When I first started this post (before WordPress lost several of my drafts) I intended it to be a funny story about Ava and how she is learning about life through books. Now it’s a not-so-funny story about how I’m learning through Ava and her books about life.
Take a quick gander over at the side bar at the recently published posts. There are literally three times that number of posts in the draft section of my blog and would be more if WordPress hadn’t decided to shave off a few. And that’s just blog writing projects. I have creative writing projects, crafty projects, house remodeling projects, organizational projects, cleaning projects, correspondence– I’m up to my ears in projects. And frankly I’m not making a whole lot of progress. I am, however, continually coming up with new ideas for new projects as if this is helpful. When the balance of the ideas starts to tip strongly to the uncompleted side, my mood starts to slide in the downward direction.
And this heap, well it’s about to send me into the depths of despair.
Actually, I hid the pile in a Steve Madden shopping bag two weeks ago. Someone must have added a couple packets of yeast, because it doubled in size and is now taking up an entire place setting at my dining room table. Talk about an unwelcome guest.
Oh it’s hideous. A couple of weeks ago, my friend Christa asked other moms to share pictures of their messes in attempt to dispel the myths of perfectionism. There it is, Christa. Not that this is shocking as this blog is open source chronicle of my imperfections.
Somewhere in this heap is the medical bill and the lawn service bill that Nate asked me to mail ten days ago. There are stickers in there for the daily job chart I was going to make Ava months ago. There is also a library book I needed to return yesterday as well as the embroidery floss needed to complete the baby gift I still haven’t mailed. If you look closely you will see an ad that expired on Valentine’s Day. I probably don’t need to state that we are passed the midway mark in March. And taking up the bulk of the mess are heaps and heaps of Ava’s art projects.
People, I have never thought of myself as a saver, yet I have so much trouble throwing away Ava’s art. It’s ridiculous, but that’s another post.
Suffice it to say, this pile is driving me to write about it, not actually fix it, but write about it.
So let’s see if we (or just I) can learn from Ava and her recent life lesson.
A few weeks ago, I was in the kitchen slicing apples when I heard a little voice in Ava’s room say, “I’m down in the dumps. I’m down in the dumps….I’m down in the dumps!”
I walked toward her room and found her standing the midst of tutus, undershirts, plastic ponies, glitter wands, pink bottles, lacing cards, and pocket-sized princesses. “Blah! I’m down in the dumps.”
“You’re down in the dumps?”
“Yep, like Toad,” she said picking her Frog and Toad book out of heap.
She explained the state of her room (as though it wasn’t obvious) and how it was just like Toad’s room. We talked about how upsetting it was to have a messy room and that it wasn’t fun to play or sleep in a mess. We reviewed the story together, how Toad didn’t want to clean his room, but he couldn’t enjoy himself knowing that he would have to clean it later.
“Maybe if I put away all my jammies,” she said echoing Toad’s line, “I won’t have to do it later, will I?”
“No, you won’t.”
She starting sorting the matching tops and bottoms out of the heap and stuck them in their drawer.
“And if I pick up all my books, I won’t have to it later, right?”
“Right,” I said, as I helped her put her books on her shelf.
“If I pick up all my barrettes and tails now, then I wouldn’t have to later, will I?”
“No, you won’t.”
And with the hope of clean room set out before her, Ava cheerfully put away all the things in her room with increasing expectation and excitement. As though she was sent forth as a continual object lesson, she demonstrated how to tackle a project one piece at a time. In what seemed like merely moments, Ava was twirling around a delightfully organized room.
“Now, tomorrow I can take life easy,” Ava said throwing her arms up and landing on her bean bag.
I should hope so, you are only three.
As for me, well I still have the pile. Let’s see if I can put this lesson to practice.
Oh, thank you for helping me feel so much better about all of my unfinished projects. I’ve got a table that looks very similar to yours. I’ve got baby gift thank you notes to send, Christmas cards that need to be weighed & mailed to foreign countries, scrapbooks to update, wedding pictures to develop (from 2005)…not to mention closets to clean, boxes of junk to sort through, and music that I’ve been meaning to record since 11th grade (that was 12 years ago). Funny how having stuff hang over your head can have such an effect on the mood! I like Ava’s lesson from Mr. Toad…I will remember that.
