Some of us didn’t grow up with moms who shined floors and organized the contents of the pantry. I was 13 years old before I ever made my bed and that is only because my grandma said I had to and she showed me how. Grandma taught me a lot about cleaning but she could only do so much on weekends. There was still much I didn’t know.
To make matters worse, I was 19 before I had ever even seen anyone mopping. I was 24 and had been a homemaker for 4 years before I realized I had never cleaned the toilet handle. I was 27 before I realized I should be cleaning the light switches and door knobs. Deep cleaning? What was that? Clean out the fridge? Sure, when I saw that the spaghetti had turned green I knew it was time to throw it out.
So there you have it. My parents were great providers but they didn’t get around to the ol’ domestic lessons that would have made me an awesome housewife. (Tweetable) And you know what? It doesn’t matter. At some point in our lives we have to get over the fact that our parents, their parents, and Adam and Eve did or didn’t do certain things for us and just take responsibility for our own actions. Cleanliness is a choice. Trust me, I wish God had given me a gift of cleaning. I guess I was dancing on clouds the day that was handed out.
For me, I finally came to the realization that if I was going to live the life I wanted then I had to take the reigns. I had to teach myself or find someone else who would teach me. If I stayed in the blame and shame frame of mind then I’d always have an excuse and a way out. Excuses don’t do dishes (Tweetable) and people don’t stop using those dishes just because you have a good reason for not washing them.
Bottom line: We need to take the time to be teachable and search for that education. Whether it be by reading books, doing a Google search, asking the next door neighbor, or and being mentored by an elder at church. We need to learn and we need to put it into practice. There is so much we can learn simply because we seek to know.
Take a chance today and google “how to clean clean floors” or “how to clean pots”. Call your grandma or your aunt and ask them how they manage to get things done. You’ll be surprised at the tips and tricks you can learn. Don’t ever stop being teachable and don’t ever stop teaching. Or cleaning.
To read the other posts in this series: 31 Days to a Clean, Fresh Nest.
For more blogger’s participating in the “31 Days” series visit Nesting Place.
I’m really enjoying your series so far. I keep a decent house, but my mom was much more into relationships than she was into organization. It wasn’t a bad thing–but keeping on top of everything is something I struggle with. My husband is a lover of not just clean but organized and always tidy. For his sake, and because I really want to, I have been making this a priority. It’s worth it!
Thank you so much, Chantel! It is so worth it especially since it allows us to be fully present with the people we are sitting right next to instead of having our minds on something we neglected to do that day. So glad you are here.