I Am A Failure

I have a confession. Organization and time management are two things I struggle with. I've read countless books and articles on these subjects, have tweaked my household management notebook numerous times, and yet I struggle. Everyone in the house has a schedule, yet I fail miserably at sticking to mine. From menu planning and budgeting to keeping appointments...if it's on paper I've probably failed to keep up with it. Sometimes I feel like the most unorganized housewife on earth!

Recently I found "TOOLS FOR THE TIRED AND TIME-STARVED" over at Mommy Track'd. These are wonderful print outs that help keep you organized. And believe it or not, they are working for me! I haven't lost one yet! They are cute, designed for us moms and work great. They normally charge for these great organizational tools, but are currently offering them free. I urge you to go check them out. If they are helping me, well they 'll help anybody get a little more on track. I really like that these are designed for moms, some organizers just don't meet the needs of modern mothers. This tool box is great and is just the kind of thing I've needed for quite awhile. I can't wait to here what you think of these great downloads!

Do any of you struggle in these areas like I do? How do you stay on top of everything going on in your household?

Good Intentions

I am always just full of good intentions. I fully intend to do lots of things on an average day. I intend to answer all my email, jot a letter to a friend, clean the house until it gleams, write the most earth shattering blog post ever, walk the dogs for an hour, put on make up...I could go on and on. But, life gets in the way. I forget about things or I start doing one thing, then get distracted and start something else. It gets maddening! I want to not be like this. It really bothers me a lot...I feel like I let down my family and my friends.

If I constantly fail you dear loved ones, please forgive me. :-)

The weekend has been a total wash; I haven't accomplished one thing I set out to do. This isn't really surprising though; I never accomplish much when Dan is home. I'd much rather spend time with him and the kiddos than do other things. And the kids have no school today, so it doesn't look like I'll get a lot done.

So, I guess tomorrow I'll start trying to make lists and stick to them. I really like lists, it's just the actual accomplishing of the task listed that's a problem.

Am I the only one who struggles with this?

Anyway, for today I am enjoying my children. We are waiting on the hot water to boil so we can have hot chocolate and watch National Treasure together. Nothing like hot cocoa, a good movie, and snuggling with the ones I love most!


SAVING is good.

One of Those Days

Do you ever have one of those days? Today is like that for me.

The goings on around the neighborhood lately have me all stressed out. I have not accomplished one thing this week that I intended too. As a result, my depression is really rearing it's ugly head. All I want to do is hide under the covers with a bag of kisses and a book and escape reality. But, I'm trying really hard not to do that. I've made myself do chores today. I've done three loads of laundry, washed the dishes, set meat out to thaw, played with the dogs, tried to get caught up on email. So, I guess today isn't a total loss.

But, I'm still feeling so frazzled! I don't think I'll ever get the house looking the way I want it to - which makes me feel defeated and thus depressed. Then there is the lovely tween testing his limits, which is really getting to me lately. That boy sure does push my buttons! So, not only do I feel like a failure as a housewife, but also as a mom.

I am trying to snap out of this, really I am. I've been writing lists of goals to accomplish everyday, am reading everything I can about raising tween boys, and am learning to pray about every area of my life.

So, what about you? Do you ever get frazzled? How do you perk yourself up?

Overwhelmed

photo by sean mcgrath

Warning: What follows is a ramble from a stressed out housewife. Read at your own risk!

I've been in funky lately. The best way to explain it would be that I'm just feeling overwhelmed and down. I have so many things to do in an average day and no clue where to start. Of course I have to keep the house clean, clothes washed, make the meals, be the best wife/mom I can be, you know all the normal stuff. But then there's more.

This house. Wow! It always needs something, be it painting , rewiring, etc. I feel like it will never be finished. It will be "in progress" forever! There is not one room that is pulled together completely. The kids' rooms are close, just not quite there. The living room got it's first coat over paint last night, it's been primed but not painted for weeks. We still have a back room full of unpacked boxes because the places the stuff in them goes are not ready to be used. It's so frustrating! There is just not enough time or money, so we have several "started" projects, yet nothing finished. I am hoping to have the kids rooms and living room completely painted and put together again this weekend.

Finances. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks a lot about this lately. I've been doing everything I can think of to bring some more cash flow into the house. I've been using Ebay, GPT sites, writing for Associated Content, etc. We are having a garage sell with the neighbors next weekend, so I'm getting ready for that. There just never seems to be enough. I really want to earn some extra money for the upcoming holidays, but all extra cash seems to go to the unexpected, like a blown out tire or other life mishap. Life happens.

So, then I get depressed about money, and this is the best part, I let my couponing slide. Makes perfect sense right? You are depressed about lack of funds, so spend more money! I know it is nuts, but that's what seems to happen. I am just happy I've realized what was happening there and snapped out of it this time. I have to stretch every cent we have as far as possible or we will not make it. I cannot stop paying attention or get in a frugal funk or it makes for REAL hard times. Coupons equal free money and we would be sunk without them.

The great housewife equals slave dilemma. I love being a housewife, but I am not a slave or servant. I firmly believe ever member of my family can put their dirty clothes in the hamper and pick up after themselves. Sadly, I seem to be the only one who thinks so. Since I tend to do a lot for DH, the kids seem to think I should treat them the same way. I staged a coup this week, and it has helped. I cooked, did laundry and dishes, cleaned the bathroom and common areas. I went through the living room, entry way, etc with a basket for us and one for the kids. Everything that is theirs was put in the basket and sat just inside their room. I put away our things, and completely cleaned and organized our room. Since I did that, DH has taken care of his dirty clothes and general picked up after himself....yesssss! To be honest the kids room still leaves much to be desired, but they are doing better. Giving them some incentive with this has helped A LOT. So maybe we are beginning to grasp that wife/mom does not mean servant who waits on you hand and foot.

So, as you can tell, I've been a wee bit stressed lately. Then this morning I decide to give myself half an hour with a cup of coffee and read some of my favorite blogs. I am so glad I did! I found this great post over at Biblical Womanhood and I feel so much better now! I wasn't putting Him first or listening to Him either. That was why stress and worrying and hurrying were taking over. So, thanks for opening my eyes Crystal. I just need to get my priorities straightened out and it'll be fine. I can't do it all on my own, but I can rest in the Lord.