It was war–them verses the huge spider web. I felt a bit sorry for the the little insect. How many weeks, months, did it take him to weave his intricate and delicate home, only to be demolished in five seconds by my crew. I discovered it could be repaired in 30 minutes and now do not feel so bad.
Have any wars going on in your life? My largest one today seems to be all of our “stuff.” It is consuming every inch of my home, spread across the floors, counters, showers. Where did it even come from???
I am somewhat tempted to just throw it all into trash bags and be done with it. I would then be waging war on the environment though, not to mention plain old charity, not willing to donate to those less fortunate. Alas, the war wages on!
What about you, what current warfare is on your plate today? I would love to hear about it!
If it is a donation battle, check out these awesome yellow boxes you may have seen sitting around an area near you!
Or if you are really wanting an eye opener, see out how much food we waste here in America.
Happy Sunday, happy fighting, and “May the odds be ever in your favor.” 🙂
Mom Life Now 
I so love that you quoted Hunger Games here. Lol! We have a similar battle. Our home is overflowing with, well honestly kid’s stuff, old baby clothes, toys, books, craft projects that I don’t want to throw away. When I hear company is coming I gasp because I know that means I need to find homes for all this crap. Ugh! I need to do some packing up myself, but just never make the time. Lazy ol me.
LikeLike
Oh, I know exactly how you feel! I loved the summer because I could forever suggest meeting somewhere outside. Now that the cool weather is starting to blow in I will once again be forced to have company over, creating the necessity to find a “home” for all this stuff!!
I too think I am very lazy some days. Perhaps, though, we are simply wiped from taking care of children all day. 🙂
LikeLike
I, too, am having a hard time with my “stuff”. It’s everywhere – not an empty space to be found. I’d love an empty counter. Closet. Drawer. It’s hard to find the time to do
much about it, but I’m thinking baby steps. List one thing a day for sale. Weed out one article of clothing a day. Toss out one broken/expired/ratty thing a day. It has to be doable!
LikeLike
Kirsten, this sounds like the perfect battle plan to me–one item at a time! I think birthdays and Christmas truly are the worst though. As soon as you seem to find some type of organization, BAM, back to square one! 🙂 😉
LikeLike
Hahahahaha. I absolutely love this photo of them going into battle!!! And I think it is so endearing that you looked up how long it would take the little guy to repair his home! My battle today is one and the same with yours. Anything that doesn’t qualify for the donation bin across the street is going to Value Village!
LikeLike
For some reason I suddenly became immensely interested in the little creature’s home. Great trivia knowledge I suppose! 🙂 How awesome for you to have a donation bin across the street! I think I would take a trip over at least once a day. 😉 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so funny! I like the war analogy and maybe we all have our battles, but the biggest one is to keep the children safe. What if you were plagued with vipers at your house?
This link shows a photo of the Daboia Russelii http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/russells-viper-photo-1677.html from the net. We killed one just doing his thing in the grass two days ago. And the old saying there are always two where you find one, really spooks me.
LikeLike
Oh, Beth, just looking at this photo made my skin crawl!! I am so very blessed my biggest enemy in the critter world is a Daddy Long leg! Stay safe!!
LikeLike
Of course we have the cobra, the krait and one more slender green fellow that I can’t think of the name of, but somehow I missed this one all these years–until last week. He does not live in the forests, but in the grass, and so far I am told there has been no anti-venom created for it. In other words you get a bite and you can pretty much say good-bye within an hour.
LikeLike
Oh Beth, I do not think I would ever step foot on grass again!!!
LikeLike
Wow, it only takes 30 minutes for spiders to make a web. How interesting! I am always at war with the stuff. Currently, I’m trying to sell my double stroller and have two bags of clothes I need to donate. It’s tempting to just throw it into the garage but then I feel like it just gets forgotten.
LikeLike
Melissa, first of all I just need to say I am so glad I am not the only one who found the little spider fact so interesting! Nerd moms unite! 🙂 🙂
I know what you mean too. I seem so often to “organize” things by simply placing the items in another area! 🙂
LikeLike
No battles here today thank goodness 🙂 except maybe a battle between my desire to keep reading, and my need to clean the house, hang the washing out and get ready for work 🙂
LikeLike
Oh I think one the hardest battles of life is to stop reading–especially late at night. I cannot count the number of mornings I have kicked myself for not turning out the lights! 🙂
I really hope you left the house a mess. 😉 🙂
LikeLike
Omg I so did 🙂
LikeLike
Good for you lady!! 🙂
LikeLike
In our home we are desperately trying to teach contentment…selves and kids! Our motto is:
“I am content. The only thing I need more of is Jesus.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Faith, I LOVE this!! What a beautiful motto for all of life!
