laundry

laundry is the bane of my existence. seriously, it is. i have tried countless strategies of corralling the dirty, stinky clothes in my home, to no avail. i have relatives and friends who have given me suggestions over the years and i have conducted private case studies in hopes that i may one day copy their good habits. one relative has told me that every stinking day she does her laundry from start to finish (that includes washing, drying, folding and - YES - putting away!)...EVERY SINGLE DAY...wait that's not all...BEFORE she does anything else. ANYTHING! eeks! Another relation told me to do just a load a day and i should be fine (tried that- didn't work. had laundry out the ears.). yet i know another has just one special day per week that she dedicates to her laundry and plans nothing else on this day.

i have tried it all and have perfected - zero. none. a big fat NADA en espanol. what's my problem, you ask? well, are you ready? first of all, it is a very strenuous activity, apparently, to carry one's dirty clothes all the way down to the laundry room from the bedroom. it's easier to just do the old "drop and forget." also, it's a pain to crawl under one's bed or to open the closet door to look for any stashed stinky clothes that may have inadvertently been left lying around where they're not supposed to be. and who in the world remembers that he's hidden spare socks in between the couch cushions or under a bean bag chair, in a lego box, under nintendos or beneath the computer instead of walking over to the dirty clothes basket? speaking of socks, i have an entire clothes basket of unmated, unmatched socks - don't even go there. it's not my fault- really!

i've heard of a lovely woman who, in all of her married life (and she's been married for 50+ odd years) has lost the mate to only one sock- and that it still bugs her today! she would be appalled by my washing habits! i know i'm doing a disservice to the future wives of my four sons, but i really am trying to teach them! i do loads of wash every day and can never keep up. no one has enough socks or underwear, or the desired t-shirt. in the past i have published (and discussed with each member of the family) a list of family laundry rules/threats and posted them on the laundry room door; the older boys have had to do their own wash when the rules weren't followed (disaster for me to move my own laundry out quickly enough to let them have a turn)...it goes on and on. i know i'm so lucky (and thankful) to have a great washer and dryer that work and are in my own home! i'm also so thankful for these cute little critters that make such a mess - one day i suppose, in some sick sort of way that only a mom can appreciate, i'll miss all these laundry piles. for now, though, i need to get a handle on my crazy, unorganized life. i'll let you know of my progress - any helpful hints will be considered!!

ps - it may be a few days until my next post. tomorrow, brian & parker return home from their week-long camping/white-water rafting trip in colorado - with all of their laundry!!