Nothin' Makes the House Look Dirty Like Knowing Company's Coming

I used to say that I was a "bad housekeeper."  I think I will change that to "relaxed housekeeper."  It sounds more like a choice and less like a personal shortcoming.

There was a time, when I was a new mother and had only  half the number of kids, I spent every evening cleaning the house.  All toys were put away and the floor was vacuumed and mopped daily.  I remember thinking, "If I ever get behind, I will never catch up."  More prophetic words were never uttered.

I have to confess that cleaning, neatness, and organization have never been my thing.  My parents love to regale my children with tales of my slovenly bedroom growing up.  I however always contended that if they didn't want to see the mess, they should have just stayed out of my room.  But I digress.

I like to say that my house has a "lived in" feel.  My mantra is "The cleaning will be there forever, but I only get a few years with the kids."  Honestly though, the version of this that I hear in my head is, "The cleaning will be there forever, but I only get a few years with the kids and after they're gone I'm hiring a maid."  Still, even that sounds nicer than what I can often be heard muttering while I pick up the clothes encircle the hamper because someone's toss from down the hall didn't quit make it and going and picking up the shirt off the floor would clearly signal that the shirt had won and you just can't have that, "You try keeping up with 4 heathen mess-makers who leave a trail of disaster behind them like bread crumbs leading them back to the trough."

There are times when the house reaches critical mass and I keep looking out the window for the hosts of Hoarders to show up, but in general I do alright.  That is until I know that someone else is coming over.  Then I start looking at the mess with the eyes of an outsider and I'm horrified.  My husband however loves when company is coming over, because he comes home to a spotless house.  A rare treat in this chaotic place.

 

Comments

[salt lake business insurance]

It's hard to keep your house always clean if you have children wandering around.

[Kristina]

I feel like we may be twins separated at birth. The more I read your blog the more I'm convinced!!

My rule is "clean main floor"- other than that I try really hard to keep up! You'd think I'd be way skinnier the way I run around after the kids all day!!