I used to be this way too!
Posted By: jss on 2008-11-08
In Reply to: All these people are coming for thanksgiving... - A little freaked out
It is very unnerving and no matter how much I would get done, I always found myself adding to the list of things to do! Below are my solutions to help me, some the same as other posters.
Make a list. Put EVERYTHING on the list. I find a sense of calm and accomplishment on crossing off even the smallest task from the list.
Use a calender. Break it out into 1 item (or 2 if they are small) per family member. Leave the general house cleaning (bathrooms, dusting, etc) until a few days before.
If anyone doesn't help or gives you problems, well cut out a task that you usually do for them. Make them do their own laundry, if you pick up after them just toss it in their bedroom or somewhere they will notice making it an inconvenience for them, not you. Or if necessary, skip making dinner a few nights. Do pizza 3 nights in a row and I guarantee someone will notice and ask why!
Before you start holiday decorating, eliminate as much other clutter/nick nacks as you can. I find that if I get rid of some of my day-to-day pictures and do-dads, coffee mugs, etc. hanging about that it makes cleaning much easier and really lets the special holiday items shine. Afterall, everyone has probably seen your normal daily stuff some time in the past anyway. After my decorating is done, I put these daily items in the holiday boxes so they are easily switched out again when the holiday is over.
If you have a mother-in-law or aunt or someone who is "overly helpful", let them help! I didn't for a long time but have finally found that my MIL really wants to feel needed and wanted and loves to help. I also find that if I tell the hubs "that's fine, I'll call your mother and see if she can help me tackle some of this - I'll just pay her $50 for her time" that he will help me every time. lol He knows she'll realize that he's not helping me as much as he could if I ask her for help and he doesn't want that conversation any more than I do. ;)
If you have someone that you know likes to bake, ask them to bring something that you have had in the past. Tell them you or one of the kids just "love it!" and have a craving for it. It will be a compliment and they will look forward to bring it for you.
and most importantly, think of what it is like when you go to someone else's house. Do you notice the bathtub is a little dirty? or that the crack between the dishwasher and stove isn't clean? If you do, do you really care or just think "She's such a busy mom, she probably gets no help like me!" I'm sure you probably do and remember these people think the same thing. They really don't care what your house looks like and I'm sure being that they aren't having many visitors, their house isn't that clean for the holiday either.
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