Cleaning for the Moms
There is the chance of school vacation visitors this week and cleaning is on the agenda for Monday morning. Mind you I am not cleaning for the kids who will toss popcorn on the floor and smear crayons on the table. The cleaning is for the Moms who may enter my house and finally discover the truth…I am a slob.
Now I know word gets around and it probably isn’t really a secret that I am a slob. With each new friend my son gains there comes the question, “When can Billy come over here?” I say; “When the house is clean enough for his Mom.” Both the boys groan. I guess they are realizing that if a clean house and friends go together the friends will almost certainly lose out. As a Mom this makes me cringe just a little bit. I know that my house should be neat as a pin and ready for visitors with minimal clean up. This has never been the case…and I fear it never will be.
I am not proud of this and make up any excuse in my mind for why it doesn’t matter. No one sees it anyway and the kids destroy any sign of my work in less than 20 minutes. It is April and the dog tracks in mud every day. In March it was the same excuse but who is keeping track. I hate cleaning! (oops did I say that out loud as an excuse?)
The cleaning must do list for visitors looks something like this. Clean kitchen floor, remove stacks of dishes from counter (preferably into the dishwasher), wash bathroom floor and toilet, clean the toothpaste goo out of the sink, remove all over flowing laundry baskets (and heaps of clothes on the floor of the boys bedroom), sweep dog out of the house, tidy play room, vacuum boys bedroom and shove all loose stuffed animals into the closet, close doors to all other rooms. Collapse in exhaustion and hope all this work is not undone before the guests arrive in one hour.
Oh well, off to wash the floors in the kitchen and bathroom (the rooms most likely to be seen) and to finish the laundry (so it isn’t piled on the floor) and… well then it will be time to cook dinner. I guess the visitors will need to wait until tomorrow.
April 14, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Ah yes, a mothers work is never done. And when it is, its time to start all over. I know how you feel about cleaning. and guests. It is hard to have people over when your house is less than perfect. Over the last few years, ive realized that the people who truly are your friends, understand, and it doesnt matter what your house looks like. Your kids are happy, they have a place to sleep, they have food, and a mom who loves them. I think about how I would react if i was to go to my friends house..if its a mess, so what..if its sparkling white, like no one lives there, then i might get concerned. But so what if it is.
Im a mom of 4 wonderful crazy kids, who can make a mess faster than i can clean it up. Try not to worry, let the friends come over, and know that your kids are happy and that they love you k now matter what.
By the way, I like your cartoons you post, very cute! Great blog.