This post is part of the weekly Slice of Life challenge from Two Writing Teachers. Check them out!
It’s 8:47 p.m. on a Slice of Life Tuesday. Usually, I’ve posted by mid-morning, and I’ve already scrolled through several posts by fellow writers. Today, though, I’m sitting down to my computer for the first time after a long, productive day. Now, some people work through their first days of empty nesthood by laying low and relaxing. My version of that is to clean and declutter. What can I say? It’s just how I’m built. So, I thought I’d have some fun with today’s post.
If you give a mom a laundry basket, she’ll want to gather up the bedding that hasn’t been cleaned in too long.
If she gathers up the bedding in her son’s room, she’ll notice all the clothing he left behind when he went off to college.
Sorting through the clothing left behind from college will remind her how stuffy and smelly the room is.
Once she sees how sad and stuffy the room is, she’ll want to open the windows.
If she opens the window, she’ll see how many dust bunnies have accumulated everywhere.
If you let her take care of the dust bunnies, she’ll see how filthy the rug is and want to clean it.
When she moves the rug to clean it, she’ll see how nasty the floor is and move all the furniture so she can clean it.
If she moves the bed, she’ll want to take it apart so they can finally give it away, along with the brother’s.
Now that she’s giving away the beds, she’ll want to sort through the sheets and towels for give-aways.
And if there are enough sheets and towels, she’s going to want a laundry basket to store them in…
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 
I’m finding myself jealous of your cleaning energy! My house is a disaster … Love the “If you…” pattern. 🙂
First of all: Fantastic format for telling the story! You are ever-creative and inspiring, Lainie. Your wit, ever-sharp and bright…and warm. Secondly: Guess what I did a couple of weeks ago when my still-living-at-home boy went on vacation?! How is is that we live SUCH parallel lives?!? (Let me just say I couldn’t live in my house one minute longer with his Hoarding: Buried Alive room which now looks like a young professional’s should. He works long, odd hours and I really couldn’t wait for him to get around to it. Let us hope he can maintain this habitat…) Lastly – great photos! Such a beautiful (and clearly fun) family!! Be careful with that laundry basket; it seems to be somewhat akin to “The Song That Never Ends”…
Yes, one thing leads to another which leads to another which leads… But, as you say, it leads to a productive day.
Clever choice of how to structure this piece! Love it!