I'm rarely caught up on my laundry. I don't have problems washing it, but folding laundry is another story. It isn't hard (obviously) and it doesn't really take that long (depending on how long I've been avoiding it). But there is always something better to do.
I know that kids don't always put their recently worn, but still clean clothes away. I know this because I was a kid once. So I have two laundry baskets. One is for dirty clothes and one is for clean clothes that need to be put away. On the rare occurrence when the kids' clothes are worn, but still clean they toss them in the clean basket and I refold when I can (or at least dig something out to be worn again). Last night I was looking at a full "clean, but worn" pile AND a "freshly washed" pile. It was quite a bit of laundry and it had been mocking me from the corner for a few days.
My youngest is still very little (only four) and my oldest (almost 10) still likes to hang out with me. So I am often deeply involved in what they are doing. It is rare that I can sneak away for an unattended potty break, let alone having a large (or even small) chunk of time to clean. But, last night, after we had swam in the pool, attended an outdoor play, visited a park, eaten dinner & spent a few hours playing video games we moved to the bedroom where my youngest found a movie to watch and my oldest played on her DS. Sometimes snuggles are needed for movie watching & DS playing. But last night they were ok with me *not* being right next to them.
So I quietly started folding laundry...hoping to get at least some of it done before being called for snuggles (or snacks or water). At some point, probably realizing that the kids weren't going to need me for awhile, I got into the whole laundry folding thing. Each item I put away became a gift. As my youngest's favorite pink skirt went into the drawer, I thought about how happy she'd be to be able to wear it. As my oldest's clothes filled her drawers I thought about how happy she'd be to be to find her favorite shirts.
By the time I was done, I was glad the laundry was folded (yay, something to check off my massive to-do list!), but more importantly I relaxed and excited knowing that everyone (including me) would be able to find their favorite clothes in the coming week.