LikeLike
We moved recently, so I got to purge the not needed stuff, but now I feel like I’m fighting a battle of figuring out time management between blog and life. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we are set to move this coming January and I hope to also be able to purge my home at this time! 🙂 I will admit, this blogging thing is definitely addicting. Like this world in itself, so full of wisdom and wit. 🙂
LikeLike
Time! I think I over-committed again! I’m fighting to keep my head above the water. Or I just need to be ok with not getting everything done and not think of it as defeat. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh if only we could have even just two more hours in our day–the things we would accomplish!
I am right with you on the time management thing. My pastor actually said something just yesterday which really impacted me. “Steve Jobs has the same amount of hours in his day as you do. He just learned how to manage his time.” I did kind of want to shout out, but refrained, “Steve Jobs is not a mom!” 😉 😉
LikeLike
Haha! I hear ya!
LikeLike
Hi Sasha,
We were doing a big house clean up today as well to see that longed-for beautiful thing: the floor! I find it really helps to swallow my pride and ask a more naturally organized friend or come over and do one specific project with me…like sort the kids shoes for giveaway. Can you believe we have been given so many shoes that we found a garbage bag of them to donate?! No wonder we could never find matching pairs! Then we put the remaining ones in sliding rubber maid bins by category: beach shoes and boots, dressy shoes, play shoes, etc. Makes it a lot easier to leave the house!
The Flylady home organizer also has great tips on housework, including decluttering. She recommends trying to do it for a few minutes every day. You get three boxes or bags, one for put-away, one for throw-away, and one for donate. Then you set your kitchen timer for 15 minutes and attack a room. Once the timer goes, throw out the garbage, put the give away in your trunk and don’t peek at it again, and put away the rest. It really does help, and as she says, anyone can do anything for 15 minutes. That way it’s not overwhelming.
Doing all this while listening to upbeat music can help tip the odds in your favour…and keep the littles busy dancing!
Good luck, soldier, and know you’re not alone on this one!
Anna
LikeLike
Anna, I really LOVE this idea!! I actually took it to heart today and tackled my bedroom. I got so caught up in it and the kids were playing so well, I finished the entire room, not just 15 minutes! The rest of my place is a different story but I still feel like mom of the year right now! 😉 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, great work! One bit at a time…that’s awesome! :)here’s the Flylady website for more great tips. FLY stands for “finally loving yourself” because the state of our homes affects our souls and self-with so much!
http://www.flylady.net/
Cheers,
Anna
LikeLike
Thanks, I am going to go check here out right now!
LikeLike
This is a great grandmother speaking, so be warned. 😉 When I was a kid, I had a nice leather pair of shoes for school and usually a pretty patent leather pair for church. It was not hard for me (even as a child) to keep my shoes organized. I wore the shoes until my foot outgrew them and then I gave them to someone younger and smaller than I. We did a constant recycle–not only to make our own lives uncluttered, but to help the poor at the same time. One of the things my mother did was carry us kids along wherever she knew there was a family in need and let us do the giving. I also learned another skill in that mix. My job every Saturday was to clean up shoes for Sunday. Leather shoes could be polished and cleaned with Saddle Soap and they looked like new every week. The more consistent we were with using the cleaner, the longer the leather lasted.
I also learned to sew pretty early. Dresses I outgrew could be redesigned for a cousin or a poor person. Some of the popular plaid dresses could be used to make little boys shirts. Good old days! ❤
LikeLike
Beth, it seems many back then really understand the meaning of contentment and charity. How I hope to instill these same characteristics into my own children. Thank you so much for sharing your story, I found it quite interesting!!
BTW: Do you happen to have a blog? I would love to check it out if you do! 🙂
LikeLike
Remember that I am a great grandmother from a long ago generation, so what I blog may not be your “cup of tea.” I appreciate the fact that you asked and am happy to share what I do.
My email footer carries three sites you might like to check.
“…Remember me, O my God, for good” (Neh. 13:31b).
