --
I say this…

CHERISH THE SEASONS.

Each has its ups and downs. Joys and struggles. You’ll make plenty of mistakes along the way, but owning up to them and being real with your kids will speak volumes. Each of us as parents have a solemn responsibility to do the best we can.  Being a parent is the Best Job on the Planet!

There is a saying on a billboard in the town I live that reads:
“It is easier to raise a child than to repair an adult.” 

Moms and Dads, you have an awe-some responsibility to raise children that will become capable, young adults who can launch out into the world ready to take on what lies ahead! 

CHERISH THE MONOTONY.

The daily clean-up, pick-up, wash-up IS leading somewhere.

CLEANING IS A LIFE SKILL!

Teaching children how to clean a home with safe, non-toxic cleaning products and how to pick up after oneself is “Adulthood Class 100.” It is learning personal responsibility at ground level.  It is imperative that your child is included (in an age appropriate manner) in the everyday clean-up, pick-up and wash-up so those habits become his/her own! 

Children who have daily/weekly household chores are more employable.  I know of many first- hand accounts of business owners who have hired teenagers to work in their establishments (entry level jobs), but did not retain those young adults because they did not have the basic skills of cleaning! Even when given instruction by their employers, the teens thought cleaning was below themselves. Really?  This should not be!

When you get discouraged with the mundane of the daily chores, remind yourself that this season of toys and diapers, soccer balls, softball gloves, ballet slippers and football helmets will not last forever.

CHERISH THE MEMORIES.

Create margin in life so you can explore life!  One of our popular posts; “Set Your Weekends Free” gives details on how to develop green cleaning habits that protect your weekends from being used as “catch-up” cleaning and organizing days. 

Creating margin gives you freedom to make lasting memories.  The times when you can look back, and laughingly say, “remember when…” 

-story shared by Brenda


Oh, HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!


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