At least that's what our children think. As you know if you have been reading the Garrett blogs, Darrell and I both have been pretty much out of commission. As a result, our portion of the "chores" have not been done.
I have made the kids cook some simple meals a couple of times. I figure it's good for them to learn this responsibility anyway. They each have been cooking certain things for years, but to just put the two of them alone in the kitchen without supervision.... Well, I do believe this was the first time I have been brave enough to try it. Bravery really had nothing to do with it. It was actually one of those "between a rock and a hard place" situations. I was absolutely amazed to find that a child with an IQ of somewhere around 160 can't follow the directions on the seasoning packet for tacos! However, everything turned out okay in the end. As you can see, I lived to tell about it! No one died or got food poisoning.
The second reality shock that has hit our children is that Mom and Dad do all the laundry. With my injury, the bending and lifting that goes with laundry have prevented me from doing much. As a result our son has actually had to dig through that pig sty of a room of his and find clean clothes that have been buried for ...well... probably for months now. I think he had been rotating the same three pair of underwear through the laundry until this happened and mom hasn't been able to do laundry daily!
He is also starting to learn the value of finding his clothes the night before because several times he has tried to get ready for school and been unable to find any jeans! (He refuses to wear shorts to school.) I have intended to teach him to do laundry but have been trying to get him through this school year first. He has been so overwhelmed with homework, there has been little time for anything else. Thank God the AP Calculus class just took the AP exam yesterday so homework from that class will be minimal for the rest of the year now. I have a feeling his system is going to be in for a shock.
In addition to doing some of our chores, the kids still have their own. To be perfectly honest, I haven't had the where withal to be after them as much as usual so my living room looks like a bunch of pigs have set up camp. It is at the point of driving me crazy. I would be truly embarrassed if anyone were to show up at my house right now. (To the honery ones of the congregation, this is not an invitation to come over and embarrass me.) If the kids don't get their rooms clean, at least they are upstairs hidden from sight, but EVERYONE sees the living room!
My kitchen floor is also embarrassing. I mentioned to the therapist yesterday that it really needs to be mopped. He just smiled and said, "Just look at it and think about how you don't have to do it!" Yeah right! All I can see is the filth. Somehow God has given my children special vision because they never seem to notice the juice they spilled on the floor or the food they left on the counter. All spills of any kind completely miss them. I wish God had given them my vision! I don't really want theirs. The health department would be shutting our HOUSE down!
All in all, I am having a much better day so far. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to sit here long enough to write this. It is just 8:15 though, and I took a break in the middle.
I go back to the Dr. next Thursday to find out how much longer. I just want to get "my world" back to normal. This whole experience has taught me something, though. I realized I "have a life" as they say. I am normally a very active person not just busy. And I have been blessed with the ability to do many things. I have been taking the ability to do house work, painting, cleaning my yard, teaching, cooking, being able to be in the sun all for granted. I can assure you, I will appreciate those "everyday chores" much more after this is all over.
I have made the kids cook some simple meals a couple of times. I figure it's good for them to learn this responsibility anyway. They each have been cooking certain things for years, but to just put the two of them alone in the kitchen without supervision.... Well, I do believe this was the first time I have been brave enough to try it. Bravery really had nothing to do with it. It was actually one of those "between a rock and a hard place" situations. I was absolutely amazed to find that a child with an IQ of somewhere around 160 can't follow the directions on the seasoning packet for tacos! However, everything turned out okay in the end. As you can see, I lived to tell about it! No one died or got food poisoning.
The second reality shock that has hit our children is that Mom and Dad do all the laundry. With my injury, the bending and lifting that goes with laundry have prevented me from doing much. As a result our son has actually had to dig through that pig sty of a room of his and find clean clothes that have been buried for ...well... probably for months now. I think he had been rotating the same three pair of underwear through the laundry until this happened and mom hasn't been able to do laundry daily!
He is also starting to learn the value of finding his clothes the night before because several times he has tried to get ready for school and been unable to find any jeans! (He refuses to wear shorts to school.) I have intended to teach him to do laundry but have been trying to get him through this school year first. He has been so overwhelmed with homework, there has been little time for anything else. Thank God the AP Calculus class just took the AP exam yesterday so homework from that class will be minimal for the rest of the year now. I have a feeling his system is going to be in for a shock.
In addition to doing some of our chores, the kids still have their own. To be perfectly honest, I haven't had the where withal to be after them as much as usual so my living room looks like a bunch of pigs have set up camp. It is at the point of driving me crazy. I would be truly embarrassed if anyone were to show up at my house right now. (To the honery ones of the congregation, this is not an invitation to come over and embarrass me.) If the kids don't get their rooms clean, at least they are upstairs hidden from sight, but EVERYONE sees the living room!
My kitchen floor is also embarrassing. I mentioned to the therapist yesterday that it really needs to be mopped. He just smiled and said, "Just look at it and think about how you don't have to do it!" Yeah right! All I can see is the filth. Somehow God has given my children special vision because they never seem to notice the juice they spilled on the floor or the food they left on the counter. All spills of any kind completely miss them. I wish God had given them my vision! I don't really want theirs. The health department would be shutting our HOUSE down!
All in all, I am having a much better day so far. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to sit here long enough to write this. It is just 8:15 though, and I took a break in the middle.
I go back to the Dr. next Thursday to find out how much longer. I just want to get "my world" back to normal. This whole experience has taught me something, though. I realized I "have a life" as they say. I am normally a very active person not just busy. And I have been blessed with the ability to do many things. I have been taking the ability to do house work, painting, cleaning my yard, teaching, cooking, being able to be in the sun all for granted. I can assure you, I will appreciate those "everyday chores" much more after this is all over.
9 comments:
Still praying for you!
Now you have me worried because there is some stranger in our house that has been doing the dishes everyday, mowed the grass, swept the floors and done laundry... not to mention doing all the work at the church, and painting scenes at night. Who could that guy be?
I know you have, dear. I'm talking about just in the last few days while you were "out of commision" as well how the kids have let things go and hopefully have realized how much we do that they take for granted.
I have to add that it amazes me how in just a couple of days things can go hay wire. The downstairs was actually clean this weekend. How does this happen so quickly?
I can relate - and I'm NOT out of commission! I cleaned (dusted and all) our living room Tuesday. It's still clean - I know, don't faint...the only reason, is I won't let the kids in there!!!
GRRRRRRRRR..
I'm prayring for a quick recovery for you!
You are not alone, we have no excuse and our house gets that way.
Do worry and get well. The mess will wait for you... :^D
I MEAN DON'T WORRY! I should learn to proof read better!
When I was on bed rest for over 8 weeks I was about to go insane. When I clean I like things put in certain spots and done certains ways. Yes I will admit it, I'm particular about these things...
It was so hard to let someone else do it for me. Not just because I was incredibly bored, but because it was not being done the way I would have done it. LOL Don't get me wrong, it was done ok, just different. I like to do those things.
Im still praying for ya girlie. It will feel good to do these things again when you get there.
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