So here I am at the coffee shop…writing with my friends for the second time this week. Because I have no excuse for not finishing my revised series proposal two days ago, I decided I needed to finish that before I came down here (which took about an hour). And my in-laws are coming this afternoon/evening, so I also decided I’d better make sure the house is presentable (which took about ten minutes…not because I’m such a fabulous housekeeper. Believe me, I’m not. I just don’t start with high expectations. Though my husband may disagree with me on that…he has absolutely no expectations when it comes to housekeeping, which sometimes works in my favor and sometimes doesn’t).
Actually, we did some cleaning last night, so there wasn’t a lot to do this morning. It’s also important that the house isn’t TOO clean because 1) my cleaning people are coming on Monday and I want to make sure they have something to do; and 2) if I have a perfect house this time, I’ll feel like I always have to have a perfect house when my in-laws come to visit…and that will cause stress. I figure they’re coming to see us, not my perfect house. Of course, it’s easy to feel that way when I know my mother-in-law is not too likely to comment on the state of my house.
I had lunch with a friend on Wednesday who told me her mother-in-law CLEANS her house when she comes. (Of course, her mother-in-law comes for a week…mine only comes for a couple of days.) I don’t think I’d feel comfortable with that (I usually don’t even let my mother-in-law help me in the kitchen.). And her mother-in-law told her husband, “well, K.’s done a much better job maintaining your kitchen floor this time than the last time I was here.”
That is WRONG on so many levels. First of all, a mother-in-law should not talk about the daughter-in-law behind the daughter-in-law’s back. Second, why does she assume it’s the WOMAN’S job to “maintain the floor.” Men are just as capable of scrubbing a floor. And third, who is this person to judge? (My friend has two little kids…not to mention she’s trying to build a writing career.)
The thing is, I think this woman actually meant it as a COMPLIMENT. But I sympathize with my friend, who did not take it as a compliment at all.
Fortunately, my mother-in-law is not like that. I actually LIKE my in-laws and wish they’d visit more often.
So…what else am I doing besides commenting on my mother-in-law? I said I was WRITING at the coffee shop (is blogging really writing???). Believe it or not, I’m starting on a memoir…at least I THINK it’s a memoir. It’s just something I’m playing with for now. And if it comes together, it’s going to take me years to finish this…years to actually have enough to write about. But I’m enjoying THINKING ABOUT writing a memoir…
Next week I’m going to start revising I am Anna Winkler…(how many times have I said THAT before??? But until another contract comes in, that’s my priority…)
Hey, you were blogging!
Next week, Bluebird diner after writing? Or “writing,” as it may be…?
This summer, before I go home to visit my parents, I’m going to hire a cleaning service to go over their house first. Oy, the mess.
No moss!
Never surrender!
And…what was the third one…?
Don’t worry, I’ll remember in time for the next Kidlit blog. Cheers!
Actually, I wrote it there, but didn’t post it until I got home. For some reason I got an error every time I clicked on POST.
Bluebird sounds great next week!
The third one was one word, wasn’t it? But what was the one word??? Maybe someone else remembers? (I’ll think of it in the middle of the night or something…)