"Redding Up" on Fridays

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

28 Sep 2007 05:01 AM

Fridays always seem to put me in a nesting mood in my home. I like to make sure that the house is all ready for the weekend. Maybe it is knowing that chaos generally ensues on Saturdays and Sundays, with errands, household improvements and lots of play time. Maybe it is the thought that the house should be ready for company, should any stop by. Or maybe it is just the thought of everyone being home for the weekend and wanting it all to feel clean and cozy, with all of the ducks in a row.

Whatever the reason, I find that I have a special energy or motivation on Fridays when it comes to my home. I like to straight up the clutter that has snuck in on my desk during the week, throw in an extra load of laundry, straighten the kids rooms, dust the tops of doorways, etc. Of course, I never feel like I've gotten everything done, but I do feel a sense of accomplishment with what does get done.

So why the term "redding up?" It is a saying that many of the Amish folks who live in the area say. When you "red up" a room, it generally means that the room is clean, organized and ready to go. I like the term because, being a modern person, it sounds so quaint and homey. It reminds me that I don't do housework because I am some sort of slave to my home, but because it is the one place where we are completely and utterly accepted; the place where we belong; the place where we can shut out most of the world, if we want to do so; and the place where we can welcome our friends. So, the household chores are acts of love we use to create our space to suit us.

So, to be honest, this feeling doesn't carry over for the whole week, and I am by no means in love with housework. But on Fridays, I turn some jazzy music on, hand the kids a broom or a cloth, and we dance our way through the chores.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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jonesx6 (1606) 28 Sep 2007 01:25 PM

Fridays are my days as well. I love to have everything vaccummed and dusted as we go into the hectic weekends. I used to have all my laundry caught up by Fridays but not anymore. lol I also have about 15 children for our homeschool co-op on these Fridays. Laura

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 01 Oct 2007 04:11 AM

So tell me, how does the house look on Monday? I find that I have to "reset" mine back to normal on Mondays.

jonesx6 (1606) 01 Oct 2007 05:36 AM

My house is a mess by Monday. lol Yesterday I spent some time cleaning up from the weekend. Thankfully the weather was nice so we spent a lot of time outside. Laura

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 03 Oct 2007 12:53 PM

I thought a tornado had gone through here by Monday, LOL. I fell into bed exhausted Monday night.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 05 Oct 2007 06:13 AM

Do either of you have any strategies to help control the chaos?

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 08 Oct 2007 07:05 AM

Um.... no!

;o)