I’ve heard it said we take for granted what comes naturally to us. We tend to think, “If it’s easy for me, it must be easy for everyone.” In reality, this isn’t the case. I’ve come to realize that many of the tasks I thought were fairly simple (and which I do all the time) are apparently very difficult for others! So difficult, in fact, that nobody else in my home can do them. At the risk of sounding vain, here are a few of my superpowers.
| "Superpower" | How I see it... | What others think... |
|---|---|---|
| Putting clothes in a hamper | The hamper is right there... drop the clothes in. | I can't quite understand the concept of a hamper. Worn clothes should be tossed on a chair, piece of exercise equipment, or the floor. |
| Putting lids back on containers, such as the toothpaste tube. | Just snap the lid shut or screw it back on. | Lids... too hard. |
| Putting shoes in the closet | Simply pick them up, carry them to the closet, and put them down. | I can't possibly lift them and walk up the stairs. Have to leave them where they fall. |
| Putting trash in the trash can | "Pitch it in!" | I can't get the trash into the can, so I have to leave it on the counter/desk/dresser/ or on the floor near the trash can. |
| Replacing toilet paper and tissues | Pop the old one out, put the new one in. | This is a herculean task. Better to just substitute whatever paper product is handy. |
| Throwing empty food containers away | Extend arm, drop container in the can. | Only Mom can throw away the empty ice cream container, so I'll just put it back in the freezer. |
| Turning lights off | Lift a finger and flip a small switch... simple. | Whoa, I can't remember to keep turning lights on and turning lights off. Once I get them turned on, I'm just leaving them that way. |
* * * * *
Are you impressed by my Superpowers? Do you have some of these (or other) Superpowers?
I should definitely get a cape, as I have all of these super powers even when my husband and kids don’t!! 😉
Janine Huldie recently posted…50 Shades of Poop Obsessed For Moms
Maybe threes a business opportunity her to sell capes on my website ;P?
Maybe threes a business opportunity her to sell capes on my website ;P?
Ha! Great list. Adding taking out the trash because that is too hard as opposed to carefully balancing that extra item on top so it doesn’t all topple over on the floor.
Jean recently posted…Happy Homemaker Monday: Planning on Presidents’ Day
Oh my, Jean… you are so right!! I forgot about that one. Nobody takes the trash out except me, no matter how full the can:) Thanks for the comment!
All of these! I tested a theory a few weeks ago. I left the damn trash bag until it was overflowing. Do you know they kept pushing it down until it literally was compacted so tight you couldn’t get the bag out? I don’t get why some tasks fall under my umbrella and I have to say, I’m personally getting a little tired of it. LOVE THIS LIST!
Crystal recently posted…How to Boost Your Social Influence
I hear that! I think the trash would get so full that the little drawer around it wouldn’t shut if I didn’t take it out. It’s like no one else sees it. Actually, I bet it would make a pretty funny blog to run a few experiments on these superpowers and see how “out of control” things would get if Mom didn’t do them:)
Flushing. Why can they not learn to flush. I’m all for ‘if it’s yellow let it mellow’ but come on.. flush at least ONCE a day, please.
Kristen Daukas recently posted…Teens and PDAs: Pretty Darn Annoying
Can’t believe I forgot that one!!!!
I have all those super powers, the one my family finds the hardest is replacing the toilet paper and disposing of the cardboard roll. They have trouble with the replenishing the “back up” TP as well.
Ah, replenishing the back-up… yes, that’s definitely another one. Nothing like reaching for the back-up and finding it isn’t there, right?
Happened again this morning…..sigh.
Jill Robson recently posted…Top 4 tips to re-organize your kitchen
Here too!!!
ha!! This is hilarious!! I have many, but Cassidy has more I think. Like washing dishes the day they’re dirtied, and not the following day.
Although I have an amazing ability to turn off lights in my house and no one else has it!
Tamara recently posted…I’m Oily and I Like It.
Washing the dishes the day they are used… nice one! Way to go, Cassidy. I can’t stand dishes in the sink… of course, I’m a little off the deep end:) I love the responses to this one – so fun!
