My husband has low expectations of me. Not that he doesn’t think I can’t do things, but he doesn’t expect me to do things. Since all the kids (except one, but his time is coming) have had the flu lately, and my hands and lap have been very busy, I haven’t gotten much done around the house lately. I made banana muffins for lunch the other day (making muffins was much easier than trying to find something everyone would eat), and I made a double batch (I have five children at home. I always make a double batch.) My husband pronounced me most amazing for baking when all kids were sick. How did I ever find the time? (See? Low expectations.)
I spent the afternoon reclaiming some valuable real estate today. The counter top in our kitchen is a catchall. It’s the first thing you see when you walk in the door (unless you walk in the front door, but who uses the front door?). It sets the tone for the rest of the house. Lately, the counter top has been collecting paint brushes, tools, medicines and dispensers, and cell phone chargers. Which may not be too bad if you have a large counter top, but ours is only about 5 feet long. Really. And the kettle, french press and dish drain board take up permanent residence. So today I cleaned it all off. It didn’t take me too long, but it made a very big difference. That and picking up the toys that littered the living room floor and running the vacuum were my accomplishments for the day. In a Very Small House filled with a lot of people, it’s the little things that make a big difference.
It wasn’t much, but my husband thinks I’m a goddess now. I think it even made up for the fact that we didn’t have supper until 7:00. Because even goddesses need to nap when they have the flu. Right? Maybe I should turn off all the lights so he won’t see the laundry I didn’t get folded. I could pretend the power went out.