Confessions of an Undomestic Goddess

It's around two years ago (maybe three) that I was in a home store, Farmers or the like, with my daughter. In the home section she stops before a iron.

"What's that mummy?"

Ummmm...no. She wasn't kidding. It was quite a wake up call and since then I've been an ironer. As much as possible. Not obsessive, but getting there. I've found it's a great way to get some time on my own. No sticky hands grabbing at me, "careful darling...it's hot!" and a great way to stop the rough-housing of three boys inside, "take it outside, this is dangerous!" and oddly a feeling of satisfaction as I hear the hssssss as I place it upright.
My friend Emma has different advice. She says you wash, put it in the dryer and then pull it out and fold immediately afterwards. She says that if she gets side-tracked, she'll do the whole process over just to avoid having to iron.

I've always felt sorry for my kids stuck with me. I can't sew. I can't cook (though I'm into cupcakes). I can't do all that crafty stuff. And all the time I'm chasing my tail trying to learn.

This year, I decided that after 13 years, two countries, five cities and goodness knows how many houses (17 I think) the time just might have arrived to sort my house. To clear out all the boxes in the garage, get rid of old clothes and toys and be..well...decluttered!

No small feat, I can assure you. I've always been the family 'messy' but I know how to clean very well - I was brought up in a house with a mother allergic to dust. Clean.
In a bid to make me feel better about my own lack of housekeeping abilities my mum brought me a magnet "boring women have immaculate homes" which was subsequently published in an article by a journo who had visited my house for an interview. I think it must have somehow reflected my character. Or maybe it was just my home.

But I digress. This year. Right. I started, where all things these days seem to start: google. I came across many, many sites. I never knew there were so many checklists out there! One of them was Fly Lady who had my heart for maybe...hmm three days. But, practically, I am already side tracked enough between work, kids and homeschooling, so having to jump up every hour or so and clean for a few minutes really did my head in. But I did like the acronym: Fly = Finally Loving Yourself (i didn't know my messiness was a sign of me not loving myself).

Next stop: Organized Home. I quite liked this one. Made me feel...hmmm...competent? No. Not quite it. Martha Stewart-like? Oh yes. Maybe something like that. Organized home even has a printable Household Notebook. in pastel colours. It's really not the real me, but I thought I'd try it on for size. It didn't fit.

I found checklists galore!

This one was targeted at moms.

I could keep going...by typical for me I was lost in the world of cyberspace with all these wonderful websites and checklists and and and... actual work? None to date.

Next strategy please.

I pulled out an old organizing book by Julie Morgenstern: "Organizing from the Inside Out - the Foolproof system for organizing your home, your office and your life." I like Julie's approach. I'm an ex-teacher so it fitted me perfectly: think of your home like a kindergarten! Why? Because it's organization perfection:
1. It's divided into zones.
2. It's easy to focus on one activity at a time.
3. Every thing you need is at your fingertips
4. Putting away is almost as much fun as pulling out (I've yet to reach this stage).

So I began. And just this week, spurred on by the fact that I'm off this weekend and will have people coming to stay I finished the house. That is, apart from the rubbish pile, the Salvation Army pile and the Trade Me pile.

It's only a few days but am I 'Finally Loving Myself"? I wouldn't quite say that, but I must admit I feel a heck of a lot lighter.

But ask me again in a week.