I need a RANT about my house and how bloody hard it is to keep it tidy right now!

[hereidrawtheline]

I am relaxed but I like a tidy/clean house (like most of us I should think!) my house is not minimalist or spotless but its clean and tidy.

Well I am just now getting over pneumonia and for 2 weeks was totally stuck in bed. DH stayed home from work to look after DS but wasnt able to keep up on all the housework as well. Which is understandable because DS is autistic and it is extremely difficult to clean with him around sometimes and when he is asleep we tend to collapse from exhaustion. So really to keep the house clean it takes the two of us working together and I was out of commission.

I am now better and am working flat out to catch up. The conservatory is full of huge bags of compost (not opened thank god) pots, hats, coats etc etc etc the living room has way too many toys in it. I need to put the stuff DS doesnt play with anymore in the loft so his toys can go in his bedroom. But I cant get in the loft I get vertigo on ladders so I need DH to do it. My bedroom is a total mess full of clean clothes that need folding and putting away plus the floor on my side of the bed is shameful full of stuff I just chucked there while I was sick. DS's bedroom is a mess. Not dirty but too many toys again. The bathroom is ok. The kitchen really just needs the dishwasher loaded (twice ) and surfaces cleaned, I just did the floors. The garden is a mess. There are loads of rubbish bags as DH forgot to put them out last week - they will be collected this Monday morning though.

I just feel so pissed off about it. DS who I am normally very very patient with is driving me mad today, I am in a rush because we are venturing out to a (MN) meet up which I am so nervous about as DS isnt great in groups with lots of children and I know I wont be able to socialise with the other Mums I will be having to entertain him the whole time. So I am trying to tidy up this morning and he is making it so hard. He is a sweety but he just can not entertain himself. He wants me to do everything with him. And as I am cleaning things up he is emptying other things out. And then, to top it all off he goes into my room and stands in the middle of the pile of laundry (clean) and says "MAMA look at all this mess!" Very disapprovingly. Yes cheers for that DS.

(deep breath)

I know it is not the end of the world. I know it is trivial. Its the weekend now and I can get caught up and then it will easy to maintain like it was before I got sick. But right now I am just so pissed off about it. Which isnt a very logical emotion to have about housework.

Let me just say this: Keeping a clean house with a toddler is hard. Keeping a clean house with a toddler who is surgically attached to your leg and needs you to play the same games over and over is harder. Keeping a clean house with above circumstances while you are ill with pneumonia is bloody impossible.

Right. Sorry. Rant over! Off to empty the dishwasher while DS is temporarily entranced by Bob the Builder, bless you Dizzy.

oh meant to say in amongst all this, DS empties things like bowls of (dry) cereal on the living room floor often and is terrified of the hoover so I have to bury him in cushions before I can turn it on. And then while I was cleaning the kitchen floor he tripped over the carpet poor thing (fitted carpet mind you!) and really hurt himself.

oh bless i really do feel for you.
could you try and concentrate on one thing at a time
or just set yourself 15 mins in each room and see how much you can get done, then at least you'll know there has been something done even if its not yet perfect.
i tend to go through each room 15 mins at a time. ie 15 mins living room, then 15 kitchen etc etc til i get there

good luck

Poor you, gosh, you have had it tough. I totally sympathise, I too would like a tidy and clean house but the blardy kids follow me around emptying drawers and generally having a right laugh while I go slowly mad.

Can someone come and look after him for you whilst you have a good tidying session? Or take him out?? Or do you have a lovely, slightly anal friend/relative who could come and give you a hand?

I think it is extraordinarily frustrating to live in a messy heap, and really, I'm not the anal type. Can your dh pitch in a bit this weekend?

Not much help I'm afraid but you do have my sympathies, enjoy the meet up.

Thanks! The meet up went really well actually and DS made me a liar he played beautifully with the other children while I drank coffee! Truly shocking behaviour on his part. But great!

I just put him down for a nap. I am going to sit down & have some me time with a cup of tea and then clean while he sleeps. I know by the end of the weekend it will all be back to normal & tidy it is just so frustrating. I am so much happier when it looks lovely. I dont have anyone who can help me, either with taking DS out or helping me tidy up, except DH and he will help this weekend.

hereidrawtheline i'm glad the meet went well for you both.

good luck getting the house straight again.

I have spring cleaned all weekend and the house is looking brill! Tomorrow afternoon I have to hoover & my bedroom still needs work and DS's toys need to be organised as I had a major clear out but progress!! hey hey!

APPLAUSE

Well done hereidrawtheline. It's bloody hard work and fairly soul destroying trying to keep the house work done, but my goodness it's VERY satisfying when it looks nice (for about 5 mins only in our house, but it's a good 5 mins).

My aim is to sort out old toys/games/clothes and flog em off on ebay. This may never happen of course.

thanks claudia! I have got a big bag of stuff to ebay gathered up, toys & books etc but its just taking the time to photograph them all, list them, post them etc is such a hassle. But I think I will have to do it at one point. God knows I spend enough on ebay I need to earn a little back for the sake of the bank balance!

It is so satisfying when it looks nice isnt it! I felt ever so smug yesterday! Also we got our new huge rabbit enclosure built, so our rabs are spoiled happy little things, and I have taken up orchid growing as a new hobby dont ask, but I got a beginners specialist orchid and it has flowered! yay! So all in all I must be up for person of the year or something, musnt I? LOL

Right... back down to earth though! Just got back from the most stressful playgroup and put DS to bed so now I am going to give myself an hour to sit and do bugger all then the cleaning resumes!