Faking Domestic-ness

[Kathy Friend]

I wrote a piece for BD on faking domestic-ness. I got some great feedback from those who are also domestically challenged.

Faking it doesn't mean not doing your best - it is just THAT...trying to do your best with what you've got.

Anyone have any good fakery tips?

[Michele]

The best fakery tip I have is really about a mindset. Something is better than nothing - even if it isn't perfect. I am a perfectionist, and if I fear that I can't do something perfectly (lack of money, time, or materials) I get completely overwhelmed and do NOTHING. It's helped to change my mindset that something is a lot of times GOOD ENOUGH. It's a constant mental challenge for me.

[Kathy Friend]

Excellent point!

[Colleen]

My dining room table is a magnet for clutter. I can't seem to keep it from multiplying! When I just can't take it anymore, or my kids no longer have a place to eat dinner, I sweep everything off the table into a box. If I need something, its in the box. Anything not touched after a week or two gets dumped completely. Keeps the table clean AND makes me feel more organized (when I'm really not).

[Kathy Friend]

Colleen - sounds like my desk! Do you ever feel like you want time to stop, just so you can catch up on mail and paperwork? Ugh!

[Alyssa]

Well I too fake it. I am organized to b0ot but I always thought of myself as not a "good housekeeper". Don't compare yourself to others is one thing. Though comparing yourself to someone who is an even Worse housekeeper than you can make you feel a little better. HE HE !!

[DevilishSouthernBelle]

LOVED your ideas! I've been doing the toilet bowl cleaner in the rest of the bathroom bit for a while now...I use Method (eco-friendly) products, so it's not like I'd be putting something on my counters that will eat them away or anything.

I often have to make the most of what I've got in a pinch...a real pinch, but those tips don't exactly fall under "faking" domesticity...however....I see nothing wrong with not preparing meals from scratch. Seriously. If I try something homemade and my family won't eat it, I have no problems spending more at the grocery store for a pre-prepared or boxed meal. Right now, in fact, I am limited to what I can cook since my oven took a nosedive. Everything we eat has to be microwavable, brownable, or prepared on the stovetop.

And....I just try to do what I can each day. Despite being a bit of a perfectionist and really enjoying a clean house, I am also covetous of my downtime and won't work myself to death to keep my place looking perfect. Sometimes not even what would be called presentable. I just do what I can each day, so that I haven't completely ignored my domestic duties!