Organization: Not My Strong Suit!

I have ADD-Inattentive. That means I get distracted eas…hey look a shiny!

Yep, that’s me. Been this way all my life. Of my 4 kids, my 2 middle kids have this disorder. Can I say, parenting children with ADD when I have ADD has NOT been easy. I have to remember to remind them of things because they can’t remember it either. It can be sheer insanity. Like the blind leading the blind around here.

I just got off the phone, with April from The Mental Clutter Coach. Hence this quick post because I didn’t want to forget. We started tweeting back and forth about something or other and she wanted us to chat sometime. I asked her to send me a reminder because I have ADD and I’d forget. That sent us into another long conversation that culminated with a phone call tonight.

I want to point out before I go any further, that I was not asked to post about our conversation or about her website. I was just so blown away by our conversation that I wanted to share with you in case you are in my shoes.

Unfortunately I wasn’t prepared to take notes because I wasn’t exactly sure what our conversation was going to be about! LOL It  had been a couple weeks since we’d connected.

So, April calls me tonight and we start discussing my lack of organization and the same of my middle children. I told her how I felt bad for my bookend kids who are organized, on time, and can remember things. They have to live with people who are emotional, unorganized, and typically late to everything.
This is where April really started freaking me out. She started explaining things about me and how I deal with things and how my mind works with the ADD. I told her it was only a few years ago that I realized, “Hey, I’m not lazy, I just choose to do other things.” I don’t just sit around and eat bon-bons all day while watching soaps (it’s potato chips thank you). Just kidding, I don’t do either of those things.

Then I told her it was only in the last couple of months that I realized I don’t hate cleaning or have an aversion to it either. Once I start doing it I don’t have a problem with it. Again, it’s a matter of choosing, and for the most part, I choose not to. To be quite honest, I feel like my ship is always sinking around here. It’s very rarely above water. I’d rather be on Twitter, doing stuff with my blog, reading, whatever instead of cleaning. In fact, I’d rather clean out a barn (yes, I’ve happily done this) instead of do another load of dishes. I could come weed your entire garden in the summer and be happy as a clam. Do another load of laundry…I’ll pass.
April had such an amazing grasp of understand how the ADD mind works. She really pegged me. I kept giggling because I thought there must be hidden cameras around my house because how else would she understand me so well? Had she been watching me and studying me? It’s very rare when I find someone who truly understands how the ADD mind works.
I’m going to send her a picture of a pile. *giggle* A picture of a spot I’d like her input on for organizing. Well, I have got a few piles…in every single room, on every spot conceivable. And I’m not a hoarder for the record. I have no problem throwing stuff out and I don’t get attached to every single piece of paper that makes it’s way into my home. I just have a tendency to leave things where they lay. I know, attractive.
We’ll see what kind of magic April can work with me and see if I can stick to it. In my heart of hearts I’d truly like to be organized. And if I can’t be, I’d love to get in touch with the cleaning fairy if anyone has her number.
Thanks for taking the time with me April! That was awesome!