In my natural preference, I am neat and organized. I love having everything in place-at least everything that I can control. But I am also well aware that there are times when things will be messy and disorganized. For example, right now there is a load of Lucas' clean laundry sitting in the living room. It is folded but I just haven't found the time to get it up to his room. I have a number of winter clothes on my hope chest waiting to be put away when I swap my spring clothes. Does it annoy me that they are there, yes. But I haven't had the time to devote to completing that project like I should. So they will wait there at least another day.
I also love two things that tend to be messy-gardening and cooking. What gets me through the messy stage in either of these two activities is knowing that I can clean up at the end it everything will look great!
Today's Daily Groove message from Scott Noelle talks about Life being messy. Our culture takes a negative view of messiness in the normal order of things. When it comes to raising children, messy is just the new normal. I know that and have come to accept that. Do I teach Lucas the importance of cleaning up, yes. Do I encourage behavior that will lead to less messiness, yes. But he if decides that he wants to drag his soldiers out and dumps them on the floor as part of some great imaginary game he is playing-GREAT! If he wants to take his shoes off to see how the sand feels in his toes-go for it! You have to be messy to experience the joys of life. My mom got him rain boots several weeks ago so he could jump in the puddles. I have been waiting for a chance to get these on him. I can't wait for him to help me with the garden. I even bought him his own set of gardening tools for Easter.
What I don't get is that Marc, who is normally not as organized or neat as me, gets very bothered by me encouraging Lucas to be messy. I can just see the anxiety rising in him when things start to get a little out of control. I just keep telling him that is why we have water, soap, a washing machine and extra clothes.
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