Attention, messy moms: put down that broom! It’s time to stop making promises to yourself about being more organized. Let’s be honest, those resolutions often leave you feeling defeated and sneaking bites of pie over the kitchen sink. So what if guests are arriving in twenty minutes? There’s no need to apologize for your clutter—we’re all moms who prioritize our kids over household chores.
Just the other day, my family visited a friend’s home for dinner. She apologized for the disarray, saying, “Sorry, we just got back from a trip.” I couldn’t help but laugh and replied, “If this is messy, you should see my place!” To her, messy meant a few stray shoes by the door and some mail piled on the counter.
Both my husband and I embrace our messy lifestyle—some would even call it borderline dirty. Since our little one arrived, the chaos has only escalated. I recently undertook a “deep clean” and vowed that I’d keep the house tidy from now on. But here I am, just a week later, surrounded by the same mess.
As I step over toys to microwave my coffee for the third time today, I’m stalling on the inevitable task of restoring order to our home. When I finally do clean, I’ll relish those fleeting moments when everything is almost in its right place.
As a stay-at-home mom, one might think keeping the house tidy would be easier. In reality, it’s the opposite. We’re at home, actively using our space, and creating messes everywhere we turn. My toddler loves to rummage through drawers and cabinets, scattering their contents like confetti—all without any intention of putting anything back, just like his mom.
I must confess, I don’t have a natural inclination for tidiness. Unlike some people who seem effortlessly organized, I have not been blessed with the gift of cleanliness. I can’t even pretend that our chaotic environment is a sign of a full life; it’s simply a chaotic life. My kitchen counters are so cluttered that the best dinner plan I can muster is tossing something in the Crock-Pot.
Despite trying every trick in the book, messy moms like me often find ourselves in a constant battle against the clutter. My son is currently munching on the remnants of last night’s dinner, standing beside his highchair, while our home resembles an obstacle course.
I know you’re expecting me to offer a solution or declare, “Enough is enough.” But honestly, that’s just not the reality for us messy moms. Today, I’ll crank up some music to motivate myself, set a timer, and aim to unload the dishwasher and switch out the laundry. Somehow, I still carve out time to shower, practice a few yoga poses, and prepare dinner each night.
Parenting is certainly a challenge, and cleaning isn’t my top priority. My home is so messy that I couldn’t even stage a perfect Instagram shot—unless there’s a filter for “someone else’s house.” The idea of hiring a maid is becoming increasingly appealing. I’d be perfectly fine being that “yuppie” mom with a live-in nanny. The nanny? She should be experienced and maybe just a little bit frumpy.
A friend recently offered to help me tackle my cleaning in exchange for cooking some freezer meals for her family. She claimed she enjoys cleaning but despises cooking. Bless her heart—she even said the messier the better!
I’ve attempted to adopt the mindset of gratitude for having a home to clean, but that usually leads to me getting out the vacuum, only to find myself distracted by highlights from the last episode of my favorite show. My son, by the way, is terrified of cleaning appliances; I suspect it’s because he rarely sees them in action.
A sweet friend once messaged me on social media to sell me some cleaning products. I told her, “I’m sure they work wonders, but I’m not your target market. How can I save money on cleaning supplies when I’m currently spending zero?”
I know I’m a mess because when I do manage to clean, I have to announce it to the world. I’ll write a blog post, post on Facebook, and even call my mom, saying, “Guess what? I folded the laundry today!”
Is there hope for me to ever maintain an organized space? I dream of a day when we sit down for dinner without needing to wash two forks because I forgot to start the dishwasher. Or perhaps I will remember the last time I changed the sheets. But then, I’m jolted back to reality by my child, once again, playing in the recycling bin.
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In conclusion, being a messy mom is a reality many of us face. While we strive for cleanliness, life often gets in the way, leaving us with a beautiful mess that tells the story of our busy lives.