I was just chatting to someone who had just finished a project. Suddenly she found herself cleaning the house. Something she felt needed doing for some time, but suddenly the urge was there.
I remember when my husband and I split, I cleaned. When my daughter died, I cleaned. I’m not obsessive about the house; far from it. I tend more toward the slob end of housework.
So why is it that women, when something big happens in their lives, clean house?
Is this a rare phenomena, or is this common for women?
If this is a female thing, what do the guys do? Do they disappear into their shed and make something?
What is the psychological process involved?
Is it a “cleansing” act? I sometimes feel it is. Are we cleansing out the old, in order to allow in the new?
So many questions, so few answers.
I would be interested in other people’s feedback.
Madeleine
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
16 comments:
Maybe it is like a security blanket Rosymosie,
Just off to watch my fav serial on TV - Under belly
Graffiti
Glad you could get in Graffiti. Maybe it is a security blanket. What do you do when you finish a big project or something big happens in your life - do you disappear to your shed to make something??
Enjoy Underbelly
Its soothing, comforting and practical? To make something clean or fix something means that at least something is done. Ask a Virgo this question and see the reaction.
kenoath
I go on cleaning splurges at times. And they involve everything being cleaned - from junk cleared through to washing skirting boards.
Maybe it is a security blanket. Though for me I feel a sense of achievement and a cleansing of my soul. Actually it is also good feng shui. Metaphorically cleaning out the old to make way for the new.
Then on the other hand it was a way of pleasing my mum as a kid, so maybe it is habit.
btw, I am a slob the other times and I would be a millionnaire if I got a quid for each time my partner ask me not to leave my clothes on the floor or to clear up after me lol!
Hi, Gezunda. For me, these 'cleaning sprees' have different functions at different times. Sometimes it is a sort of psychological housecleaning. Other times I need the distraction. Probably one of the bigger reasons for me is control. I like to have control over my environment because it makes me feel safer.
I'm like you Kahless. I tend to the slob side of things normally but sometimes get incredibly motivated and clean like mad. and sometimes it feels like cleansing, off with the old and on with the new. which is why I was asking the question.
Lynn, I take on board your comment about control as well. I hadn't thought of that one. I did a bit clean last week. I had two spare large dogs I was minding and that cleaning felt like taking back control of my environment. The dogs came with all their food, their beds etc and felt like they had taken over my house. Once I had cleaned up, I felt much better about them being here.
So, guys, is this a female thing?
Hey Ken, So do you clean or make something?? I've heard from some women and I'm interested in what guys do for "cleansing" or whatever it is done for
Where's my picture?
There it is
Gezunda, hey why wont the guys comment? Are they too embarassed to reveal their habit?
:-)
Maybe they are just ignoring us, Kahless.
I asked the guys on my team at work - they said unanimously that they drink.
I wonder what that says about the people you work with Kahless :-). I only work with women so don't have that male perspective. Interesting their response. I wonder what that says about the differences between men and women.
My team are mainly 25 to 35 year olds. They also said the alternative of playing football or going down to the gym.
For women, cleaning is a solitude task. If men go drinking it is more about mixing with other people. Is that what it is? Mind you dont pregnant women 'nest' by cleaning just before birth?
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