Let me explain...

Due to some of the comments on my previous post, I think some of you may have the wrong idea about my cleaning habits/personality.

First of all, my OCD is not completely inhibiting. I've dealt with it for so many years that I have a pretty good grasp on it. This is not something I am ok just taking a pill for so I've put in many hours studying, practicing, applying and tweaking some coping mechanisms. For example, since my house is clean every morning, after breakfast is eaten and cleaned up we usually head out of the house. Whether to explore our area, preschool, parks, play dates, library, etc. This way when we come home for lunch the house is still clean.

Secondly, I am NOT constantly cleaning all day, every day. I'm also NOT a germaphobe. Since my house gets picked up daily as I go, there isn't much to do generally (the most cleaning usually accompanies and precedes meals... sound familiar to any one else??) so it's pretty easy to keep it together.

Some things that I am currently working on, letting the dishes sit in the sink until after the kids are in bed, laying out the laundry to be folded during nap time or after bedtime, not cleaning up all toys before nap time and just waiting until before dinner, etc. (notice a pattern?) These might sound so easy, but not for me.

One thing though, I don't have a huge desire to change how I am, it's who I am. I do, however, use some techniques so it doesn't consume me.

The last subject I wanted to address is: guilt. When I said I feel guilty, my mom got really mad at me. I have nothing to feel guilty about (darn natural man). Not to toot my own horn, but I am an awesome mom. I sat last night watching my boys play Wii bowling and they were happy, fed, clean, laughing, dancing and generally awesome. Thats because of me! (and Braden :) My kids are thriving, smart, happy, fun and we do so many fun things together. Yes, when we color or do a craft at home I am constantly supervising and helping but still letting their creative juices and imaginations run free. Yes, I do a load or two of laundry every day and fold it every night but they look so nice in clean clothes. Basically, I don't feel that I or my family suffer from my condition, but still little feelings of guilt creep in here and there and this is just my lot in life, that I WILL overcome, although I don't think my cleaning habits will or should ever change.

Taylor, you will be happy to know I left the breakfast fixings out while I sat down and enjoyed breakfast with my boys this morning. And yes it was cleaned up immediately following, but still a big deal for me.

Well, I am going to get off the computer and play tennis with Mason.