Typically, I avoid bandwagons at all cost. I have, all too often I’m afraid to say, to my own detriment even, avoided trying something popular simply so that I can stubbornly stay off the bandwagon.

Also, I tend to have a strong Negative First Reaction to things, especially new things, so I often make things harder on myself than need be.

Where the hell is she going with this?

People, I gave in and signed up for the FlyLady. I, yours truly, am a FlyBaby. In case you’re not familiar with her, the FlyLady teaches people how to gain control of their life by getting their home clean and organized, and keeping it that way. There are testimonials galore singing her praises, which of course is what made me resist. Initially.

I admit, this is not the first time I signed up for FlyLady. When Chee was a baby, I signed up and was moderately successful. I didn’t do the *whole* program, just what worked for me, but I fell off of it.

My house was much smaller, I just had one kid and she was The World’s Easiest Baby, and so my horrible lack of organization could be kept at bay.

Times have changed. My house doubled in size (which means twice as much to clean) and the number of kids doubled. We have numerous activities to go to each week, and there is, simply put, just more work that needs to get done.

And I’m miserable.

People say, “Oh, just go play with your kids, they’ll only be young for a short while, and then you’ll have plenty of time to clean.”

And I agree with that. But I’m soooo unhappy with the way I’ve been living.

I can manage to keep up on the laundry and the weekly chores. But what I *never* find time for is the bigger, deep cleaning projects (windows, blinds, freezer, etc). And even though the house is generally relatively clean, it always looks messy. Feels messy.

What’s worse is that I really beat myself up for it. I truly have felt like a terrible human being because I can’t seem to keep things picked up.

What that does to me is I’m never fully relaxed at home. I’ll sit down to play with the kids, or read, or write, but feel stressed because I *should* be doing blahbitty blah blah.

I never give up time with the kids, or time for myself, but I also often feel like I’m not fully in the moment either.

It’s a terrible way to live.

So I got to thinking about FlyLady. Again. And I decided to give her website a read. Again.

She immediately made me feel better about myself. I’m not naturally organized, and that’s okay. You are either born organized, or you have to learn it.

Reading her website truly inspired me. It was what I need to hear.

I’m blogging to you now from my tidied family room. My kitchen is clean. My laundry is all folded and put away. My meals are planned and my grocery list is written.

And the best part – are you ready for this? Accomplished by 8:30 tonight! I sat and watched a little television, caught up on my blog reader, and am writing now (it’s late, maybe I watched too much TV).

I know what chores I need to do tomorrow and I’m actually looking forward to knocking them out so I can truly enjoy myself while I play with the girls or do a bit of reading.

I sigh a contented sigh.