Organization and War

I like organization. I'm not a "neat freak," but I do consider my thirst for structure and order to be justified. Is it wrong to have the bed made every morning? Dishes cleaned? An organized closet?

Lately, I've been picking up after my husband who doesn't adhere to the aforementioned. It became painfully clear to me when we got into disagreements about everyday chores. Even before we married, I noticed he wasn't as neat as I was. After all, he did pick up after himself. No big deal, right? 

Wrong. As time went on, I had to "remind" my husband to pick up his clothes and put them in the hamper.

Not much has changed. I hoot and holler and for a moment, he manages to get it together. Two days or even a day later, it's back to square one.

How is that even possible?

At this point, I feel like giving up. I won't start leaving my clothes all over, no, I want to give up trying to get my husband on board the organize train.

Seriously, is it too much to ask to be neat and tidy?

I feel like this is a battle I'm never going to win. Yet, what is there to lose when all you ask for is a clean counter top. We live in an apartment, but I find myself thinking about how our house would look, not too messy, I hope.

My husband has always encouraged me to be open and honest. When I explain to him that organization is a part of who I am (this prevents me from sounding like a crazed woman) having him participate in keeping an orderly home is key, he looks at me like I'm Medusa. Suddenly, my honesty causes a problem. What a double standard!

I know this post makes it sound like my husband is a slob, which he is not. In fact, while we dated I thought he was incredibly neat for a "man." And like me, when life is stressful, we find it a little hard to maintain organization. The sympathy stops there.

I do expect for us to reach a level of understanding; all is fair in organization and war. I know for me, it's a battle I have to keep on fighting.

PP