I am not a slave to my home....
That's what I have to say about housework and that's a saying I got from my mom who got it from my great aunt.
We're from a long line of housework challenged women. I would like to think that my house is clean enough that the health department won't be condemning it anytime soon. But I have a baby, an 18 month old angel who has decided that everything has a place and everything should be put in that place. That place is the middle of the living room, unless it's a shoe and then it goes on any table or chair that doesn't have a dog or person sitting in it.
I always feel self conscious when people come into my house because I always wonder if they think it's clean enough. I think that one of the reasons it bothers me is because I have a friend who comes over to visit and ends up cleaning. She says that she doesn't mind my house being a mess because she knows she can clean it and I won't mind. WRONG. It makes me angry. I told her that she can't come over anymore because I know that when she cleans my house it's her way of saying "eew what a sty". I know this because she tells me all about other people who are "filthy" and don't keep their houses neat and clean. Apparently she thinks I'm too stupid to know that she's probably talking about me behind my back too.
If I ever clean for someone it's because I want to help, not because I don't think their place is good enough or clean enough for me to be in. I was at my brother's house and my baby and I were staying for a week. I cleaned up once in awhile during our visit but it was only because he is in law school and his wife works full time and the least I could do while I was staying there eating their food was to clean up once in awhile. I do hope that they understood this. (They should since they're pretty smart and I think I told them)
This friend of mine who hates messy homes has 3 children under 7 and her house is clean. But how happy are the kids? I suppose I really could do a better job at housework but my little guy needs to have attention and I think that that is a lot more important than what someone thinks about my house.
My mom found a poem that is just perfect: " Cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow, For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."So please remember if you visit my house that I'm concentrating on my priority and my priority is not housework.
Well, I hear my priority now, he must have had a bad dream. Adios till next time and happy housework ;)
5 comments:
Ah, Grasshopper...you have learned well.
Well since you made me like you best when I was 1 I must follow in your way.
Well Cass maybe I should be more like you are, cause I hate a mess and as soon as Philip is done playing with a toy I am there picking it up and putting it away................maybe that is why mom's house was always a mess...We had fun playing.
Love Kathy and Philip
Well, since I'm a mess, I've decided to try out www.flylady.com. Of course, I've only perused the site and haven't quite done anything on it (only because the only "free" time I have is at work). A couple people have recommended it for learning how to train yourself to organize your house (create habits of cleaning 5 minutes here or there everyday or taking care of the "hotspots" in your house).
I'll let you know if it works. :-)
I wouldn't call you a mess at all. I do know that "free time" does not exist for you. I think I'll check it out. I have free time in abundance, maybe I'm just lazy. Steve, keep your big mouth shut.
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