word of the week: eschew

eschew  /vt./  avoid and stay away from deliberately; to avoid or shun.  abstain.  forego.  renounce.  evade.  refrain.  duck.

eschew /vt./ 1.  For 33 years I firmly eschewed bed-making.  Even as a mature adult, my philosophy was a firm "why make it if it'll be unmade soon enough."  I now have to cringingly excuse my own ignorance because in the past month I have tasted of the fruits of a well-made bed.  And it is good.  Most definitely a point of no return.  I literally can not get into my bed unless it is first made.  A made bed means peace and order, and I am happily eschewing my former ways & days. 

eschew /vt./ 2.  This is a big deal in my household, but I think we've finally eschewed nudity.  Translation:  my boys are now happy to wear more than underwear.  Visitors will be pleased, I'm sure.  For those who missed out on the forever long phase, one last glimpse from October: 

 

eschew /vt./ 3.  Video games have not been an issue for us.  Until now, that is.  We have always had some sort of gaming system, but it emerges rarely and is used for family fun more than anything.  But suddenly Aidan is interested and I'm ready to eschew it all.  The begging to play seldom stops.  And when he does play, I have zero desire to join in.  If he's stuck, I don't know how to help and - frankly - it's not a skillset I actually care to acquire.  This is the part where I'm totally unprepared {and perhaps unwilling} to be a boy mom.  I'd honestly rather be dressing dolls.  

eschew /vt./ 4.  I detest and wholeheartedly eschew the act of painting.  But I love a nicely painted room.  So it's time for me to face my paint demons and deal with some of the issues in our house.  Issue #1:  The upstairs hallway has turned into a dirtfest (imagine two sets of tiny grubby hands running down the hall 20 times a day for 2.5 years) and the flat, cheap paint used by the builder is impossible to clean.   Issue #2:  The people who lived here previously were very nice.  But they were not artists.  But they wanted to be.  I know, I know, art is subjective and this might be fine for a girl's room, but....

one of three animals that grace the purple walls of my BOYS' playroom. 

I can not believe we have been here TWO AND A HALF years without repainting.  It is past time to eschew the horror of the purple room by embracing the horror of the paint task. 

Comments

[jenny c.]

I too will be painting. I was thinking the same thing about doors etc. Why have I waited close to 6 years to make them look nice?

We are underware junkies around here as well.

[Megan]

Yeah, I'm kind of surprised you have not painted that room yet, especially since it says "Sophia's Room" on the wall as well. Poor Davyn, do you think spending his first couple of years in a purple flower room has effected him?

[April]

I can understand your boys wanting to be naked in October...it was so dang hot, even I considered eschewing superfluous clothing.

I too hate painting (the mess, the touch-ups, the choosing the color, and choosing AGAIN, the taping etc., oh my), but I always love the result.

Your bed is just gorgeous...no wonder you have a royalty complex...I think anyone who slept in something like that would feel like a queen!

[lelly]

i steadfastly eschew painting as well, but i'll try to conquer my paint demons if you will! the fingerprints have been killing me lately - especially since one set of them is made by my 36 year old boy!!

[Tiffany]

Bedmaking...well, I guess that took me 18 years to learn. As soon as I left home I started making my bed. Why not before??? And...flat paint. Hum. We decided to go with it--figured we could repaint a bit at a time. But, we haven't even started! (You shouldn't have to repaint a new home!) We actually enjoy painting--but the decisions and prep are not too fun!

[mandy]

I hate to make the bed also, but have trouble falling asleep if it wasn't just previously made. Your bed is beautiful!

I detest painting, but have had to get over it a little in this house. We have almost repainted every flippin room in it. Yuck.

[carlo]

the hippo made me smile...is that wrong?

[Amy]

Yes, that's most definitely wrong, Carlo! :)

[Lucy]

Grrr. Those little spy codes after the comment have stumped me twice in a row now, and my comment was lost!

To summarize, bed...lovely. I try but continue to fail to nail that habit.

Underwear...adorable. Clothes, schmothes.

Paint...necessary evil. Especially when purple hippos are involved.

good luck!

[Mandi]

I am reminded how much I love your bed by that picture and how I might just have to get the same one someday if you don't mind. . . And I never noticed the gradual change from nudity to clothing in your house, but it has been a huge difference come to think of it -- maybe it was the cold and the clothes will be thrown aside again in a few weeks. And the painting -- you know I love doing that stuff so I'll be right there taping and caulking for you! How fun. Besides, I owe you don't I for my loft?

[Mandi]

Hmmm. . . I liked Meg's comment about D being affected by "Sofia's room." For people who know him well, that will make sense =) Luckily, however, I think he's through that for the most part, right?

[Kelly]

Hmm, we have never been nudists at our house. :) Congratulations on this new step in your lives.

Your bed is lovely -- I agree with April's royalty sentiments.

I like painting once I know I have the right color. I've been in the mood to paint, actually. I just don't have any rooms that I should be painting at the moment, though. I am amazed that you've had a pet hippo for 2 years!

[Shanon]

What!?!? Your boys dressed in more than their undies! I will have to see it to believe it. I am excited that you are going to paint that room. I can't wait to see it!!! I too have to paint the stairs and hallway. I think I'm going to redo my living room first though! Thanks for offering to watch my kids on Thursday. Jared is just going to take vacation days. Sorry I forgot to call you back. Adios

[Neighbor Jane Payne]

That bed is gorgeous, Amy! Oh my goodness.

[Neighbor Jane Payne]

Amy, I didn't realize till tonight that you are the brilliance behind the food blog, too. Thank you! I found the food blog a few days ago and have been so inspired by it.

I'm so glad I found your blog.

[Rachel]

I went green with envy when I saw your bed. It is beautiful!

As far as painting, when we moved into our house, we repainted the entire thing...except for the laundry room. I have some tricks up my sleeve to avoid taping and still get excellent lines. Let me know if you are interested.

[Marie]

I love painting with the kids. And I love all the different ways to do it; fingerpainting, marble painting, sponge painting, potato-stamp painting...

Painting rooms, however, I have a much more hands-off style. I choose the colours, Dirk carries out the plan. Maxwell's room is almost done. I don't know how you have managed to not paint over the girliness and make a boys room out of that hippo!

Is that really your bed or a google image picture? It is so beautiful!

[Kim]

I love a painted room, just not the work required to get there. My husband, however, LOVES it. If I'd let him, he would repaint on a regular basis.

[Amy]

That IS my bed, and the wonder of its purchase was that when I set out to by "my ultimate bed" everything I was seeing & liking came in the $2000+ range. This bed was by far my favorite and it cost just under $1000 with taxes & totals. It never seems to happen that way, but I was thrilled.

[Megan T.]

I feel for you on the whole video game thing. If you are stuck that is your issue, don't make it mine!
As for the bed making I am so jealous that you have grown and risen above an unkept bed.

[Barb]

The purple hippo is KILLING me! Who is sleeping in that room right now?
I have to say, when it comes to boys, that trading in nudity for video games is a fair trade.
Your headboard on your bed is beautiful!

[Annalisa]

Funny because I have been the same way! I refused to make my bed. Everything overly clean, but my bed. And then at the beginning of this school year I started and I remember how easy it is and how nice it is too. I must have issues about getting those sheets straight as a small child :).
I LOVE your headboard and your doormat. I've seen that mat and almost bought it. Where did you get your headboard though?
Oh the video game conundrum. I'm on the other end where we don't have anything and I'm begging for a system. I blogged about.