Cleaning

Have you ever noticed that when there is a mess in the house no one seems to know who made it? Everyone walks by and says that they can't stand for things to be messy and dirty, but no one ever actually cleans the mess. I especially dislike this attitude when it comes to kitchens. Counter tops were meant to be seen and used. They are not meant to hold every dirty dish in your possession or all the mail that no one wants to claim. They are not a storage closet or a desk. This past week and a half my mom has been ill and I have been really busy with school. (Have I mentioned already that I moved back in with my mom and sibs this past March?) You would think that since the other residents of the house are over the age of 14, they could throw away the paper plate that they used for dinner without someone telling them to do so. But this is not the case. I go to school at night and get home late. Friday morning rolled around and I was up early to get my high school age siblings out the door on time. I walked through our kitchen and threw away 2, 2, garbage cans full of trash that had accumulated over a four day period. WHY?! There wasn't one clean bowl in the entire house with which to enjoy cereal and soy milk. We washed two loads of dished that day. It was disgusting. 

  Today, the day after Friday, I spent most of my day at a quilting guild meeting learning to cut a particular quilt block pattern. When I got home guess what I saw? It looked the same as the rest of the week!!! I asked my brother, who is 24, why he and the other kids hadn't cleaned the house like Mom had asked. His reason, he fell asleep. This is a kid who complains that the house is not very neat and organized. He doesn't think my mom is a very good housekeeper, apparently. But who would be when no one makes the messes that need to be cleaned? Aghh!

People, we need to take responsibility for our actions in life. If you make a mess, clean it up. If you use a dish, wash it. If you drive on the street, don't litter. If you vote someone into office and they are not honest and full of integrity, kick them out! If you know of a need in your community for someone with your talents and abilities, or not, help out. We cannot sit back and say, Oh so-and-so should do it or It's not my problem. People do make their own choices and must live with the consequences. But if there is something that you can do to make your community, neighborhood or home better, do it. Today someone told me that I always have time to sew because I make my schedule and I set my own limitations.