The Cellar - View Single Post

Juniper · 12-03-2009, 12:48 AM

This is a major sore spot for me.

OK, here's the thing. I grew up in a messy house, with two working parents, and at its worst it could have been on that TV show "hoarders." At its worst, you'd have to clear a spot to sit down and watch TV. So I didn't really learn to do things properly from my parents.

Upon moving in with my hubby, though, I was suddenly inspired to tidiness -- well, at least more than before. And with practice I got better. He helped. Of course it also helped that we didn't have much, we lived in fairly small places.

When I quit my job in 1998 to take care of the little ones, I thought a woman who was home all the time had to do it all -- how DARE I not keep the place spotless if I wasn't earning an income? Of course that meant I was always struggling and never living up to expectations -- my own expectations, that is.

I did pretty good till we moved here, and I've just never really managed to organize this place. Don't know why. There are boxes we haven't unpacked - nice things, useful things, we haven't decorated properly, things are in places they don't belong, we have all kinds of crap to get rid of.

And then my mom died and now I have her crap, too. I am buried under a fucking LANDSLIDE of crap. I try to haul it out and get rid of stuff - I am sentimental but not "hoarder" sentimental - I just find that it takes a huge effort to box or bag it up and take it elsewhere. Especially when nobody helps. Especially when my husband looks at the stuff and says "oh, you're not getting rid of this, are you? It's a perfectly good [ ].

And because they are used to me being home and doing the work, nobody ever cleans a damn thing. They leave cans and wrappers and never pick up cat vomit and never scoop the boxes and think nothing of letting the dogs run around with muddy paws and fur all over the place and nobody ever sweeps or dusts or

I am losing my mind, I swear.

I am on a mission, during winter break from school, to organize and get rid of stuff. I swear we could get rid of half of our total belongings and not be put out in the least.

Sorry y'all. I was gearing up to bitch about this anyway, this thread just provided a handy vehicle.

Actually my house isn't that bad. I might even let you in, if you give me a day to clean it up first.

12-03-2009, 12:48 AM	#14
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	This is a major sore spot for me. OK, here's the thing. I grew up in a messy house, with two working parents, and at its worst it could have been on that TV show "hoarders." At its worst, you'd have to clear a spot to sit down and watch TV. So I didn't really learn to do things properly from my parents. Upon moving in with my hubby, though, I was suddenly inspired to tidiness -- well, at least more than before. And with practice I got better. He helped. Of course it also helped that we didn't have much, we lived in fairly small places. When I quit my job in 1998 to take care of the little ones, I thought a woman who was home all the time had to do it all -- how DARE I not keep the place spotless if I wasn't earning an income? Of course that meant I was always struggling and never living up to expectations -- my own expectations, that is. I did pretty good till we moved here, and I've just never really managed to organize this place. Don't know why. There are boxes we haven't unpacked - nice things, useful things, we haven't decorated properly, things are in places they don't belong, we have all kinds of crap to get rid of. And then my mom died and now I have her crap, too. I am buried under a fucking LANDSLIDE of crap. I try to haul it out and get rid of stuff - I am sentimental but not "hoarder" sentimental - I just find that it takes a huge effort to box or bag it up and take it elsewhere. Especially when nobody helps. Especially when my husband looks at the stuff and says "oh, you're not getting rid of this, are you? It's a perfectly good [ ]. And because they are used to me being home and doing the work, nobody ever cleans a damn thing. They leave cans and wrappers and never pick up cat vomit and never scoop the boxes and think nothing of letting the dogs run around with muddy paws and fur all over the place and nobody ever sweeps or dusts or I am losing my mind, I swear. I am on a mission, during winter break from school, to organize and get rid of stuff. I swear we could get rid of half of our total belongings and not be put out in the least. Sorry y'all. I was gearing up to bitch about this anyway, this thread just provided a handy vehicle. Actually my house isn't that bad. I might even let you in, if you give me a day to clean it up first.