Housework support group!!???!!

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mom2two
mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
Okay I am having trouble motivating myself to get my housework done. I had a bilateral mastectomy in October and since then I have been sorely lacking in getting things accomplished. I do have spurts from time to time but am needing some kind of support to get focused and motivated. Anyone  interested in having a one room challenge? (Thought it might be easier to start with just one room at firstSmile) Just post here and tell which room your choosing then for the accountability part post back when you have that room done. Peer pressure can work wonders so I'm posting my bedroom as my one room project for this morning.
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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited March 2009

    Ugh. I am never motivated to do housework. And I'd procrastinate too much for a "motivation challenge'!! Wouldn't even know where to start.

    Good luck. MAYBE you all can motivate me, but I doubt it!! <G>

    Anne

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2009

    Housework? What's that? I have way more important things to think about! LOL

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    Does everybody have housecleaners these days except for me? I'm alone...............................help......................drowning in a sea of laundry, dishes, beds to be made................................................................................................................................

  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited March 2009

    I can relate!!  Before my diagnosis in early January (seems so long ago) I was going to clean (DEEP clean) each room in my house and each closet.  I'm retired so I have the time.  I had a task list on Outlook and everything.  Then BC loomed its ugly head and life as I knew it changed.

    I've only received one chemo so far, next one is tomorrow, but I still want to accomplish my deep cleaning project.  However, I'm settling for *smaller* projects--like organize a drawer, vacuum & mop den floor, one part of a closet. 

    I don't have a housecleaner either.  But you know all those folks who have asked if there's anything they can do???  Ask them to help you clean out a closet!  I have found it's easier to organize and toss someone else's things than your own.  I get stuck and blocked. However, my adult daughter can come over here and organize like nobody's business!

    Also, if you take steroids as part of your chemo--use those steroid high days to clean.  I got my pantry cleaned and organized on my last high.

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    Come on Anne, just one room, don't let me do this all by myself today.

    Barbe I have tried that line of reasoning since October,  but it's not workingFrown

    Denali I can't blame chemo for my lack of energy since I only had surgery. As for the helpers well you know how it is, after a time everyone kind of fades away. I don't mind doing it I just have to get motivated. Actually I'm thankful that things have gotten back to the little details and routines and hope it will be the same for you again soon.

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited March 2009

    mom2two ~ Saw this thread and thought I'd share that a friend had told me about an organization that offers free house cleaning services to women battling bc.  Unfortunately, they didn't have anyone in my area, but maybe they do yours, or maybe there's something similar where you live.  Here's a link:  http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

    I know this doesn't help with the clutter that accumulates due to fatigue, but it would be wonderful for the actual cleaning.   Deanna

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2009

    I only do ONE thing a day. Going to work is ONE. On my day off, if I happen to clean the toilet, that is ONE thing. If I don't get anything done, who cares? It was only ONE thing anyway! If I do more than ONE thing I am very proud of myself....

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    FrownIts not in my area either Deanna but great resource to post for those ladies who do have it there. Knowing me, I"d probably feel like I had to clean it before someone came in to clean it!  What is that about!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Barbe, I've read your posts before so know you are dealing with a much heavier load then bc so rooting for you with the one a day approach. 

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    Happy to report that bedroom is now clean!  You won't believe how good that feels right now (well as good as it can feel with a migraine on boardUndecided)  I'm gonna reward myself with lunch out and a quick shopping trip before I have to take dd to the orthodontistInnocent.

    Big cyber cleaning hugs to all.

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited March 2009

    Is it bad when the service is in your area but your house is so disorganized that you can't call them until you get things put awy. 

    HELL do you think they would mind vacuuming around my artificial Christmas tree ??  I did manage to get the bulbs off and it is in our basement but it is getting crazier everyday in my house. I have managed to stay pretty up to date on the wash and I get them put away about once a week only to start again. 

    Bad I had to edit for eyes :)  I go back to being good again :)
    Dx 12/24/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/2 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009
    Thanks for making me smile today Jaimieh. You don't have what state you're in, but now that I've finished my project room I'd come over and help ya.Smile
  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited March 2009

    Just think ladies it's almost Spring and we can go outside and mess it up out there for 4 months or so before we have to come back in! I think with my 3 cats that are left, they make more mess than my husband and I. But I wouldn't get rid of them for the world. I just don't have company come over...

