. The Day After Company

I have had company for a few days.  Some of it has been here for a week, some just came last a few days ago.  Most of it was here yesterday to celebrate a new season in my son’s life.  But this morning there is the aftermath.  I have a  sticky kitchen floor where children spilled punch and dropped brownies.  I have found a child’s vest, a baby’s blanket, and an unclaimed neighbor’s salad bowl.  There are two dozen borrowed chairs to be returned to a nearby church and the remains of a buffet meal filling the refrigerator.

Save the Day After

How do I get it all together and “finish” up this project?  First, understand that when a woman desires to get and remain organize, she allows herself time and energy not only to prepare for a big event, time and energy to get through the event, but also time and energy to “finish” up afterwards.  That means that today’s regular chores and projects will have to be handled lightly, quickly, or delayed in order to “finish” up yesterday’s festivities.

Return House to Order

I will put the child’s vest in the mail to my sister from out of town.  I will deliver the baby’s blanket to a neighbor when I take my evening walk with my husband tonight.  I return the clean and washed bowl to my other neighbor as soon as I get the dishes done and washed this morning.

Clean House

Most importantly, I will get the kitchen floor scrubbed so that stickiness and crumbs don’t migrate through the rest of the house.  It would probably be best to solicit the help my “overnight” company to clean the kitchen floor and return the chairs as they are hardy and will have interest to helping out, too.

Serve Leftovers

I will, without apology, have a repeat buffet meal for lunch and try to work through yesterday’s leftovers, filling in the meal where I can and then putting the rest away for another’s week fare.  Thank you notes will have to wait until my company is gone on Wednesday, but I will make a written list today so I don’t forget any who were extra generous to me yesterday.

Can you see?  Well, at least this is my plan.  I am not sure how the day will go when people are up and going, but this is my plan.  I will make a written list and go to work, “finishing” up this wonderful yesterday with as much time and energy as I took to plan it and share it with family and friends.

I hope you have a good week this week.  Some of you will be celebrating the upcoming holiday this weekend with friends.  Remember to allow energy for preparation, execution, AND clean-up.  All three are necessary to keep pace with staying organized and in control.  See you again next Monday (after most of my company has gone)…

Find more helpful ideas in the House of Order Handbook.