Absolutely, Positively Necessary

So, we're all getting ready to go to Nationals around here. Some of us leave on Tuesday, the rest on Wednesday. We've been burning up the loops with questions, suggestions, and decisions on what to take, where and do. But there is another part to going to Nationals: All the HOME stuff that needs to be done before you leave.

You know what I'm talking about. Not laundry and packing, but those things you MUST do around the house and for your family before you can comfortably walk out that door and not worry. The list probably changes according to how many kids are at home, animals, location, and the length of time to be gone, but it is always there.

Here's a peak at My List:

1. Write bills. Make deposits.

My dearly beloved is horrible with money. So before I go anywhere I make out all the deposits, get that money in the bank, and get as many bills paid as I possibly can.

It doesn't help that I was gone to Scotland through a pay period and now everything seems all out of whack. So this must be done before I can leave, no questions asked.

2. Grocery shopping.

Now, don't get me wrong. My hubby is perfectly capable of running by the grocery store or a restaurant and picking up dinner. Or cooking for that matter. Since he runs a restaurant, I hope he's good at that. This is more to lessen my guilt than it is to feed him.

If I leave the house with frozen pizzas, lunchables, and chicken nuggets in the fridge, then I know that he doesn't have to come home after a 12 hour day and figure out what to feed everyone. Unless he really wants to. And if someone is here watching the kids, they have something handy to throw in the oven that the kids will eat.


3. Pack the kids' bags.

If my children are going to be staying with anyone else, I go ahead and pack their clothes as their laundry is folded. A. It's just convenient to do it at that time. B. Then I know that nothing is forgotten. They won't get to my sister's house and have no clean underwear or swimsuits (because hubby didn't remember she was going to take them swimming).

Yes, I'm a control freak. Which leads me to my last Must Do:

4. Clean the house.

But you aren't going to be there to know that it's dirty, you say. Yes, I realize that. And my family probably wouldn't care, or even notice, that things are piling up. Floors are dirty (one of my pet peeves). Or that dishes in the sink have been there long enough to start growing things (I had to throw away several plastic cups when I came home from Scotland.).

But I would know. I think part of this stems from the fact that other people might be here to watch or pick up the kids. Doesn't matter that they are family and that they've seen the house dirty before.

And I'm not sure, but I think this might stem in part from my upbringing. My mother was a fanatic about the house being cleaned. Still is. She cleaned before every visitor, before every trip, and at least once per week otherwise. Now, I could use to clean my house more often than I do, but I look back and realize that my mother was a bit overzealous by my admittedly low standards. I mean, she practically had 4 adults (well, 2 of us were teens) living there that all picked up after ourselves. But she was into the deep cleaning. Maybe more of that has rubbed off on me than I'd like to acknowledge. :) Of course, any other time I would certainly not want unexpected company. I am by no means a clean freak!

So there is my Must Do list that just kind of sticks in my head before any trip. What about you? Any compulsive actions that MUST be taken before you head out the door?

Angel



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