Monday, April 30, 2007
Years ago we had the youth of our church over to our house. One of the girls looked around our kitchen, scanning the clutter-free countertops.
"Where is everything?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" I said.
"You know, the toaster, the can opener, the . . . stuff."
It was the first time I clued in to the fact that I have an area of compulsivity. There's something about clean countertops. Not only do I want them clean, I want them clear. It bothers me to see clutter on the island and counter tops. I don't know why. The rest of the house can be a raging mess, but as long as my counter tops are clean, I feel good.
Naturally, this means the counters has become a favorite breeding spot for empty cups and stray papers. Why can't my boys understand that this is my sacred spot? My must-be-clean spot? Wreak in the living room or the office, but hands off my kitchen.
Crazy, I know, but we all have at least one area of compulsivity. Don't we?
"Where is everything?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" I said.
"You know, the toaster, the can opener, the . . . stuff."
It was the first time I clued in to the fact that I have an area of compulsivity. There's something about clean countertops. Not only do I want them clean, I want them clear. It bothers me to see clutter on the island and counter tops. I don't know why. The rest of the house can be a raging mess, but as long as my counter tops are clean, I feel good.
Naturally, this means the counters has become a favorite breeding spot for empty cups and stray papers. Why can't my boys understand that this is my sacred spot? My must-be-clean spot? Wreak in the living room or the office, but hands off my kitchen.
Crazy, I know, but we all have at least one area of compulsivity. Don't we?
7 Comments:
bAs a high school English teacher, my school papers MUST be organized. There is a clipboard for each class and the lesson plans for the week are clipped to it. All the student papers that come in are separated into plastic sleeves and then put in the "to be graded" folder. There is a separate folder for photocopying and another for papers that are to be filed in the appropriate notebooks for each grade's lesson plans. I have boxes for each special literature unit we do (where I store the handouts, notes, DVD's , bulletin board materials, etc.)and baskets to collect portfolios and projects. Each student has a mailbox to put the latest handouts and graded papers.
I'd say that's excessively compulsive behavior, wouldn't you?!
Maybe even over the top?! Funny thing is, when the papers aren't organized, I start to panic. I'm so afraid I'm going to lose a student's paper.
Uh, Denise, I've seen your clutter free counters and I have to tell ya, I didn't see any clutter anywhere else either...I remember thinking the same thing...where's the mail...the already graded homework papers...anything. You should never come to my house. LOL. You would be seriously stressed out.
On a side note--Is it just me or do they send home a dozen papers a day with our children? Sheesh, I can hardly keep up.
I am so glad that I am not alone!
People have accused me of being a minimalist because of my clean-counter-compulsion. It's not true! I have as many small kitchen appliances and gadgets as any homemaker ought to have!
I just appreciate the beauty of clean counter tops. It just feel right to walk into your kitchen and see that some tangible area of life is in order!
Kellie
Pam, you HAVE to be organized--you're a teacher! LOL
Believe me, Sabrina, this house gets to be a wreck--especially on the weekend.
Ah, Kellie, a kindred spirit. I knew I'd find someone who understood.
Um, no. We don't have that area. That's reserved for Anal Retentives only. : ) BTW, how on earth do you keep the kids from tossing stuff on it? A clean counter to my kids is a place where they can lay more stuff. Sigh. Maybe you train them better than I do. I can't even train my husband.
Oh how do you do it, D? I HATE to see clutter on an island too but it just. . . breeds. I've never found a way to keep it from exploding. LOL Give us your secret.
Yes, please give us your secret! I thought for sure when the kids moved out I'd not have to clean as much but it still piles up way to fast. As for my compulsivity, I want my sharpened pencils to be stored points up--so I can tell if it's sharp or not--and my pens must be points down so the ink will work with gravity. Clean spots? Don't know how that works but get me around pens and pencils, yeah, there's something wrong.
Abundant blessings,
Jenny Cary
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