(The dishes the morning after a baby shower. Note here that I didn’t take one picture at the shower—shameful—but I did take a picture of the dishes a day later 😉
Liz is usually our resident expert of homemaking around here, but when I posted this post about sewing, I said I’d later share some thoughts about how I have learned (and continue to learn) about overcoming the mundane tasks of running a house and raising kids.
But let’s face some facts here. My house doesn’t always relflect this advice….and I still struggle with this topic regularly, so please take it for what it is worth to you.
“Be greatful for the mundane.”
This lesson was taught to me when my oldest was about 6 months old. I had always worked during our early married life and so finding myself at home with a little and adorable baby was so great….but at the beginning was also so hard. I remember planning and spacing out little errands each morning so I wouldn’t feel trapped in the house everyday (now I THRIVE on the days I don’t have to go anywhere—what a funny thing it is about how life changes). Anyway, one day I was whining and complaining about the aspects of motherhood that were SO mundane; the diaper changing, the dish washing, the washing and folding of every load of laundry. Then rinsing and repeating. Every. Single. Day.
But gratefully I was complaing (and/or severely whining) to the wrong person. Because this hero of homemaking looked me straight into the eyes and said, “Be grateful for the mundane.” She went on to explain that she loved the mundane tasks of homemaking and motherhood because her mind could go to higher places. She could think about each of her individual children while doing the dishes, plan and prepare of how to better raise them, or pray for a struggling loved one while folding the laundry…..because they were all mundane tasks and didn’t require her mind.
What a new perspective for all my whining. Here I was absolutely resenting those tasks, while she was so grateful for them. And it changed my life…..
No, not everyday am I grateful to fold laundry that half the time are clean clothes because my six year old changed her clothes three times that day–but it really does give me a new perspective to the fact that I can do other things while I am doing the mundane—I can take my mind to a higher place.
P.S. I do have a couple more pieces of advice to share from others, but this post is getting so long–I will leave you to chew on this one, and save the others for another day.
Your thoughts for the day—-
How do you overcome the mundane?
What a great post…something that I definitely want to work on. Sewing is a good “thinking” time for me too. I get a lot of inspiration for other areas of my life when I’m sewing.
Anyway…this is probably less inspiring but I often get through chores by pumping myself up. “If I don’t do this, who will?” is a question I often ask myself. It’s a good reminder that my family needs me and that they couldn’t live without me…ha! Egotistical sounding but in my own head it helps me do what I do for them with more gusto and gratitude. It’s nice to feel needed.
I plan for something to look forward to, as in: if I finish the dishes, then I’ll reward myself by sitting down at the computer for ten minutes. I seem to finish all my mundane tasks by planning a reward if I get them done.
Recently I keep thinking that the mundane tasks I am doing (the laundry, the dishes, claning the bathrooms) help to make our place a safe and peaceful place to be. And that is what I want, and organized and peaceful place for my kids. So I try to remember that as I’m working.
Recently I keep thinking that the mundane tasks I am doing (the laundry, the dishes, claning the bathrooms) help to make our place a safe and peaceful place to be. And that is what I want, and organized and peaceful place for my kids. So I try to remember that as I’m working.
Dang it! I forgot to say that comment was from me…so, that comment above is from me—liZ
Dang it! I forgot to say that comment was from me…so, that comment above is from me—liZ
Love this post.
Events in my life have shown me how short life can be and how quickly things can change, so I try to remember this and remember that the mundane, although mundane, is a blessing because some people would give anything to be able to do those mundane tasks that I tend to complain about so much–obviously remembering they are a blessing is always a work in progress for me.
What a great motto!
I love washing dishes [by hand] because it frees me up to listen to This American Life[.org] podcast that I wouldn’t otherwise listen to (I feel distracted if I listen to it driving in the city & I don’t take road trips once a week). It’s building in little “treats” that helps me enjoy & sometimes look forward to, mundane chores.
Thanks for this post 🙂
That is really a beautiful idea. Thank you for sharing it.
I actually look forward to the mundane days, but for a different reason. My daughter has been deemed “medically needy,” which means that we have about 15 appointments a month on average, with in-home therapists, doctors, and specialists. I love the days when we can just stay at home and take care of the laundry or cleaning. I feel like those mundane days are a gift- a way to recharge before the next stressful event. I might change my mind though when we have more children, and the mundane, at home days become the stressful days!
I think we can all see from the comments above that “mundane” is in the eye of the beholder. From a grandma’s perspective (which is my perspective, by the way), I find the tasks like washing dishes and doing laundry to be a way I bless my family every day. I don’t try to overcome those tasks, I seek those little things out every day. Whatever I can do to help my husband, kids, and grandkids know that they are loved and cared for is a true joy for me. I work full time as a teacher, but when I’m home, or in the home of one of my kids, I enjoy helping out as much as I can. Those mundane tasks are the same tasks my mother did for me, and her mother for her, and so on. And someday your kids will be doing them for you! Nothing made me happier than to take care of my mom and dad when they were elderly and needed help. Cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, even helping with hygiene needs, was a way of saying ‘thank you’ and ‘i will always love you’. Moms like you all are angels, and just think how you can bless your families each day! No one can do these things like you can! I see children at school all the time whose moms don’t do those things for them, and they suffer for it. Treasure those tasks, and all the time you spend in caring for your family. There is no greater gift you can give your family than to know they are loved and you are there for them. Thank you for this post. I enjoy reading your blog each day, and am in awe of your talent!
Thank you for sharing. I’m going to be thinking differently when I am washing dishes or folding laundry. Thank you!!
A friend once shared this thought with me and I think about it sometimes and it helps. After dinner when it is time to wash the dishes….and you really don’t want to…..think about how grateful you are to have enough food to eat and pretty plates to eat on or when the laundry needs to be put away……again…..think about how grateful you are for soft, clean clothes and plenty to choose from…..you get the idea. It helps….when I remember to do it.
I love your blog—especially the homemaking stuff. It has really, really helped me. Thanks so much, and keep it coming!
As someone who spent 5 years raising children only to go back to work full time, I cannot encourage you enough to enjoy the mundane. When I was home I told myself I would become the perfect homemaker and mom. I wasn’t so good at the homemaker part and I felt like I missed some time with my kids in the process. So you enjoy the mundane, especially when it involves your kids!