  • lovinmomma
    lovinmomma Member Posts: 1,879
    edited March 2009

    This is great!  i do not  have a house cleaner (unless you count the kids...HA!!!!)  I try for 15 minute spurts. it is amazing how much you can do in 15 minutes and then I get a computer break!!  i just set the timer and go.

    Of course my house is definietly cluttered and I am working on going thru all the kids clothes to see what fits, what i cna give away and what gets rotated in for spring.

  • denise1962
    denise1962 Member Posts: 193
    edited March 2009

    Yep I would be the one to clean the house before the cleaners came. So I just do it myself. I was just thinking last night that it has been about 4 mo since I did a deep clean.

    I am waiting for delivery of some storage shed (will be here 3/10) then I am moving DH shop out of the house and builing a pantry in the room. Saving my enegy for that. Then it's on to the garden. Yipee !

    Jaimieh, here's what I did when I started this journey. After chemo I would go to bed 1-2 days after infusion and stay there for 2-3 days, just so DH would learn to manage. Have to start the training early.Ha Ha   Into it 3 years now and it works like a charm.

  • LisaSDCA
    LisaSDCA Member Posts: 2,230
    edited March 2009

    Kimberly, you sound as though you are a graduate of Flylady's way to clean.

    www.flylady.net

    Years and years ago I set up my daily and weekly routines along these guidelines and my routines generally have seen me through with a relatively clean house. Of course it helps that it is such a small house! Wink The first weeks after my bilateral DIEPs were a time I needed extra help, though, in a BIG way!

    Deanna - I have applied to Cleaning for a Reason and been approved. There are two services that participate in my area. I haven't heard from either of them. And it's been since just after Christmas. I guess  I ought to get in touch with the home office again.

    Lisa

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    Back from a yummy lunch and glad to see others with the need to clean on here. The bad news is that on my way out to lunch I had to go downstairs and through yet another room that needs tidying.  Where is my maid when I need her (oh yeah, thats me). Well back to work! One room down.........

  • denise1962
    denise1962 Member Posts: 193
    edited March 2009

    ok the bathroom is almost clean. Had to take a break from the fumes.

    Lovinmomma, I like the 15 min idea!!!

    well back to it and then a nap

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    So glad you posted denise. I just got up from a nap and my bathroom is next on the list.

    My teen surprised me by coming out of her teen cave and announcing that she had cleaned the downstairs for me. This is getting better and better.

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited March 2009

    Glad I could give someone a laugh.  I told him today that the Christmas tree WILL be put away by the weekend.  I live in Maryland :)  I am horrible about organizing but I did manage to clean off the nightstand on myside of the bed today and vacuum one side of the room (like that).  There is laundry baskets full of clothes that need to be put away and eventually they will be :)  I am just at my chemo's nater (or whatever the hell you call it) and I have been beat up this round.  The worst part is I have 4 more rounds to go so I need to sleep and find some strength to beat the beast (not my house),  I am hoping that by the weekend I will be up and ready to go again just in time to get a fill and get some more back spasms but I think the stopping point will be this next fill.  I don't care about a big rack just want to get out of muscle pain (if i could lay on the floor all day I would because my back is fine when I lay on the floor) which isn't good for getting house cleaning done. 

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    Yuck, don't even mention laundry. Lately I've seriously been thinking about allowing everyone 5 outfits each, taking the rest to Goodwill or Salvation Army. That way the laundry can't get out of control. I am so looking to simplify things in my life.

  • digger
    digger Member Posts: 590
    edited March 2009

    Great thread.  I really hate housework too, and with a husband and two teenage boys, I feel like I spend my life cleaning up.  If my husband says we're going to clean out the garage one more time for a "weekend" project, I'm going to scream!  I'm fortunate in that we do have someone come in and clean one afternoon a week, but by the evening, it's hard to tell she was even here that day.  Oh well...

    I do find that it helps to take advantage of my "nesting" instincts before each phase of this bc journey.  Before my mx, I spent about a month clearing out all of our old, unused clothes, books we no longer read, all the kitchen cabinets and even the car.  No place was safe from my nesting!  Now that I'm nearing my exchange, the nesting is cropping up again, so I'm trying to take advantage of that.

    When I'm not in nesting mode, I did find it helpful to focus on just doing one thing, one task a day.  It might have been writing a thank you note, washing my hair, anything, just something to be able to mark off that I did that day. 

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    I had a friend who was put on complete bedrest while she was pregnant. She was only allowed trips to the bathroom and little else. To keep her from going nuts her husband would bring her one drawer each day to sort through and organize. On the day she organized her final drawer she went into labor  and had the baby. The timing was perfect.

