Okay – I’ll admit it – I’m a control freak. I like things a certain way – and if I can’t have them that way, I give up entirely.
If I can’t have a spotless house, I give up and allow clutter to collect around us, even though the chaos drives me crazy.
SIGH.
Finding a happy medium is my ultimate goal, but I often lose sight of it in my pursuit of perfection. A perfect house. Perfect furniture. Perfect arrangements.
With or without children, perfection is not something I have ever been able to attain. Big surprise. And over the years, I have learned to let go of things here and there, but I still have that inner woman who shrieks at me to “get this house clean!”
Enter pregnancy. And bedrest.
It is only short term for now – but it has required a complete letting go of my control over the appearance of our house. I have a history of early spotting in pregnancy – but with this pregnancy it’s a bit heavier than it should be so I’m on bedrest for a couple of days.
In the meantime, Roy has pretty much taken over. And he EXCELS at it.
Now I’m not saying that I am relinquishing all duties and responsibilities of house and home keeping. Uh-uh. I still like doing dishes my way and having laundry done a certain way – BUT the rest of this stuff is being perfectly managed by my husband and daughters.
He has taken over meals and kept us fed. He has taken the girls out shopping and out to play. He has waited on me hand and foot. He has been in charge and done it so well.
And I think that to a large degree, it’s because I. Have. Let. Him.
It’s not his role to take care of everything in our home. But it is very likely that he doesn’t do more because I’m always trying to control him it.
So being forced to rest – in bed – I have seen a whole new side of my husband and my girls. They have brought me water and juice and snacks and lunch in bed. They are playing well together. They are learning to care for others more than themselves.
When I have made my way to the living room, my eyes have been assaulted by toys and blankets all around – but the house is so peaceful because nobody is yelling. Nobody is fighting. And when they’re asked to clean up they do it in a jif…
So I’m going to practice STEPPING BACK from Mrs. Perfection and relaxing a bit. It may be out of necessity at times, but I really want to practice it regardless of bedrest or not.
So that’s how I’m Making My Home Sing Today. And it’s a really nice song…
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YES! It was amazing to just read your post. No I do not have the same circumstances
but I did have the same realization today. For me it was the thought (with a smile I am sure) ‘what would happen if I just stopped for a day?’ What if I didn’t wash all the dishes, all the time. Would hubby do it? I am not sure where this is leading because in my heart I KNOW that the role the Lord has given me is keeper of the home. But I WILL be taking this new thought with me to Him in prayer. What exactly does He want me to do? Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blessings!
I have read that a perfectionist is like that sometimes. That’s because if they don’t feel like they have time to do it all and get it all cleaned, they won’t do any of it. Isn’t that funny? (Funny but true) Or they might obsess over cleaning the inside of a drawer or something while the rest of the room is messy. That’s me, lol!
Glad you’re taking it easy. I was on bedrest with both my kids because of my bleeding issues.
Thank you for linking up today!
I have that same tendency. It is very hard to step back. Great job!
Oh what? You mean I don’t have to control everything?!?!
I feel your pain….not the pregnant, spotting, bedrest type of pain…but the control freak kind of pain. But thank you for your wonderful reminder that it doesn’t always have to be done our way. Sometimes that is easy to lose sight of in the busyness of life.
Hope you are able to get up and get moving soon. Have a great week either way!
Oh that would be hard, but what a great lesson! I think I am the same sort of perfectionist – things get overwhelming, so I don’t do them because there’s not enough time to do them right! Get plenty of rest!