Washer Woes

If there's one thing I hate nearly as much as the laundry, it's cleaning up messes made by other people. Now, after a party or a special occasion, I don't mind that kind of cleanup, but the daily stuff, I do not want to do that for others. I don't want to gather dishes from around the house. My inner Nag pops out for a visit if James leaves too many socks on the floor. The kids pick up their belongings.

Now, as a stay-at-home mom, you can imagine how my general distaste for picking up after others has provided multiple opportunities to learn about patience and grace. Kids -- especially my kids -- are mess-makers, and I have spent the last several years constantly bending and picking, reaching and putting, along with yelling, apologizing, and repenting. It was a happy day indeed when I could say to my children, "If you're big enough to make that mess, you're big enough to clean it up," and expect it to mean something to them.

Of all of my experiences of cleaning up after others, tonight is the worst. Christmas is coming, along with houseguests, so it's time to tackle the laundry. Guest towels and sheets need freshening, and James needs a replenishment of his stock of socks to dump on the floor. I have no daytime plans tomorrow and can nap at will, so I planned to stay up while everyone sleeps to read blogs and work on the wash.

I put in the first load as James was heading to bed. I washed towels and a couple of sweatshirts, and must have somehow caused the tub to go out of balance. The spray during the rinse cycle sprayed over the tub and flooded our laundry room and kitchen. James and I worked together to clean the mess, and the next load washed fine without flooding. Now, the third load is causing more flooding, and as the only one still awake, I alone have to clean up the mess.

I hate the laundry, and I hate cleaning up after others, but tonight I'm cleaning up a mess made by the washing machine while I'm doing the laundry, and that is the absolute worst.