So it is about a quarter after nine in the morning…on a weekend…and I have been up for over an hour. Since I’ve been up I’ve started laundry, cleaned the kitchen, fed the dog, took the dog out and watched a clip of a six-year-old sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow from Britain’s Got Talent.
Getting up in the morning on the weekend is getting easier…which is nice. Especially, considering my renewed attempts to be better about housework and all keeping our apartment from looking like a volcano exploded clothes and dirty dishes.
I don’t like housework.
But this morning as I was washing the pans and bowls that remained from yesterday’s cheeseburgers and apple crisp I was thinking about baking. I really like to bake….and cook. And this is what I was thinking – Can people taste the love in it? I like to bake and cook, but what I like best about it is having Matt eat it. Having Matt enjoy it and make those happy food noises. Most of time (there are exceptions) making dinner or baking up something yummy isn’t a chore. Making the house smell all appley or chocolatey or of fresh bread makes me happy. It is an act of love. And I think that makes a difference in how the food turns out.
So this is where I am going with this…I do not like housework and I am sure I never will. But I am going to try to stop thinking about it as a dreaded chore that needs to get done…and think of it more as an act of love. I think that if while I am washing the pots and pans (dishes are the worst) I concentrate on what having a clean kitchen will feel like to me and to Matt (it means he won’t have to do it =D) and this act is a demonstration of my care for my hubby and our home and our things that maybe it will stop feeling like a chore. We’ll see….it just came to this morning and I still have bathrooms to clean.
Denese said,
June 21, 2010 @ 12:36 pm
Jenn,
That darling little girl on Britain’s Got Talent was amazing and adorable : )
I think people can “feel the love” when the cook/baker so generously mixes it in as she happily works in the kitchen. Cleaning…well…I have friends who find it very relaxing (I find doing dishes to be relaxing, always have.) but not me. I definitely need another approach…I think your idea is a lovely one. One thing that inspires me is the thought that I am contributing to beautifying my home when I clean it. I love to create beautiful things and a clean and sparkly room is definitely something beautiful to sit back and admire. I must say, having a shiny new apartment (house or whatever) is definitely inspiring when it comes to cleaning). I’d much rather clean a floor that’ll look clean when done, same for rugs, etc. So glad you’re both enjoying your new place <3 Lots of Love xoxo
Theresa said,
June 21, 2010 @ 7:34 pm
My goodness, my favorite Jenn, that is the only thing that gets me through the dishes some days! And the bathroom scrubbing. And the laundry folding… I know you get the picture. But so often just making that decision to love my family through those things is enough of a push to not only get it done right, but to be blessed by it
)
So… uh… er… do you want to show some love to us while you’re visiting this weekend?
Denese said,
July 13, 2010 @ 6:51 am
Jenn, Just started a fun site on cleaning the house! Check out flylady.net : ) Juliet, Layla and I are checking her out daily and flying around the house cleaning. lol