第11部分 (第4/7页)

ewing　box；　the　mop；　and　the　linen　closet。　（I’m　doing　my　best　to　re…conceive　that　idea！）

You　too　way　have　noticed　that　doing　housework　is　like　fining　a　sieve　with　water。　Phyllis　Diller　sums　it　up　nicely：　“Cleaning　the　house　while　the　children　are　growing　is　like　shoveling　snow　before　it　stops　snowing。

Negative　rewards。　We　face　them　daily。　Do　it　right　and　no　one　remembers；　but　do　it　wrong　and　no　one　forgets。　Maybe　you’ve　noticed　that　there’s　not　a　lot　of　glory　at　home。　We　don’t　often　receive　accolades　or　pats　on　the　back　（with　the　obvious　exception　of　Mother’s　Day　or　Father’s　Day）。　And　where　are　my　loyal　supporters　the　rest　of　the　year？　Why；　they’re　spilling　milk　in　my　clean　refrigerator；　throwing　gum　wrappers　in　their　sock　drawers；　and　volunteering　four　hundred　cupcakes　for　the　next　PTA　meeting　（which　is　usmlly　this　evening）。　No　wonder　we　conclude　that　organizd　living　is　best　left　to　the　childless；　the　single；　or　to　incredibly　stouthearted　parents！

All　this　leads　me　to　why　getting　things　in　order　is　exciting！　When　you　have　a　closet；　a　cupboard；　or　a　drawer　in　perfect　order；　that　one　little　area　seems　to　say；　“You’re　doing　a　wonderful　job！　Keep　up　the　good　work！”　What　motivation！　It’s　terrific　to　feel　those　words；　because　chances　are　ten　to　one　you’ll　never　hear　them。

Every　day　I　get　letters　from　people　all　over　the　country。　Invariable　I　get　one　that　says；　“Today　I　cleaned　out　my　closet。　Every　five　minutes　I　go　in　there—just　to　look　at　it！”

Or