If you want something done, ask a busy person
Sherri T.
My mother used to say: “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” I have since learned that these wise words were cited by many other mothers as well.
With everything that my mother did as wife, parent, sister, friend and entrepreneur, she was a very busy person. But she always got things done.
Who said that household management was easy? It is the most complex and least appreciated job on the planet. Home managers deserve far more recognition and respect for their work.
My mother had home management down to a fine art. It couldn’t have been easy with the several home businesses she was running while taking care of kids. She ran our household like an army camp.
Fortunately, she had a handy tool for household management – her
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Over the years, I noticed that a new habit has also taken over my life: the daily list. It started innocently to prepare for the coming week.
In came Sunday evening, out came the pen and paper for the proverbial list. Just like mom did when she was jotting down her skills to create a home business.
I planned which meal went with each day, which sheets got washed when and which sinks were scrubbed at what time. I could vanquish and conquer because I knew exactly what had to be done when, where and by whom.
I knew precisely the tasks to be achieved by which dates − except for the time I handed in an assignment held together with a diaper pin. That was a clear breakdown in the system.
The list was a statement. I was (almost) completely in control of my life and my hectic household. Today my behavior would be called OCD.
In fact, you might say that my list is great cover for neurotic behaviour. You might even call it neurotica.
I must say that I still love my list. In all my adult life, I have never been listless.
Because I learned this practice from my mother, I make no apologies. In fact, I need to thank her. It is currently the first item on today’s list.
And furthermore, don’t ever mess with Mom’s lists ! (Well, sometimes you just have to)
Who else knows the exact location (and is at her fingertips) when asked ….’Mom where is my…….’..
Organized chaos is where it was at in my household.
The best part of being a list person is never having missed a beat in spite of any ‘curve balls’ thrown into the mix. Curve balls taken care of, deadlines averted then back to business as usual . The LIST was always complete by end of day (week).
I’m a list person too and any addendums just added another line item. No task too big.
I too still work off my list and keeps me in line with never a dull moment. Diaper pins to hold a paper together definitely a sign of an organized and skillful list person.
A list! Indeed! Although my mother did not have a written list, she had a schedule she followed which enabled her to structure the entire week; looking over a household of 7 children, one can only imagine her commitments.
Today, I cannot begin my day without my list which extends to my week. I have been nicknamed “The Post-it® Lady” because of my lists being visibly displayed.
A list can also be a curse for some overachievers; overwhelming when at the end of the day 10 of the 20 items have been accomplished and although an accomplishment, it can sometimes be disappointing. And that is when it becomes an obsession – the need to “get it all done” hence my mother’s words: “Hopefully, we will be granted a tomorrow.”
However the case, we as moms do manage. And now, in this day and age, it has become “OCD” or “micromanaging” according to our children (no matter their age)!
We learn from our mothers and the impact they had on us. We can see the influence we have on our children, but sometimes to a fault especially when they refer to: “I don’t know how you do it Mom!” I too don’t know how my mom did it, but she did, and I thank her for that every day!