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Obsessive
Compulsive Mom
How
one mother discovers the importance of priorities.
Hi, I'm Shannon, and I am recovering from obsessive compulsive disorder. For
those of you who are unaware of what this is, take note. It's being
overwhelmingly obsessed with the desire to have one's surroundings
totally spotless, germ free and lacking any imperfections.
Don't laugh-some of
you may be suffering from it yourselves. I had a mild case so no
treatment was necessary. A severe case however, may require some
therapy since the lives of your husbands and children are at stake.
It all began in 1992
when my first child was born. Those of you with kids know the feeling.
Exhaustion set in and normal everyday tasks like laundry and cooking
overwhelmed me. And the thought of spring cleaning made me want to
declare spring a hibernation holiday. Slowly but surely I made it
through the first few months and things began to get a little bit
better. Then my youngster started walking.
For most parents this
is a time of relief and joy at your child's new found independence.
For those of us suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder this can
be quite tragic. Cracker crumbs on the floor, soap in the toilet. And
while I'm cleaning up those messes, my toddler stepped in the baby
soil that unknowingly fell out of the diaper I just changed and was
tracking it through the house.
Time raced on, more
children were added to my family. I love them dearly and have come to
realize that a clean house doesn't hold a candle to the importance of
happy children and my sanity. I can't tell you the number of times
that I wish I could turn back the clock and worry more about wiping
away the tears than mopping up the kool-aid. Don't get me wrong, I
still like a clean house. And I will always try to keep it clean.
However, the next time my daughter asks to play Candyland I will
gladly lay down the mop and join in. I am reminded of a poem I once
read:
Cooking
and cleaning can wait 'til tomorrow,
For children grow up we learn to our sorrow,
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
I can testify to
this. Just yesterday my first child was born and today he started
kindergarten. Now my fourth and youngest child is 8 months old and is
growing faster than the first one. So here I sit, baby in arms,
content as can be amidst all of the clutter. I'll get to those
dishes... tomorrow.
Written by Shannon at Scrapits.com. We offer
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