02/08/2017
Lots of stuff is neglected around here....lots. This post really resonates with me...as I know it will many of you, as well!
You guys know that 2016 was hard. It was hard for me, it was hard for everybody. 2017 is here and as you've probably sensed, I've been making some positive changes in my life.
I know a lot of you hold me up as an inspiration and teacher when it comes to domestic life and expert dinner recipes the whole family will love such as Store-Brand Mostly Real Cheese Sprinkled on Room Temperature Tortillas then Microwaved on Paper Plate and for that I am both humbled and grateful. Imparting my wisdom is its own gift.
I thought it only right that I share the breakthrough that I made today where the oozing ge***al wart with jagged baby teeth that is my laundry is concerned.
This isn't a passive aggressive wildly unrealistic tip such as "put each load away immediately." It's a practical one that I guarantee will end your laundry problems in less than 60 seconds.
Close the door. Put the baskets in a room and close.the.mother-hugging.door.
I have decided that on this day, probably Wednesday maybe Thursday, February something 2017, I will no longer allow my laundry pile to bully and fold-shame me in my own home.
I woke up before 6AM this morning to children, two of whom were already fight crying over who cares what, got two groomed and dressed better than I've been in months and off to school. Then I played with a 3-year-old on my living room carpet for hours. Do you know how you play with a three-year-old? You obey their strict baby despot commands in a rule and structure-free game that involves taking out every toy they own. Occasionally they cry and blame you for breakdown in communications caused by their inability to speak properly. Also, p**p.
By naptime I'd been on mom duty (I love my family) for 8 hours and my brain and body were screaming for the 1.5 hours of rest that awaited once naptime arrived.
I finally got my child in bed after briefly wondering if it was sanitary to let him sleep in the same pajamas we visited Walmart in (it is), but there it was. Waiting. Watching. Judging.
My laundry.
"Fold me," It said. "You don't deserve 90 minutes of immune system boosting Doritos (they're made with the vegetable corn) and laying down on the couch by yourself. Fold and put me away like a good mom who knows how much her kids weigh," It taunted, mercilessly.
And I almost did. I almost spent the precious moments leading up to the early afternoon evening time when children lose their already irrational minds, doing laundry when I had a thought: "No."
If I were an employee, my breaks would be protected by law. It'd be illegal NOT to take regular breathers. By doing laundry when I should be lying down on the floor eating exercise-in-a-bag AKA trail mix with M&Ms (they call it "trail"mix because it's the snack equivalent of a hike-look it up), I am practically committing a crime when you think about it.
It was then I knew what I needed to do. The solution was simple. I took the laundry off of my bed and into a room where it couldn't hurt me anymore.
Yes, my kids will grow up thinking baskets are for clean clothes and dressers are for ones that don't fit anymore, but I'm free now. And I want you to be free, too.
Your family can still rifle through baskets to find fresh underwear in a closed door room without you having to see it.
You already did the most important 3 out of the four laundry steps: 1. Gathering, 2. Washing, and 3. Drying. So what you skipped 4. Putting Away? 3 out of 4 is 75% and we already know Cs get degrees.
So enjoy your naptime Nutella on a spoon, sliced turkey breast eaten with your bare hands, Family-Sized bag of Cheetos no one in your family knows about, all the juice boxes, or freezer chocolate I don't care. The only thing that matters is that you get your break, because after watching 6 episodes of Power Rangers Super Samurai in all of its Oscar-worthy acting glory and wiping butts that aren't yours, you've earned it.
love, Bunmi
