Monday, April 7, 2008

Super mom

Laundry day...ick. Laundry is a thankless job but it is sneakier than most thankless jobs (ie dishes). I always relax a little too much when I get caught up on laundry. I never think I'm that far behind until I collect the pile in the bathroom...at the end of the stairs...behind the rocker in Caden's room...in the laundry room...Oh wait...there's a pile in the corner of our bedroom. Once that is done that WOW I've got a lot of laundry to do.

The other indicators that I'm behind I don't seem to pick up on very quickly either. This is classic "Honey...I'm out of t-shirts" this is always in the morning...when I can't do anything about it. Never do I get a warning when there are 2 or 3 t-shirts left...or even the day the last clean one was used.

There are many steps to get behind on too. I could get behind on collecting the laundry or sorting it...or forget to put it in the dryer (then I have to rewash them because they smell mildewy). Then there is the forgotten step that I kick myself for the most. I remember all the steps but forget them in the dryer. I did all the work but now they are a wrinkled heap because I ran to the grocery store while the dryer was going and in the chaos that following a trip to the store (cranky kid, groceries to carry in and put away ect) forgot all about them. Now I have to A) iron them (I don't iron) B) Rewash them(shhh don't tell anyone I do this) C) look bad when I wear them or D) hang it up but then never wear it because it is wrinkled

I'm reading a book called The Confessions of a Super Mom. It is about a woman that in a horrible swiffer accident becomes Super Mom. She had the ability to zap things clean, knows when things will be on sale (and can "feel" when there is a register error), knows when children are in danger, can super eavesdrop on children (she can even hear IMs) and whip children in to obedience with her merciless glare.

If you had a super mom power what would it be? I would be able to snap a wrinkled shirt in the air and the wrinkles would disappear, have the ability to know whats in my fridge at any moment and know what I can make with it. When I pour out ingredient I would be able to see exactly what measurement it is eliminating the need for measuring spoons and cups. Know by just looking at one of my family members if they have met their daily requirement of fruits, veggies, protein...ect. Of course I would love to beable to zap my dishes clean too.

The thing about being a stay at home mom is that I have very little negotiating power over the division of labor (until Caden can start helping more that is). If I was working I could pawn off some of the chores I hate to Trev part of the time and do the ones I like (cooking) but since I'm at home all those chores are mine by default. When it comes down to it I'm not a good house keeper. I have a friend (she knows who she is) that does have a flair for keeping things neat, organized and clean...but with her excluded I think most women don't think they are good house keepers. Even if they are. We tend to look and see the things we are not caught up with instead of all the things we have done or do a good job on.