Hahaha, I love the layout of this blog! Cute post girl.. my super power is being able to put clothes in the hamper.. my husband finds it impossible to lift the lid and put them IN. He just stacks them on top.. haha.. – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Gingi recently posted…Quick and Easy Apricot Almond Brie Appetizer
Exactly, Gingi. Like lifting the lid of the hamper requires special technique or unique strength. My husband is the same way… he’d much rather drape them over the side of the tub, and then just gather them all up about once a week and stuff them in the hamper. Go figure!
Hilarious and true! Love this chart!
Glad it gave you a laugh, Ellen. I’ve been enjoying the comments and additions:)
When I had teenagers at home, I had the superpower of being able to tell the difference between a “good” towel (i.e. new, thick, unstained) versus one that was okay to take to the gym, school etc.
Janet Barclay recently posted…Should you name your organizing business?
Ooooh, you’re good, Janet! That’s one that even most husbands don’t have! You could almost put that on a resume:)
Or maybe my LinkedIn profile! 😉
Janet Barclay recently posted…5 Steps for Building a Smart Habit That Lasts
Love it!!
HAHA these are awesome! I especially love the one about the toilet paper roll. How my husband can get a new roll from under the sink and get it all the way to the top of the old roll but not bother taking the old roll off? Seriously. Ugh.
Kristi Campbell recently posted…Our Land: Special Needs Parenting (am I doing this right?)
That’s so funny, Kristin. It’s as if removing that old roll is harder than climbing Mt. Everest… I just don’t get it!!
Hmmm… I tend to think that these “superpowers” are kind of common life habits all people should get into. 😉
Susannah recently posted…The Prince is Giving a Ball
I agree, Susannah. Think anyone will get the hint??
Well said! I’m gonna be passing this on to all of the men in my family!
Autumn Leopold recently posted…Time Lapse IKEA Furniture Assembly (Funny) + One Puppy
Hope I don’t make any enemies… 🙂
Those are hilarious and so true. I hope you showed your family. I often think that family members pretend that they can’t do things, therefore, mom ends up doing most of the chores. ugh!!
Kim recently posted…Clearing Clutter Support Group – Week 5
Isn’t that the truth, Kim? I think my family would disagree with me… perhaps they would protest. But we know the truth, right? The good news is, I’m largely growing out of the problem since my children are fleeing the nest. The husband, however, is a different story. Going to take some retraining there!
Seana, I am still LOL. What a fantastic post! Thank you so much for sharing this!
I am a single mom to a 7 year old, and he definitely thinks I have super powers. Laundry is such a revolving task around here – I do wonder if sometimes he thinks it washes, dries and then folds itself. His closet has always been color coded, and that happens magically too.
So glad you liked it, Rachel! I definitely think it is a wonderful moment when your kids get old enough to realize all the amazing stuff that has been done for them. Sometimes this realization is slow in coming, but it does eventually hit. What a lucky little guy you have!!!
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Love the spin you put on our “natural abilities” as SUPERPOWERS! Nice. I haven’t thought about it that way before. Mostly how I think about what you’ve described as something I call, “full circle thinking.” It’s the idea of following the cycle through to completion on any task you begin. You open a drawer and then you close it. You finish your meal and put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher. However, for many, as we’re in the midst of the cycle, we get distracted and move on to the next thing before the current thing is complete. That’s how we end up with unchanged toilet paper rolls, empty food containers in the fridge and dirty clothes not in the hamper. Mindfulness practice helps. And then there’s your theory…we don’t’ all possess “superpowers.”
Thanks for sharing this great post!
Linda Samuels recently posted…How to Do Next
I love this comment, Linda. I think those in my space who don’t follow actions through to completion is exactly as you say – they aren’t practicing mindfulness. They are thinking about what they need to do next… and I think the fact that they know I am likely to come around behind them and “finish the task” probably has made the problem worse – yikes!
I love this! My superpower is the ability to SEE when chores need to be done. Whether it’s the lawn needing to be mowed, or the dog needing to be bathed, or trash needs to be taken out, I seem to be the only one who has the special female-ray vision to tell my husband (another fully grown adult who lives in the SAME house as I do!) to do it. It’s weird how we get into these odd habits, isn’t it?
It is weird, Adrian. I think my husband would say his superpower is the ability to not be distracted by household clutter… the direct opposite of what I think my superpower is!! As you say, a lot of it is just habits we fall into over time. If my husband knows that I will eventually go take care of something if he leaves it long enough, I will. But I gotta say, he has gotten much more involved over the years, so I’m thankful for that:)
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