Do you know that we have been posting here for more than seven years now?
So it's high time to clean up the house!
In that spirit, I've been going through the archives and trying to pull out the important posts in my series. I've done the laundry posts, and now I'm on to the cleaning posts. The reason that it takes a while (I mean other than that I keep getting distracted) is that not only do I have to pull them out and format them with a picture for the cute (in theory, at least) “button” indexing method that I favor, but I also have to fix up the formatting on the old posts that had originally appeared on our old blog platform.
Everything looked okay there, but the switch makes them wonky and continues to apply random wonkiness that is hard to control, despite my best efforts. So please forgive any oddities as you read those old posts.
If you are new here, I want you to know that we do things differently at Like Mother, Like Daughter.
We are not about perfection. We are about competence.
You can't have one without the other, but you need to have a peaceful approach to your issues, whether they are about the mess, the dirt, the hunger of the little ones, or the piles of laundry. Just do the minimum with a good heart and you will see how it all comes together.
I've taken you through the whole cleaning process and your whole house, step by step. You can access the posts easily on the new page for that purpose (it was there before, but it just had the posts in reverse order by category, which I know was frustrating — thanks for your patience!).
If you would like to comment or leave a question on one of those posts, feel free — I will see it and I will try to answer you, so do check the little box that enables you to receive follow-up messages by email.
To you old-timers, thanks for bearing with this scatterbrain!
Anna M says
Yay! I’m looking forward to being able to navigate to those posts more easily. I’ve read most of them by clicking on the “You May Also Like” links.
Lisa G. says
I am fifty eight with no children, but I still have difficulty getting it all accomplished on my days off, but your “just do the minimum with a good heart” practically brings tears to my eyes. You are no scatterbrain, Leila. xoxo
Thanks.
Leila says
Lisa, thank you!
Amy says
I love your blog…this feels like a gift! Thank you! By the way, I think you look so pretty in your main blog picture. -Amy
Leila says
Aw, Amy, thanks! I might as well take advantage of being all gussied up for a wedding, right? 😉
Julie says
Just wanted you to know I come here for many reasons, but the main one is encouragement. I love the Order and Wonder concept, as we often err on the side of one or the other. I have many Order friends and I am heavy on the Wonder side. I find that is what it means for us to be a body. My Order friends help me with my scatteredness, and I make them sit for awhile and enjoy, without worrying about the cleanup. (Not to mention they send their kids to my house in clothes they can “get dirty in”) We are all blessed by the balance you offer here. May you be blessed in your efforts.
Julie
Leila says
Thank you, Julie! I appreciate it!
Mrs. B. says
Seven years of wisdom and counting! I love your talent for peaceful encouragement… that’s definitely not something that comes natural to me and I have to work on this a lot 🙁 Well, I don’t mean to imply that it comes easy to you, just that I am not nearly as capable of doing the same…
Thank you for letting us know you’ll see new comments on old posts – that’s useful!
One more thing, off topic – you should talk with Rod Dreher! In his blog (http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/) he will often talk about his desire for what he calls a “Benedict option”, a way of living that will preserve the faith in his family and build a safe community of like-minded people. It seems a lot of his readers have a hard time understanding what he means, but to me it’s clear that it’s something very much like a St. Greg’s pocket. Asked by a reader to explain what he’s doing, he recently wrote: “[NFR: In my case, by homeschooling and building up our local parish as a spiritual community, stronghold, and lighthouse. We have also withdrawn to what I think is a meaningful degree from popular culture, and direct our kids toward healthier expressions of art and culture. — RD]” (www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/a-benedictine-on-the-benedict-option/)
It’s comforting to know many people desire to live this way… we’re not running away, we’re trying to build something lasting.
Lisa says
I really enjoyed his book Crunchy Con. I thought he left the Church. Perhaps he returned?
Sherri says
Very excited about this. I was reading some posts about important things for the family, keeping Sunday holy, dinner every day together, and then I never could find the third one. Help me, I’m list in a sea of links! You are awesome for taking time to organize this stuff as much as you have, can’t even imagine approaching such a task, thank you for sharing wisdom!
Leila says
Sherri, in this post (the fourth secret) you will find all the posts linked:
http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2014/04/final-secret-destruction-proofing-family/
The first two are really in one post. Then the third is in a second post. So that’s a little tricky 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Melanie says
This post couldn’t have been more timely. For quite some time I have been imagining, rehearsing, planning, etc., the perfect way to thank you via email. I stumbled upon your blog almost a year ago while in the midst of a full blown, hormonal melt down during my 4th pregnancy. I could carry on forever about how much of a blessing your wisdom has been to me, but it wouldn’t be enough. I have implemented many of your suggestions, but the first ones that come to mind are the reasonably clean/laundry posts. Before the birth of my little one early this year, I had perfected my laundry system, returned my house to “reasonable cleanliness” and got back on track with menu planning. I even hung my broom on a hook like a domestic goddess! And by the time little H was here, I was able to rest (yes, rest!) with a peaceful mind. With these 3 things in order, I have been able to work on other areas that need attending. Restful Sundays have been a God send (and it is so true that only a mother can make this happen) and just today I received the MCP Plaid books (found on ebay for a great price!) to use in homeschooling. Your posts on disciplining boys have also been very informative. I have 4 so I’m taking lots of notes! With all that being said, it still isn’t enough. I am truly, truly so appreciative of what you have done with this blog. I pray for you and your family often and look forward to your continued wisdom.
Leila says
Wow, thank you, Melanie! I’m so happy to have been of service 🙂
I think the broom makes me the happiest 😉
Michele Quigley says
“We are not about perfection. We are about competence. We are about trying to have a minimum of order so that we can pursue the wonder — order in the home, order in our days — wonder in our time together as family and friends and with God.”
Oh so beautifully put –thank you!
Blog moving can be so tedious, if only because something inevitably escapes your notice until much later when you realize its wonky mess. Overall though it really does look lovely here.