HELP! My House Is Getting Smaller!

Oh wait, no it's not.  I just have too much stuff!

So you know those people who can't get to sleep at night if there are dirty dishes in the sink?

Yeah, they piss me off.

Probably because I'm not one of them.

I am perfectly content to use the kitchen sprayer to fill my glass with water so that I don't have to disrupt the Jenga pile in my kitchen sink, and then head off to a deep and restful sleep.

I watch Hoarders to make myself feel better.

At least I'm not THAT bad!

 

I am a piler of stuff.  Yes, it's true.  I am disorganized and I hesitate to throw things away.  Hey!  I might need them someday!  Add to my own disorganization, three male species of various ages with their own crap to add to the mix.  I'm screwed!

 

"NO MORE!" I say.  "STOP THE INSANITY!"

 

I have decided that the first step to my newfound independence is to love my home.  I don't need it to be spotless, I don't need it to be uber-organized.  Let's face it, I'm not going to develop OCD overnight!  But I'm going to weed out.  I don't think my 17-year old is going to wake up one morning and say "I really feel like building with Legos today."  I think it's okay for me to get rid of some of the things that we surely do not need anymore.  My kiddo is growing up, it's time for me to do the same.  Well, to some degree.  I still like to make fart noises under my armpits.

And The Nest Gets Quieter...

A conversation I had yesterday with my 17 year old:

 

Mike:  Can you teach me how to make coffee in the coffee pot?
Me:  Um, sure?  Why?
Mike:  Because I start my new job on Monday.  I need to make coffee.

(my baby needs coffee?)

 

Me:  Okay, but you know I make a pot every morning.  You can have some.

Mike:  Yeah, but I'm working 3rd shift.  I'll be gone before you even get up.

 

(oh.)

 

Me:  Hey, did you shave?

Mike:  Well, yeah, Mom, I have to shave for work.

 

(my baby is shaving?  like for real?  not with a popsicle stick or anything?)

 

And so it begins.  My nest is far from empty, but it is getting a little quieter.  My child still needs me, but not in the same way as in the past.  Gone are the days of playing (okay, PRETENDING  to know what I was playing) Pokémon, watching Toy Story and whittling bars of Ivory soap.  Gone are the bazillion rides to basketball and football and child care and bell concerts and talent shows.

 

Here are the days of driving, bank accounts and "real" jobs.  All important, but far less time-consuming for the mom in me.

 

So, I am finding myself with more "me" time than I know what to do with.  Let's face it, the last time I had this much free time, I was 25 years old and filled each and every minute not devoted to working, to partying.  Now, at 40-something-or-other, partying is not high on the priority list.  But what is?  I'm not sure.  Hence, this blog.  I am hoping that by keeping track of my interests, my hobbies, how I spend that free time, I will somehow discover who I am as an individual.

But for now, I am first, foremost and forever...Mom.