Monday, February 26, 2007

Mombot Monday -- Keeping It Real, Not Ironing Sheets

My tip for the week? Let's be real. Despite the advice delivered on Oprah this past week, I do not iron my sheets twice a week. In fact, I doubt I will ever iron my sheets, because frankly, I would rather read a book, go for a walk, or volunteer at a homeless shelter. By comparison, ironing my sheets twice a week? Just seems like not such a high priority.

As parents, we constantly face the pressure of the clock. We are constantly prioritizing, then adapting and reprioritizing. There is always one more thing to be done that could make life better. Exercise more. Weed the flower beds. Cook meals from scratch. Grow a garden. Ironing sheets just doesn't appeal to me as adding that much to the greater good.

Maybe ironing sheets is your thing. Maybe it makes you totally happy. If so, more power to you, but if not, don't stress over it. In the grand scheme of things, tasks like ironing sheets and folding a fitted sheet into a perfect square don't have that much impact on life.

Here's my suggestion, each time you feel guilty about not ironing your sheets, or some other such thing, just think of the positive thing you did during the time you could have spent ironing sheets. For example, instead of ironing my sheets today, I walked to the park with my daughters.

I'll choose the walk to the park every time.

9 comments:

OhTheJoys said...

I'm supposed to iron them? I can't even FOLD the bottom one.

Kelly said...

Are you kidding me?? Oprah says we should iron our sheets twice a week? I think we she must have actually meant is that we should all order our extensive housekeeping staff to iron our sheets. And as soon as I have one, I'll tell them to get right on it.

Amy said...

I'm lucky if I can find the time to CHANGE the sheets. Love this!

SusieJ said...

I don't watch Oprah. It's not that I don't like her -- I really do. I just don't have time to sit down during the day to watch her show. So, let me get this straight. Now I'm to iron my sheets, twice a week? Thank you for your idea of what to think about and do instead. Because I will not be ironing my sheets.

Marine Wife said...

Excuse me, but who in their right mind irons sheets?! As AR as I am (I can admit to it), it NEVER even crossed my mind to iron my sheets. I don't even iron my clothes. I have to agree with mrs. chicken: I'm lucky to change them. Anyone who thinks you should iron your sheets (twice a week?! yeah, right) is totally out of touch with reality, doesn't actually do any housework while caring for a family, or both. Hm-m, sounds a bit like Oprah. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against her, but let's face it, she is not Everywoman.

Damselfly said...

Um. I have never, and will never, iron my sheets, underwear or anything else that doesn't scream "wrinkled mess" to the public.

Lauri said...

Why would we iron our sheets? What possible reason could rationalize that kind of time. Just washing the sheets and putting them back on the four beds is too much work.

Shannon said...

I see myself ironing my sheets about the same time I start ironing my underwear, which will probably be never. But honestly, this is was one of the examples given by Colin Cowie on Oprah's The Secret to Living Well show. You can see for yourself at http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200702/20070219/slide_20070219_350_104.jhtml

Marine Wife said...

Living well? How on earth could ironing your sheets add anything positive to your life? Living well would mean never having to deal with my sheets in any capacity from taking them off the beds, laundering them and wrestling them back onto all the beds, to making the beds.