  • digger
    digger Member Posts: 590
    edited March 2009

    Yep, this nesting before my surgeries reminds me so much of that cleanin/organizing compulsion just before I had my twin boys.  Very funny story about your friend!

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    Well another day and today I'm setting my mind to get just one more task accomplished in my goal to regain control of my house. Never realized how many interpretations of what "clean" or "its done" was until I had to lay around for weeks watching others do my housework for me.  Now I know that hubby clean, teen clean and mom clean are at totally opposite ends of the spectrum.

    What to do for today?

    1.  The closet (did I mention the 5 outfits thing?)

    2.  The kitchen (just have to start from scratch there, everything needs to get moved out of the cabinets and put back in some semblance of order)  Even putting it down in print makes me tired so will probably wait for the weekend for this one.

    3.  dd #2's bedroom (that was coverted to a guest room for the last couple of weeks) that I need to re transform back into daughters bedroom.

    4.  Hall way and stairs swept and shampooed.

    5. Living room converted from teen clean Frown to mom clean.

    6. Climb back in that warm cozy bed, enjoy the quiet......Smile

  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited March 2009

    I need this thread!  No House Cleaner stops by here.

    Denali I had the same goal as you before I was DX- to really clean and Organize...Except that was Jan of 08!   Never got that going.

    I cant motivate myself to do anything- especially cleaning.   Granted I didnt do a ton of cleaning before...As I have not had alot of Energy for years & get Short of Breath with Most Any Kind of Exertion (Heart Problem)  But I need to get back to doing stuff around here.

    I did tell my DH after my SNB that I could never scrub a toilet again as that had a great risk for Lymphedema Surprised  He thought that was very funny.

    I did start a load of Laundry this morning...I still need to put it in the dryer...I always forget to switch it.

    I have a room FULL of fabric that eventually most of it needs to be gone through & Sold & Donated.  That was a big part of my Goal 14 months  ago.

    Honestly Scrubing stuff- That motion really hurts my Chest.  Hopefully after my Implant fix that will change.  But Im thinking it wont.

    I can Pick up.

    Im not sure what to have as my Cleaning Goal is today...I know I want to get outside & walk as it is supposed to finally be around 40.

    Pam

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    Ok, decided the going to bed thing I had done long enough so time to try something new. Started in daughter #2's room only to wind up trying to clean out the closet in my room. Did I mention maybe having a problem with focusing in on one thing at a time?

    Pam maybe we could all come over and do the housework for you while you make some spring dresses for us from all that extra material Smile

    In fact it would be fun if we could all get together and tackle each others house one at a time enjoying the friendship and maybe a meal or two together as we went. 

  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited March 2009

    That would be really fun! 

    I have almost a Stores wrth of Fabric- So Lots of Choices for Dresses!

    Im  embarrassed to have anyone come in my House.

    Pam

  • mom2two
    mom2two Member Posts: 1,352
    edited March 2009

    See that's the beauty of it Pam, We're all embarassed for anyone to come into our house. We're all in the same boat so no one can point any fingers! Plus I've decided after trying to be a clean freak all these years that the friends I really want are the ones that can come when my house is a wreck and I'm comfortable with them seeing it in disarray. I finally get it, those are the real friends to have. The rest is superficial and after dealing with breast cancer, who needs superficial?

  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited March 2009

    I sure agree with you Mom2two!  When I'm at houses that are SPOTLESS, it makes me nervous--especially if they ever come to my house (not often).   You get to that point when you get older, recognizing what's important in life and what's not.  Learning it all over again with BC.  I try to keep surfaces clean on the first floor, so that if company comes it'll be easier to pick up.  That helps lots.  Upstairs is another story.

    Pam, I sew too and my fabric still isn't put away from my last project.  I find that sometimes (like in my sewing rm) I just get stuck!  So that's when DD comes over and helps me organize.

    It's chemo day today and I'm on a steroid high--so hopefully I'll get LOTS cleaned.  I'll report in what I accomplish---ooooohhh, what a nice motivator!

  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited March 2009

    It is true that true friends dont care & I really dont care to a point if my House is clean...But its a little over whelming at times...My Fabric actually doesnt fit in my sewing room...I have about 10 bins in the family room.    I sew for My Business so It is in the family room too.  I dont have a Business/work room.

    Denali- Yeah Good luck putting the Steriods to cleaning use :o

    We will be waiting to hear a report.

    Pam

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