I’m an all around easy-going person, and it shows in all I do. Lately it’s been brought to my attention (from my 2 younger brothers that live with us), that I’m not the best house keeper. (By the way, Jimmy has never complained about my homemaking, and frequently says how much he “appreciates all I do”, and I very much appreciate him for that!) Unless I know someone is coming over, my house is probably not looking it’s best, and my bed is most likely not made. I just don’t see the point of keeping it spotless all the time. Charlotte gave me a little poem on a wood plaque at Lilly’s birthday party, and I love it! Here it is-
“Excuse this House”
Some houses try to hide the fact
That children shelter there;
Ours boasts of it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere.
For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the doors;
I should apologize I guess,
For toys strewn on the floor.
But I sat down with the children
And we played and laughed and read;
And if the doorbell doesn’t shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.
For when at times I’m forced to choose
The one job or the other;
I’d like to cook and clean and scrub,
But first I’ll be a mother.
I also remember the one that goes like this-
“Cleaning and dusting can wait till tomorrow
For babies grow up we’ve learned to our sorrow
So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep”
I’m not saying I don’t love it when my house is clean, and tidy, and I don’t think these poems are an excuse to be lazy with my household chores. I think they are to remind me of what’s really important- my children, and spending time with them. That said, part of taking care of my children is also making sure they have an environment that isn’t so messy that no one can function. Yes, I need to keep up on the dishes, laundry, bathrooms, etc. But, I also need to be there when my kids need me. The trick is finding the right balance, sometimes I feel like I’m being too laxed on my housework, and other times I feel I’m too paranoid about keeping things clean. I’m sure I’ll never look back and think, “I should have spent more time cleaning”, so for now I’ll try to ignore those pesky dust bunnies, and my unorganized closets.
P.S.- Jimmy helped me clean the house up today, so it’s looking fairly decent if anyone wants to come over :)
