Thursday, May 6, 2010

Routine and Organization

We took the grandsons home Sunday evening and I'm tired.  I've been thinking about this and wondering why?  I raised two boys that were also 16 month apart in age and very active, just as my grandsons are.  I never felt so tired raising my boys as I do after five days with my grandsons.  Why?  There are a couple of reasons I've come up with.
First, and most obvious, is that I'm 25 years older.  Second, I've figured out that routine is a large part of my daily life and existence.  I love routine.  I thrive on organization.  And the older I get the more attached to routine and organization I become.  Because of this I get a lot done and when all is going according to routine I feel at peace.

According to Wikipedia:  "Routine, as a course of normative, standardized actions or procedures that are followed regularly, often repetitiously".
And according to G.K. Chesterton: "Of all modern notions, the worst is this: that domesticity is dull. Inside the home, they say, is dead decorum and routine; outside is adventure and variety. But the truth is that the home is the only place of liberty, the only spot on earth where a man can alter arrangements suddenly, make an experiment or indulge in a whim. The home is not the one tame place in a world of adventure; it is the one wild place in a world of rules and set tasks."
These are words that I live by.  Well, you throw two little active boys into my neat, organized, routine of a life and it's not that I don't want them, it just takes me a few days to adjust and situate myself and the boys into a new, temporary routine.  So by the third day that the boys were here we settled into a good routine.  We all had fun and the boys were well behaved and I wasn't "growly", as Landen would sometimes call me. By the fifth and last day they were here Bob and I hated to see them go, almost, but we were glad to resume our old and familiar routine once again.  The boys said they wanted to stay and live here forever.  But if that happened, life at Bobby and Nina's (Grandpa and Grandma's) would soon turn into a normal routine for them and they'd want to move on to a more fun temporary routine someplace else, I'm sure.

This week so far has been spent fightning an allergy, sinus thing and it's kickin' my butt.  Regardless, I got more work done on the garden beside the shed and I'm getting the inside of the house cleaned up for the baby shower this Saturday I'm giving for DIL Melissa.   DIL Diana and granddaughter Riley were here Tuesday and Wednesday.  They headed back to Spokane today.  Oh, that little Riley is just the sweetest little thing.  I just can not quit kissing her. 
Today I'm off to finish the baby shower shopping.  I have a whole list of odds and ends that need purchased and done for Saturday. 
Lists:  That's another must have in my life.  So off I go now to cross off the items on the current list by day's end. As is my routine, I'll have a new list for tomorrow.


8 comments:

Unknown said...

... & what a lovely way to become tired! That is what keeps us young & vital.

Have a beautiful Mother's Day.
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Laura said...

As I was reading your post, I thought,
Isn't life Grand?

I know exactly what you mean-

I love my routine and I love my occasional lack of routine.

Laura

Annette said...

I know what you mean!! I love it when the kids come for the weekend or I get to keep Shylee for a few days, but it's so disruptive! And I too, am exhausted when they leave! But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Can't wait to hear and see pics of the shower!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Yeah, that detail about being that much older is a big factor, for starters. And even though our grandkids are at our house every day, the fact that I still go to work several afternoons means I need to slip into my work routine...dress for it, fix my face and hair, etc.... And it's hard to knit the two parts of my life together. I'm getting dressed while kids are trying on my shoes and laughing at my pantyhose and.... Well anyway, yes, disruption of a routine makes us expend a lot of extra energy!

Cottage Rose said...

Oh I so know what you mean,, after my grand kids visit,,, I am so wore out,,,lol but fun,, then happy to have our home back to normal.....Hope you are feeling better,, sinuses,, are not fun I have problems all the time.... what fun to have a baby shower,,, enjoy your weekend...

Hugs;
Alaura

DJan said...

I think it's wonderful that you know why you love your routine, and why you can do what you just did with the grands, and then leave them to their own lives again. You are a very organized person who deserves the life you have made for yourself. It's amazing to me how much you accomplish!

Grandma Lizzie's House said...

I love to write lists also and cross off the item when it's accomplished. I guess I need the visual to remind me that I actually get things done.

StitchinByTheLake said...

I feel the same way you do - I love my routine and though I love when the grandchildren come it throws me off and I'm not as good as handling it as I used to be. Worth it...certainly. blessings, marlene

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