Mon 7 Apr 2008
Singular Efficiency
Posted by Erin under Family and Friends, House
[7] Comments
I can’t for the life of me figure out why I’m suddenly so efficient. Dr. G has been gone most of the week, gallivanting around the country presenting his research and whatnot, and I’ve been fending for myself on the homefront. This consists, in part, of sleeping poorly and having dreams of the pool overflowing in the backyard while a row of evil Harley Davidsons charges the front. I also start to say things and then sheepishly stop, suddenly realizing that no one is there. I miss my Dr. G and will be glad to have him back. And yet, with him gone, I get so much more done. The annoying pile of tangled necklaces has even been sorted through, each one dusted and hung on a peg board; the leather sofa has been treated with a protective salve and the cushions rotated; I hung a picture and deep-cleaned the kitchen, dug up a bunch of bamboo in the backyard and treated my tomato plants for whiteflies. This in addition to the usual routines.
The question is, why? There is nothing in particular that he and I do together that would prevent me from doing things that otherwise languish undone for weeks. Granted, he did not grow up, as I did, in a home where Saturday Chores held a spot of honor just below loving Jesus and honoring your parents. So, these days, when I occasionally “get my chore on” Dr. G. opts for the Duck and Cover response. He does not believe in the Implacable Force of Chore Doing that was practically a member of my family. Perhaps my knowing that he is not a chore-mania believer subconsciously dampens my task-based enthusiasm when he’s around. Or maybe it takes plenty of homemaking effort to simply live life together, to pay the proper attention to the one I love. Most of the time, I will happily neglect any number of chores to sit out on the back patio or watch 1950’s TV shows together.
Martin and I are the exact same way. It sounds as though Dr. G and you were raised the same way, respectively, that Martin and I were. I remember being torn — with near anguish — when we were first married, and Martin wanted me to come watch a movie or a TV show with him instead of doing the dinner dishes. What’s a girl to do? I still haven’t quite figured it out. I need to get things done, but I also need to hang out with my family, and just enjoy their presence, and not sit down with them, reserving most of my mental attention reflecting on all the things that I “should” be doing instead of playing a round of golf on our plug’n'play “gaming” system.
Where’s the self-indulgent scrapbooking on that list? That’s SO what I would be doing.
I’m SO with you. Actually, before getting married, I sometimes let the chores slide, but never without a certain giddy sense of myself as revolutionary. It’s almost not as fun to just let them slide due to aimless procrastination like the other Dr. F.
I have to admit that I am the lazier spouse. Jason and I are pretty compatible in the chores that each one of us absolutely loathes, so things do get done without too much procrastination. But your family’s chore day seems like a mighty fine idea.
Saturday Chore Day held a place of honor in the Z house, too. The Arteest and I have a similar dynamic, and sometimes I just give up on my List in favor of relaxed togetherness.
Saturday chores were a big deal with with my family, too. Unfortunately, my reaction to them was to do less chores later in life to make up for it, thereby making me a less ideal mate for someone. Thanks a lot, Dad.
Yeah, i give up on my list pretty easily as well as fairly often. sometimes the Mood just strikes though. it was a revelation to me as an adult to visit other people’s houses and realize that one’s abode did not, in fact, have to be squeaky clean every minute of the day.
Kate, now that I have a digital camera, we never even print our pictures out anymore….
Erik, my condolences on your destroyed chances of impressing the perfect mate. I’m sure you’ll find some way to compensate.