I’ve shared living spaces with roommates, enjoyed quiet times with my husband, and now navigate life with my husband and two energetic little ones. Throughout this journey, one thing has been crystal clear: I’m not exactly a master of housekeeping.
While my home isn’t a disaster zone, it does tend to have a bit of a messy vibe. I don’t possess that obsessive compulsion to clean every surface at all hours. If I’m walking barefoot and step on a crumb, I don’t spring into action with a broom. I dream of a sparkling clean home that impresses visitors, prompting them to ask, “How do you keep it so spotless?”
But here’s the reality check: having kids makes maintaining a clean house feel downright impossible. Small children have a knack for turning order into chaos. They wake up with grimy hands, and despite a bath the night before, the moment they open their eyes, dirt seems to magically reappear all over the place. From the walls to the light switches, every surface becomes a canvas for their sticky fingerprints within minutes.
I give it my best shot, though. I keep cleaning wipes readily available and try to wipe down surfaces whenever I can. I even have a cleaning schedule mapped out to keep everything in check. But my kids have no regard for my cleaning plans. In fact, I’m pretty sure they’ve caught on. On Mondays, when I’m set to clean the bathroom, it’s like they have a radar for trouble. Suddenly, everyone needs to use the potty multiple times, sometimes leading to messy situations, and the bathwater ends up all over my freshly mopped floor. They know what’s up!
Maybe your kids aren’t dealing with potty issues. Perhaps they’re more like my little snack seekers, who request an orange just as I’m in the middle of something important. “Sure,” I say, “but please eat it at the table.” As if! They take a bite, dash off to wash their hands, and in the process, leave a trail of orange juice everywhere, just in time for their siblings or the dog to come along and spread the mess even further. Suddenly, it feels like ants have been alerted to a feast happening at our house, all because I tried to keep things neat.
Even in a perfect world devoid of food and messes, toys would still be strewn about, like those classic wooden blocks that grandparents love to gift. They’re great for developing skills, imaginative play, and for being a painful hazard to step on at 3 a.m. No matter how hard I try to tidy up, I always miss one, and that one is the one that gets me every time.
I’ve never been the best housekeeper, but I’ve always made an effort. Now, with kids in the picture, it feels downright futile. I’ve decided to embrace the chaos. I’ll focus on cleaning once they’re all grown up. Until then, just remember to wear shoes when you visit, and that wet spot on the couch? Just tell yourself it’s water. That’s what I do!
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In summary, keeping a house clean with kids around is a daunting challenge. While I strive to maintain some semblance of order, the reality is that chaos often reigns. I’ve surrendered to the mess for now and focus on enjoying life with my little ones.