The office in the backyard is the room I have been avoiding all month. Strike that. I’ve been avoiding it for years, because that is how long it has been since I regularly spent any time in there.
When we first moved into this house and I was still practicing law, it’s where I worked from home. Then, when I was a part of The Bright Side Project, it’s where I wrote the daily posts and kept track of contributors. (Hence, the white board.) That was two years ago, and I haven’t been in there since except to toss on my old desk stuff I don’t know if I need.
The boys now run this room. If they are outside and want to craft, they go in here. If they want to play with the white board, they take out all the markers and forget to put them back. I’m usually none the wiser. I never come in here.
I never, ever come in here.
The Mister decided to help me with this one. Actually, I strongly encouraged him to help me with this one. I had an assignment due for another website and needed the extra hands. Also, it’s his office, too.
We tried to do the most we could in a short window of time. We had Mikey’s choir performance, my deadline, and the Mister’s trip to the airport to pick up his mother all before 4:30. We got home from two soccer games at 2:00. Two hours to clean up this office seemed ridiculous. I was right, but not the way I anticipated.
Purging and decluttering was easy–we wheeled out one of the large city trash cans to the door and started tossing trash and dust. After so many years, the place was covered in an inch of it.
We were pulling cobwebs from under the desk when Nicholas came outside and announced what would have been obvious to anyone standing within 10 feet of him.
“I frowed up all over Mikey’s bed.”
Lovely. Nicholas had some purging of his own to do.
The Mister put Nicholas in the shower and stripped Mikey’s bed. I went to the pharmacy. When I got home, I called my mom and asked her to take Mikey to choir so I could stay with Nicholas. I started writing my assignment, the Mister went to the airport, Mikey went to church, and Nicholas dozed on the sofa. We didn’t finish the office.
But we got it to this point. That’s something, right?
Of course, the Mister’s desk still looks like this.
That’s why they call it progress, not perfection.
Hours later I finally finished a draft of my assignment. I skipped into the office, euphoric to share my news. Instead, the Mister surprised me by hanging all my diplomas, law school awards, and blogging mentions (he frames everything I do). He’s a good guy.
New here? For the next 31 days Im living according to the famous William Morris quote. You can learn more about the project here.
That is the sweetest way to end your post. Hooray for us women who know how to pick good guys! (Hope Nicholas is feeling better.)
I think it’s important to have our significant others around to tell us what we don’t need anymore. And vice versa. I hold on to magazines and recipes, he holds on to soft, old, hole ridden t-shirts. Without each other, we would totally be hoarders.
And I agree, your Mister is a keeper.
Aww. What a sweet Mister! Hope the little guy feels better soon. I’m loving watching your progress!
Don’t you love it when the kids throw you a curve ball. Parenthood is an adventure. You definitely have to be flexible and go with the flow.
Progress, not perfection…
Thanks for the reminder… :)
Awwww …
Love what you did with the magazine – I may have to do that with mine :)
The office looks great – I wish I had a good space to work – I “make it work” with my big (36″) coffee table, but getting up from sitting on the floor isn’t as easy as it once was – lol
I’m rooting for you!! I love this project!!