Optimizing Naptime

Somewhere between college and Frazier, I became my mother. Okay maybe not entirely (not that this would be a bad thing). But last Thursday, as when I found myself scrubbing the linoleum in my kitchen with a toothbrush...I mentally blamed her. I lived in 8 different houses with my Mom and every single one of them was clean and neat. Remarkably clean and neat. All the time.

Sure, most of the time I lived in those [clean and neat] houses I probably didn't appreciate the cleaness and neatness. Especially if it meant I had to help clean and neaten. However, sometime in all those years of helping clean and neaten a seed was planted and in my fairly recent past it sprouted.

After Frazier was born (at which time I had things pretty clean and neat- thanks to Mom and Mae Mae), I kept things relatively neat as far as what was visible, but cabinets and drawers, etc. which the previous 6 or 7 months of pregnancy had already caused me to neglect began to suffer even worse and the clutter grew and the dust collected.

Until a few weeks ago. I finally realized that Frazier could take a nap without me sitting and watching him and he began sleeping longer that I do at night so his naptimes were no longer my naptimes as well. This left me with an incredible amount of time on my hands, theoretically speaking, and I determined to make the most of it. I set easily attainable goals for myself at first. The laundry would always be done within reason. I'd always have the dishwasher unloaded so the sink could always be empty, and I would make up the bed every day. When these goals were met consistently, I added more. I made up a rule that I would find something to do from the time he fell asleep to the time he woke up. And I have. (That something isn't always cleaning related...the quilt and stocking I've sewn lately are also results of my new optimizing naptime campaign!)

I am amazed daily at how much I can get done in, say three hours in a row, if I want. I enjoy the busy-ness and it keeps me moving...which burns calories. After the floor scrubbing incident I was sore for two days! Not only did I do ordinary household stuff like laundry, dishes and dusting, I also added cleaning out. To date I have cleaned out EVERYTHING in my house. Literally every cabinet, every drawer, every closet. I would do maybe one drawer or cabinet a day...taking everything out of it, organizing it, and getting rid of stuff that was old or unneccesary. I even employed Josh to help clean out the attic last weekend!

Now about last Thursday. I sweep and Swiffer my kitchen often, but that day I'd been using Frazier's naptime to wipe down the baseboards and I decided to trasition to wiping down the floors in the kitchen with a sponge and diluted bleach. As I started, I realized the tiles were far grimier than I'd realized...so I got a toothbrush and a scrub brush I use for car washing and I actually scrubbed all my linoleum by hand. I was exhausted, but the floor looked great! It's a whole shade lighter! I couldn't believe the grime. I honestly think it was somewhat that way when we moved in and I didn't know what color it was supposed to be! I was appalled at the disgustingness of it, but at least it's clean now. (See the gross gray suds I conjured with all my scrubbing below). I may have to add scrubbing the linoleum to my regular cleaning routine. Before on the right...after on the left. Can you believe this? We were LIVING in this filth. :(

I would like to know who invented textured linoleum.

Because it was a remarkably stupid idea.

It isn't like it's fooling anyone into thinking it's tile. All it is is a grime trapper.

So there is my [longwinded] story about the cleaning I've been doing...and how wonderfully clean and neat my house feels...and how I've been optimizing naptime.

I document it because I fear there may be a day when I do not have the energy at naptimes or when the naptimes are fewer and shorter, when my house may not be so clean and neat...and I'd like to remember that this happened...at least once. :)