Laundry Purgatory

I have to say that with three children, laundry is a big chore. It is constant. I could do laundry all day every day and still never be absolutely done. I am so tired of laundry!!!!! Plus, my kids seem to have an aversion to putting it in the proper place. Thus, I find items of clothing in various states of decay all over the house. It's frustrating.

Before you give me lots of advice, let me just say that I have tried various methods to deal with the laundry. I found it manageable, and actually, quite enjoyable, when I was at home full-time. It's been since I went back to work full time that I find it so onerous. And even worse since I have become a single working mother.

Ok, so what does one do with an onerous, repetitive, and annoying task? Offer it up! Yes, laundry, too, counts. Unmatched socks? 10 minutes off purgatory. Difficult stains? 1 day. A load of barfed-on towels? 6 months. Soiled sheets? 1 year.

I ought to be paid up before I die. Oh, yeah...I keep losing my patience with the kids over laundry. So, I keep "earning" more time...Sigh...

Someday, my prince will come, but my King is with me...

My kids asked me when I'll "be done with the annulment." (The better question is when the annulment will be done w/ me!) They want me to find someone, I guess. I tried dating briefly last year after the divorce, in the post-divorce insanity and grief. I stopped when I realized I was making myself miserable -- and had put barriers between myself and God. Let's just say that dating is a near occasion of sin for me today.

Anyhow, I am in limbo. I actually am enjoying it today. I didn't date when I was separated at all, on principle. Not sure why I lost my principles once the divorce was granted. Fallen human nature, I guess. Today the main man in my life is the Son of Man. He's all I need.

Do I ever want a mere mortal in my life? Yep, a lot of times I do. Especially when I need to lift something heavy. But also when my kids aren't with me. I do get lonely. Late at night, too. Sometimes I just want a hand to hold, a muscular shoulder to cry on. Someone to be my champion.

There are advantages to being in the state I am in. I get to make ALL the choices about decor. My husband was very controlling. I made no choices about decor for 15 years. That stunk. It was hard when I moved out because I didn't know what my own preferences were.

I also get to dress myself without too much criticism (I get some from the snarky teenager) today. I can wear what I like.

I get to put religious statues, pictures, holy cards, and the like wherever I want. I can go to church and pray all I want, without the name-calling, putdowns, and snide remarks. I can give as much as I can afford -- which ain't much -- in the collection.

I can open up my bills without being shocked at the charges that I didn't make...

I can take the job I want. Amazingly, the job I wanted materialized after the divorce and my experiment with dating.

I get to have TWO WHOLE cats. I am happy. No, I am not turning into a cat lady. Two is quite enough, thank you. I did want the cat to be less lonely. He is. He has someone to pick on. : /

Which brings me back to married life...I want better for myself and my daughters than what I have experienced with their dad. I pray, and hope, if it is God's will, that I can find a man who can show them how a man treats a woman, and how a sacramental marriage works.

Keep me in your prayers.