Sounds like you need a breather from all of these projects. Take one at a time and cross them off your list. From one scattered woman to another (?) I know what I am talking about! I am already starting some piles here in a new apartment across the Atlantic and am vowing NOT to let it get away from me! Well….we will hope, anyway! Thank you for the updates on you, your thoughts, frustrations, and of course, Ava!
This. is a great post, Rachel. It embodies so much about the daily life of a mother. And the messes. I don’t know why I get such joy from posts about messes. but I do. It’s almost like I take pleasure in other people’s trouble. Because it’s so much like my own.
Maybe I’ll go look through my own pile right now and make sure there’s no overdue bills in there.
I’m down in the dumps too! Can I borrow Ava’s book? I can use the lesson “if I do it now, I won’t have to do it later.” Like emptying & loading the dishwasher, vacuuming the bedroom (maybe dust it too), finish my wedding scrapbook (almost 3 years later than the event), and finish one of the many Bible studies I’ve started! Oh, I need a lesson from the toad.
your messes are cute, because they are in well-decorated rooms. couldn’t help but notice. i just wanted to step out of the dark and let you know that, I too, leave drawers and cabinet doors open. i’m not lazy, i’m just completely unaware.
Don’t fret…we are all in the same boat. I have a list in my head and on paper of things/projects that I want to start. They never get past the start phase…and many don’t even make it that far. Just think though, if you spent all your time trying to finish up what’s on the pile what time would be left to spend with your precious Ava?
Your desk is gorgeous just the way it is, darling. Seriously. I thought it was something out of a Pottery Barn ad.
(But go ahead and deal with the piles anyway. Because that’s what Martha would do. And it makes us all happy to have the pile diminished.)
This is just the post I needed to read today! I have a HUGE list of stuff to do that’s growing by the minute, and what am I doing? Looking around at everyone’s blog, checking email again (no new emails in the last 10 minutes!) and procrastinating in every way possible. I’m going to submit this comment, turn off my computer, and tackle the piles. Thanks, Ava, for the motivation in getting stuff done! If I do it now, I won’t have to do it later!
I seriously think we have to talk to the preschool about the amount of art that is sent home with Ava and Elliot. Oh the beautiful, endless piles of art that just can’t be thrown away…
Great reminders/lessons to pass on to all of us, Ava! And, yes…those “to-do lists” can be so overwhelming…there is ALWAYS so much to do! It really is never-ending…
One thing at a time…that is what I have to tell myself when the “piles” of things to do, pile up!!!
Oh…and have you looked over that Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons? I noticed it on your dining room table. That is what I used with Mackenzie and started to use with Kylie (but found Scaredy Cat Reading instead…a bit more hands-on for my tactile, visual learner!). Anyway…just curious!!!
Thanks Ava, That is a good plan – i am a procrastinator by heart and would save everything to do tomorro but unfortuently that ussually leads me to the dumps ( or under lots of piles!)
great post. i too have a pile that is typically waiting on me
not so much of the preschool art anymore. but TONS of first grade stories 
i figure he’ll never care about them – but i have fun going back and reading them all 
or they just don’t have enough “fun” going on in their lives 
so … it is what it is
plus … i never mind seeing a pile when i go to someone’s house. mainly because if i don’t see one – i figure it’s just hidden
Honey, we defineatley have some of the same endearing qualities! Kåre and Nate could have a good exchange about open cupboard doors. The crazy thing, when Elias was about two he started pushing in drawers and closing cupboards after me. I was thinking this when I read about your sewing project. I never get around to learning to sew because I want to learn to knit and embroider and do bookmaking and bake more. I won’t even go into the guilt over how much (rather, how little) art has been made since my senior show… We creative types are rarely the super organized types. I like grammy’s term, “scattered women”. I’d join that club!
PS. I’d just like to add that at least you’ve got your priorities well organized. Your most important projects, like Ava, seem to be thriving indeed!
Uffda… nothing a couple of 6am mornings couldn’t fix….
Can Ava come to my house to clean I mean play?
I saw an organizing guru one time and she said this about kids’ artwork: ‘If it doesn’t show off how amazing your baby is, chunk it.” Ie, a spelling test – chunk it. An essay – save it. A project that looks exactly like every other kid’s in her preschool class – chunk it. A self portrait – save it.
what an amazing little lady. she teaches lessons so beautifully.
found you through Missy’s blog. Love your style.