Maybe you’ve already given up. You think, “housework just takes up too much of my time to get anything else done or have a life outside the kids and school.”
In other words, I’m overloaded – and that’s the way it’s going to be.
I’m not even fighting it. I’m just accepting it.
You wanna know what I say to that?
Hmm, yeah. Sounds like we need to simplify the laundry, dishes, and the cleaning for you!
If you’re not scrubbing the kitchen floor by hand, doing a white glove-worthy cleaning on the house, handwashing every single dish, and ironing every shirt that comes out of the wash – I don’t see any reason why you can’t treat housework as way less than a part-time job.
(The actual cleaning and cooking, that is.)
What all are you doing? What standards are you holding yourself to?
I bet it’s something way beyond what your kids need to thrive….
Let’s look into that for a minute. Grab your journal and pen, and get comfy (because these prompts won’t be!).
What are you doing around the house (and the table)?
What standards have you been holding yourself to?
I’ll wait – just keep free writing on this till you’ve got a paragraph each.
I’m overloaded – and that’s the way it’s going to be. (Nope!)
What did you just find out about yourself? What did you discover?
That was gold. Now you know why you keep holding onto those chores at that level, and why you resisted every attempt by your husband, your mom friend, or me (up till now) to get you to lighten your load.
But now you can.
Knowing this about yourself, what can you release as false pressure today?
What can you just shed, like a too-heavy backpack you can’t wait to take off?
Where can you give yourself that much-needed grace to relax expectations?
That’s today’s work – and so that’s the assignment I’m giving you.
Don’t move forward till you’ve worked through this.
If that takes talking to God, messaging me, sitting with your journal another hour, do it – because once you’re through, you’re going to be truly free.
Isn’t that what you want for yourself? (It’s what I want for you, but are you ready to admit it and take it on your own?)
I know it’s hard. I know it’s changing everything about the way you run your family. I know you’re scared of the unknown.
But I also know you’re going to do it.
Because you’re an action-taker, and you’re ready.
So pick up that pen, and keep journaling. You’ve got this.
