Okay, how many
"out there" will stand up with me and courageously proclaim:
Hi, my name is
____________ and I am a compulsive housekeeper.
Need a little
help identifying yourself?
The Random House
College Dictionary defines compulsion as "an obsessive need to achieve
some desired ideal of
behavior." In this instance, the desired ideal is a clean house.
But what is
clean? Ask ten different women what a clean house means and you might receive
ten different answers.
For the
compulsive housekeeper, "clean" is never fully realized. There is
always one more lint speck to pick off the carpet or one more smudge to wipe
off a window or one more minute dirty spot to scrub off the kitchen linoleum.
In her mind, it never stops.
If you are one of
these scrupulous housekeepers, you can identify completely.
Want some relief?
Consider the following:
1) CHANGE YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM.
Rather than
thinking of yourself as a housekeeper, think of yourself as a homemaker. There
is a world of difference.
Proverbs 14:1 says, "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish
tears it down with her own
hands."
"Building"
a home that values each family member and seeks to develop godly character by
emphasizing the fruit of the Spirit is a sharp contrast to merely building a
house that showcases polished silver and gleaming woodwork.
One focuses on
people. The other focuses on possessions.
Which would you
rather invest your life and love in? People who can throw their arms around
you, offering hugs and kisses
or on possessions that sit in a corner gathering dust and couldn’t care less
about all your efforts?
FOCUS ON WHAT
REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE.
2) MAKE A PLAN FOR HOUSEKEEPING.
And then stick to
it! Allot a certain amount of time each day to care for the physical needs of
the house, such as vacuuming, dusting, mopping, or washing clothes. With my
plan, I wash clothes on Monday, fold on Tuesday, dust and vacuum on Thursday,
clean the bathrooms and mop on Friday. Tailor your plan to suit the needs of
your household. Stick to your plan and you will soon discover you are not as
compulsive in your housekeeping as you once were.
3) PULL THE KIDS IN ON THE ACT.
If your
compulsion stems from a need for control, this will really test your limits!
However, even young children can help with simple chores. In all truth, this
stage of life can be one of the greatest growth experiences for the compulsive
house-keeper (except perhaps the teenage phase =). Don't despair. Remember, it
all goes back to what is really important:
building a home where each member's contribution is valued. Lower your
standards, accepting the stage of development each child is in, and thanking
him for his efforts. Resist the temptation to rush in and redo what he has
already done.
With some focus and
discipline, you CAN overcome compulsive housekeeping, building a home that is truly a joy to
live in!
====================================
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