QUOTE OF THE DAY: Master Luke was busy drawing this morning with ruler and protractor.
“Mummy this is a concrete machine. See the concrete all comes through this pipe and goes through here and then the liquid comes through this pipe and joins it together. Then it goes through here and comes out onto sheets of gravel and makes concrete.”
Then I ask, “What is concrete made of?”.
To which he replied, “Stones. Because when we are driving I can see stones in the road. That’s why the liquid comes in to join the stones together and then it’s really bumpy so the roller comes along and flattens it all down.”
This is what happens when your children grow up in a post major earthquake city and every street you have lived on in the past 18 months has had a complete overhaul! 🙂
MUMMY THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: ORDER…
Today I had the blessing of Grandparents looking after my little ones for the morning. After an exhausting week recouping from our Catholic Family camp, I really needed some physical space and mental space to sort out my rather chaotic home.
When I got married 8 years ago, I found myself rather lacking in House wife skills (actually that’s an understatement!). It has been a very steep and often demoralising learning curve, but with the help and love of an incredible man and the need that comes from motherhood, I like to think I am at least a wee way from the bottom now 🙂
I have the tendency to let things accumulate, to grow, to take on a life of their own, until not unlike the Triffids in that ghastly 1960’s film we were made to endure at school, they attack my sanity and my peace!!
This morning, in three hours, I transformed my school room (lovely sunroom off the lounge) from chaotic mess to organised bliss! It did wonders for my soul and I feel like I could conquer the world! 🙂
All of this has got me thinking and I thought as a fun exercise today I would comment on a very popular article taken from a 1950’s Home Economics manual… on being the perfect Housewife 🙂
(my comments & thoughts will be in italics)
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
Straight of the bat, this is all very true! My hubby comes home hungry, lets say 120% of the time! If tea is ready and we can eat fairly promptly, I know it makes a difference to him. It also is a HUGE help if I have planned the night before, as I can have meat defrosted and peace of mind at meal prep time. So… I’m quite happy with #1
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking.
He has just been with a lot of work- weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
Tee hee he! Tee hee he!! Excuse me as I compose myself 🙂 Tee hee he! Wow… several differences here… firstly I don’t wear makeup unless going to a special occasion, I sometimes wear a scarf in my short hair, not a ribbon :)… and I think looking fresh at 5:30pm with tea on the go and kids going a little bonkers is a fairly tricky thing to maintain :). I might look in the mirror and check that I don’t resemble Frankensteins bride…
3. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
As I said before… I was weighed, measured and found wanting in this department for a long time. I have become more and more aware of the “decluttering” need when hubby is on his way home and I know that it can often mean the difference between a frazzled dinner time and a peaceful one 🙂 (Men haven’t changed that much in 60 years!)
4. Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes.
They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
Washed faces… that I can do :). What is more important in our house is that they greet Daddy and share with him about their day. It is often the only time hubby gets to play silly games and fool around with them during the week, so I will replace clean clothes and immaculately groomed children with happy, worn in, semi clean kids 🙂
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
TRUE, TRUE and TRUE 🙂 Oh my! Noise is such a big thing… I get used to the constant din and various volumes during the day, but it is something that always takes time to adjust to for hubby. I need to make a more concerted effort to ease him in gradually!
6. Things to avoid: Don’t greet him with problems or complaints. Don’t complain if he’s late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
Once again, I have to admit… TRUE :). Time to work out issues with lateness and problems from the day = NOT HOME TIME!!! 🙂
7. Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
(can’t type laughing too hard!!!!!) …though… sometimes in winter I do wear his slippers around in the afternoon so they are warm for him when he gets home….. OH SSHH!!! I know!!! But he gets cold feet biking 🙂
8. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
Yip (says the girl who talks to much and is trying to listen more!)
9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
Dinner, entertainment?? You need babysitters for that anyways 🙂 We love having time to ourselves and just chilling together… this one is both ways!
10. The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.... and your children and yourself!
Good order is the foundation of all great things.
Edmund Burke
My prayer, that God will continue to give me the grace and humility to become more ordered so that my house may be a “house of peace”!
How do you keep order?
Blessings
Ruth
Pulchra Doctrina 