Getting Organized

 So seven lazy Susans later and my house is still an organizational nightmare. Clea and Joanna suggest starting with a drawer, but since I have the equivalent of 90,000 drawers to organize I feel like I just need those ladies to come to my house. I'm going to attempt to take it step by step with the goal that my house will be fully functional with everything labeled by Thanksgiving 2021. How fantastic would it be to have the house completely organized before taking five bins and a Christmas tree down from the attic? That reminds me: buy ornament organizers. In case you think I'm exaggerating, these are the problem areas that need attention.

1. the laundry room. This room is the catchall of the house. C is determined to put built-in-shelving in their next year which will help but for me this is the most daunting of all my spaces. It terrifies me.

2. coat racks. We have racks for each of the kids and one for ourselves but there still isn't room for all the bookbags, hats, jackets, purses, etc. I have to figure this out but it's certainly the least of my problems.

3. the kitchen. The kids' section was the first thing I organized and some other cupboards look good, but this room is only slightly less daunting 

• two utensil drawers
• refrigerator
• freezer
• tupperware cupboard
• cabinets above the fridge
• spices
• pots & pans cupboard
• bakeware cupboard
• pantry # 1
• pantry # 2 

4. the entertainment center

5. the bookshelf in the living room, another catchall

• space on top of shelves
• shelves
• cupboards under the shelves

6. C's (my five year old) room

• closet
• the top of his chest of drawers
• the top of his bookshelf
• walls

7. W's (my two year old's room)

• bookcase
• chest of drawers
• drawers underneath futon
• walls

8. dining room closet

9. my closet

10. my husband's closet

11. master bath

• drawers
• counter

So that's more like 30 areas, but with two toddlers it might as well be 90,000!

What I Really Want

We're not even through October and I've already taken the kids to Southern Belles Farms and Sleepy Hollow Farms to see pumpkin patches as well as to Hillcrest Orchards in Elijay to go "apple picking." Farms aren't really my thing. Hiking and other outdoor activities are only fun if I've been stuck in an office for months. My favorite things to do are attending (1) Mariah Carey concerts, (2) Disney theme parks, (3) and Broadway shows. Seriously. I have season tickets for Broadway in Atlanta. I gave up my Disney World annual pass because of the pandemic. I saw Mariah in Vegas in February. 

Antisocial introverts who believe rural areas and suburbs are a legitimate place to live cannot understand my pain. I'm over this. I've been thinking a lot about what I really want in my life. Too much of my energy goes into my toddlers. If I were to truly take care of myself those children would not be hungry or filthy or worse. 

So I thought and thought about what I would like my life to look like from 2022 forward and this is it.

(1) I want to live in super clean home where everything is in its place at the end of the day so I can have peace. The Home Edit is amazing and I plan to get this place organized over the next year come hell or high water. 

(2) I want to see all the things on my bucket list while my body is still fully functioning. I want for my kids to see enough as kids that they have a better idea of where they want to spend their hard earned vacations than I did. This means going to at least one new location per year.

(3) I want my kids to have the chance to try a lot of things: swimming, ballet, tap, gymnastics, piano, violin, soccer, tennis, golf, t-ball, and basketball.

(4) I spent enough time in volunteerism as a child and young adult to cover me for two lifetimes. I hope to let go of that tendency and focus my energy on taking care of my family and myself. Yes it's great for kids to see you helping others so I will do it for their benefit. Hopefully opportunities to serve their school communities will provide opportunities for that.

(5) I want to read at least 20 contemporary books every year.

(6) I want to create standing dates like (1) family movie night on Sundays (2) family game nights on Saturday nights, (3) monthly game nights with friends, (4) and monthly movie nights with friends.

(7) This ambition goal will get easier as W gets older but date night every other week is a must! We are doing it now at home by with takeout by candlelight after the kids go to sleep but getting dressed up to stay home is bleak dahling.