Books;
Muliebral Studies
Muliebral Viewpoint
And let me say here that I love your name. I remember the story of the little bird named Sasha in some children’s story, but I have forgotten the name of it now. Was it Peter and the Wolf?
LikeLike
That is a bummer! The links were obliterated. Maybe you can search the names through Google. Let me know if you need a private email message.
LikeLike
Yeah, I found you thanks to Google! 🙂 I love hearing different perspectives and try as much as possible to suck every bit of wisdom out of the seasoned mommas and grandmas such as yourself.
Believe it or not, I have not heard of Peter and the Wolf. I am definitely going to use my Google privileges once again now. 😉
LikeLike
Sasha, There was a “record” (33 rpm) of the story that kids could enjoy. See how dated I am? Surely there has to be a MP3 or a YouTube of the same thing these days.
LikeLike
Sasha,
I have the same battle, but it’s not just our stuff that I face, but my 9 month old’s things as well. I often wonder how something so tiny can have so.many.things–clothes, toys, bibs, blankets, you name it, she’s got it.
And as much as I would love to embrace your idea and just throw it all out, I’ve found that taking it one step at a time keeps my sanity from falling by the wayside. I try to organize our things room by room. This way, I’m not so overwhelmed. Sometimes this tactic works, sometimes it doesn’t. Regardless, at least I’m trying right?
LikeLike
Before kids my home was almost always clean. After kids almost never! 🙂
I love your idea of of one room at a time. I actually did this just today and was thoroughly pleased with myself, like I should gain some reward or something. I even took a picture knowing how quickly my little rug rats would destroy it again. 😉
LikeLike
Oh yes, stuff and more stuff. Whenever I go home to Canada, I get a little overwhelmed by consumerism and how easy it is to acquire stuff. When I get back to Brazil, it seems like life is just so much simpler. And we take pleasure it the little things, which seem to be the truly valuable. Yes, my home doesn’t have the nice things that my mom, or brother has, but it’s my family’s little cozy corner. The place where we can come together and be at peace. Our own little sanctuary.
Good for you, waging the war on stuff.
🙂
LikeLike
It seems there are many other cultures out there who have a good grasp on this thing. I suppose it is most definitely my “first world problem” and one I really need to consider more seriously some days.
The kids in Brazil, do they have many toys in the homes? I have been tempted to do away with most of ours, wondering if less is in fact more.
LikeLike
The kids generally don’t have a lot of toys. I could be a cultural thing you know. Like, because it is usually sunny and warm, they play outside a lot. My kids have quite a few (not that many, compared to North Americans) but still have quite a few for Brazil. Mine have as many as they do because I’m from Canada and my family (especially my mom) give them stuff. My mother-in-law think they have way too much. She is very Brazilian hehehe.
I’m thinking maybe kids in North America, or other colder countries, may have more toys because they don’t get the opportunity to play outside as much.
🙂
LikeLike
It is true the kids are stuck in doors a lot during the many cold months. Thanks for pointing this out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How do things accumulate so fast?? I wish I were as productive as that spider! I’m afraid it takes me far more than a half-an-hour to get our house back together after my crew has demolished it. Thank you, Sasha, for the inspiration to do a bit of organizing and de-junking! It was very much needed around here!
LikeLike
Haha, yes, if only we had such spidey skills! 🙂 My son is ten times as messy as my daughter though. I cannot imagine what types of destruction three could make! 😉 😉
LikeLike
I keep coming back to this post again and again, because it got me thinking. I think I am waging war in my heart against pressures I feel from society. That may sound weird, but I got married young, had our boy much sooner than we expected, and as a result haven’t finished college. I often feel pressure to be like others, but struggle because I’m not. I have to constantly remind myself that it is okay to be different and that I love my life as it is. Even though it went different than I expected. Sorry that was long, but it is the answer! 🙂 thank you for your post, Sasha!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this Marla! I am in much the same boat as you in this one. I did finish college but had my first baby just over a year later. “Are you the nanny?” is a regular question I receive. 🙂 I too am learning to embrace being a young mom, regardless of what others say or think. I am glad to know we can relate here: we can keep each others backs! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is so nice to know there are other mothers out there enjoying young motherhood, even though we may not be the norm! 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement, Sasha!
LikeLike
The good thing is when we do find each other there seems to be an instant bond. I definitely like you even better now than I did before! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person