Thursday, October 26, 2006

Ava did it again.

Not that long ago I posted a similar picture on my blog. I am wondering if this is what I get for growing up as a 'neat freak', or if I should try to get in touch with Ava and find out what the deeper underlying issue is in her 2-year old life that is causing her to find great pleasure in pulling everything out of the closet.
Really, even though I used to 'carpet-rake' my room each day so that there were no footprints in the carpet, I have learned that my life with kids has meant that I have had to make drastic changes in the way I live and do things from day to day. I am actually a very patient Mom, most of the time. Moments like this don't phase me as much as I would have thought they would ten years ago. Now, I grab my camera, snap the picture and then accept my life as it is.
Beautiful, busy, chaotic at times, but very down to earth and ordinary. And I am learning to not be so hard on myself. I tell myself, "This is why Cathy Ziekske and Elsie Flannigan scrap more pages than I do...not because they are more creative and experienced, but simply because they have less clothes to pick up around their homes."
I see a scrap layout in this post...if and when I can find the time to create it! =)

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

hello...
I like your use of COLOUR in your font. It's very creative, colourful and bold. Very original

Keep writing :)

Nancy said...

I tried to post a comment yesterday and it went straight to cyberspace heaven so I am going to redo a little of it today.

I had posted on a similar topic at my blog yesterday (http://carson132.blogspot.com)... finding the blessings daily and learning lifes lessons from them.

I find that the optimism in your blog is contagious. The
inspiration that you share through your blog is surely a gift from God. I also feel that it is important to surround yourself with people who find the postive in all aspects of their lives and uplift you... and that is exactly what you do! So, I am going to keep coming back. THANKS!

Blessings,
Nancy

Janna said...

LOL... kids are so funny. :)

Rosie said...

All of my two year olds have done that(4). I have found that I don't think that they start out with the idea of pulling everything out, they see one shirt they want and they go to get it, well, with their littleness they don't know that you have to pick it up a bit or actually use your other hand to HOLD the other clothes in place. However, when the first pile falls, it is rather funny to them, soooo, the pulling fest really begins! They love to watch the pile fall!
I have found that drawers work much better. I have a very similar closet. I have considered the baskets that go in those cubes. Wondering if not being able to really SEE the clothes would deter them from making such a mess.
Good luck! They turn 13 much too fast!
I enjoy you entries, you are a burst of sunshine!

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with Nancy re; your optimism etc. LOVE the picture of the mess!! I would be with you re: being a "neat-nik" and it's taken me years and years to try to over-come that. I don't know what I'd have done if my kids would have done with Ava does! I was way too much structured (probably still have that in my dna) and majored in the minors. I love to read your entries though and to see that you are letting your kids be kids!!! I also love your creativity!! You shouldn't compare yourself to other croppers as 'we ALL are individuals'!!! One day your house will be quiet and neat and you'll have plenty of time to pursue ALL of your creative juices!!

Suzelle said...

Oh my :)

linda t said...

I am sooo glad we had our third... cuz that is when I totally lightened up! I wasn't so wrapped up in how my home looked... but rather how much fun the kids had in my home.
Sure took the preasure off... to relax and have fun!
Now when I go into a home where it is messy and lived in... I know that the Mom in that home is involved with her kids... and not in her home looking just so.

linda t said...

I meant to add...
Jody, you are such an awesome Mom!
You inspire so many Moms to lighten up and have FUN and not to be so hard on themselves.
Love your heart and spirit!

KatieButler said...

Just delurking to say I love this picture! In our house, we sing "messmaker, messmaker, make me a mess" (to the tune of "Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof) when one of the kids does something like this.
When my son was a toddler, he used to pull the stuffing out of the couch cushions whenever he had the chance. This morning his younger sister managed to smash 6 eggs from the carton while I was unpacking groceries. (I'm sure I have a similar story for my oldest, as well, but it's lost in the mists of my mind). Never a dull moment! :grin:

Shawnna Samples said...

ha ha
i think she just couldn't find ANYTHING to wear MOM -- hee hee

Jan said...

Maybe she should pick it all up when she's done, hee. Arnold Swartzenegger throws his kids clothes away if he finds them on the floor, of course he can afford to buy them new ones! We used to sing a little homeade song called "Pick up, Pick up time"

Joyous said...

You know...I remember pulling EVERYTHING out of EVERYWHERE when I was little...no idea why...just remember doing it....and hating having to clean it up!

Anonymous said...

I consider myself a neat freak as well...but a carpet rake? Oh my! I have my limits :) Thanks for the great post!

Rays Family said...

I just love your blog, and you are such an inspiration to sooo many people. Little girls are so adorable even when they pull all the clothes out of their closet. I have boys and their clothes actually never make it in the closet. Have a great Day!

Anne

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain and hear your laughter. Because you have helped me realize a lot of things, I actually don't get quite so upset when things like this happen. STILL don't like them though.:)

mary h.

Anonymous said...

LOL - my first son did this! I called it "room soup". When I thought he was playing happily in his room, I would find everything dumped in the middle (books, toys, clothes) and his happy smile. grrrr.

Anonymous said...

Cute!!! I am so glad that you posted this adorable picture!! (I can say adorable because it's your house in the pic and not mine LOL!!!).

His,
Mrs. U

Deene Souza Photography said...

Looks like a sea of pink!!!!!! LOL!!! And I'm probably not going to give you much optimisim when i tell you that his behavior will only get worse with age . . . My DD is 9 and does this on a regular basis. She is a clothes hog and wants to have everything at her fingertips and try everything on before she commits to the fashion statement of the day. Oh the joy!

Anonymous said...

Carpet raking - ugh! That was one of my assigned chores as a kid [we had that long shag], and I HATED it - mostly because footprints would show up almost right away. It seemed like such a waste of time.

Anyway, to the closet clearing event: there's a phase children go through where they like to take out and put away. Looks like she's mastered the taking out part! (and it looks like the putting away might be too difficult)

Brown English Muffin said...

Being neat freak myself I have no idea what I would have done!!

I am trying to get out of the neat freak zone by not even bringing a bib with me to day care for my little one and enjoying seeing the mess she paints on her clothes each day.

I realized you can't be a real child if you try to keep everything clean all the time!!