Sunday, April 7, 2013

The house can wait

I am not a neat, organized person.  My house is almost always in chaos; there are crumbs on the floor, toys scattered throughout most of the rooms and the kids leave a trail of clothes from one end of the house to the other (why they feel the need to take off items of clothing as they walk through the house, I have no idea).

We always have food to eat, we always have clean clothes (although, admittedly - often they are in a heap on the floor outside of the dryer) and there is always lots of laughter to be heard.

We play cars and trains, we dance and read books. We watch movies and bake together.  We build forts in the kitchen, and we make memories that will last a lifetime.  We have good days (like our fort building or tobogganing days) and we have not so good days (where the kids are rangy from being cooped up in the house and I have NO energy, or an incredibly sore foot and just want to lock myself in the bathroom or run from the house screaming)

I know that the house could be cleaner, but I also know that would be taking away time that I have with my kids (no, I don't spend ALL of my waking moments doing the above; I steal away and answer emails, check up on the blog and look in on my facebook and twitter accounts and I make sure to take some time for ME - a hot bubble bath and book in the evening when hubby is home, so he can have time alone with the boys). My mother was able to balance house and family (but she did that by sacrificing her sleep, which is NOT something I am willing to do)

So, I will continue to make memories with my children while the dust bunnies multiply and multiply.  After all, the dust and clutter will still be there when the kids are all grown up, making memories with THEIR families.  Why would I want to give up this precious time when they are young, for something that can wait?

13 comments:

  1. I completely agree with you. At this point in the kids lives, setting priorities are more important than ever. We both know all too well that time with Parents / kids can be short and needs to be cherished.

    As long as they aren't eating the dust bunny's, everyone will be just fine. ;)

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    1. Thanks Matt - yes, life is too short to worry about these things!

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  2. I always put off the cleaning and organizing too. So many other things to do! It's too the point now that if my husband sees me picking up toys he knows that company is on the way. :)

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    1. so true! I can clean my house in 10 minutes if I have a phone call warning!

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  3. Yes!! So agree! There's always time for that, but memories are something to cherish. The house can always wait if need be. I would rather spend time with my kids and create memories they'll have for a lifetime :)

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    1. thanks so much - I totally get why some people WANT a clean house (I do too) I just don't have the energy at this point to worry about it

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  4. My house always needs cleaning LOL - I would much rather have a happy, busy home with a few dust bunnies than a perfectly clean home where the kids are scared to mess anything up ;)

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    1. YES - although, admittedly my mom was a neat freak but we weren't scared of messing things up

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  5. I totally agree, but I do stress about my house and clutter makes me stressed out. So, I feel like I am at constant war with the house. Usually when I get myself all wound up about it, I take the kids out so we can play and I can't see the mess!

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    1. good idea to get out of the house...When the clutter builds up too much, I get stressed -but for the most part I am good

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  6. It is an excellent old adage - the house will keep, but the children won't.

    Trust me, I know. My oldest daughter is now in high school and I know how quickly those years go by. In no time she will be leaving for university. It's unreal!

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  7. I completely agree. As much as I love a nice, clean house; I would rather have happy, full of life children :)

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