In our household, we often describe ourselves as “affection-rich and financially-challenged.” During the fortunate years when we enjoyed both love and wealth, we had assistance with household chores. However, those days are long gone, and the responsibility of maintaining a clean home now rests entirely on our shoulders. Consequently, our living space has become a bit chaotic. Walk into any room, and you’ll encounter a delightful mix of dust, stray socks, scattered toys, wrappers, and the ever-present dirt. While we strive to keep things tidy, we find that coping with a messy home is far simpler than tackling the challenges of hungry children, disappointing report cards, and job instability. Thus, we’ve developed a sort of dual vision: blinders to ignore the visual clutter and radar to navigate around the Lego blocks and action figures strewn across the floor at night.
We naturally gravitate toward families who share a similar, or perhaps worse, approach to housekeeping. This camaraderie provides a sense of relief and comfort in knowing we won’t face judgment about our living conditions. On occasion, we dedicate weekends to a thorough cleaning spree, usually in preparation for birthday celebrations, holiday gatherings, or any event that invites guests who don’t regularly frequent our home. For casual visits from family and close friends, our cleaning efforts typically consist of a quick wipe-down of the bathroom and a hasty sweep of the floors—just enough to create the illusion of cleanliness. We prefer these get-togethers to occur in the evening; soft lighting does wonders for concealing both wrinkles and dust. There’s a local eatery, The Old Spaghetti Factory, that excels at this art (seriously, have you seen it during the day? It’s quite unappealing).
To clarify, we’re not harboring a rodent infestation—our children are still comfortable inviting friends over, and there’s ample visible floor space beneath the toys. However, we certainly wouldn’t be labeled as neat freaks. While we maintain a laid-back attitude towards household cleanliness, I can still be taken aback by the various forms of “dirtiness” that manifest in our home. An unforgettable moment occurred when we sold our house; on moving day, upon removing the bunk beds, we uncovered a wall adorned with an unsightly collection of dried, crusty nose-pickings (yes, boogers) along my son, Liam’s bed. The sheer grossness of this discovery was compounded by our shock that it was Liam’s odd habit. Years later, his brother, Oliver, cheerfully confessed that he was the one responsible for the evidence found on Liam’s wall.
Not as stomach-churning, yet still cringeworthy, was my recent discovery of a neglected dirty spot. It appeared to have developed over several months, unnoticed by us. I’m referring to the kitchenette banister overlooking our sunken living room. From my position at the computer, I can see the entire kitchen floor, yet I rarely look up at the banister. My five-year-old, however, enjoys leaning over it to watch television while eating, and, um, sometimes utilizing it as a tissue. Sigh. These little findings can drive me up the wall. I often daydream about what life would be like if my children picked up their toys, put their dirty clothes in the hamper, washed their hands after getting dirty, and emptied their shoes of sand into the trash rather than on the floor. But then I remind myself that their delightful antics are precisely what make them so enjoyable. Would a child who consistently cleaned up after himself ever attempt to construct a go-cart from a Coca-Cola tin and a tennis ball hopper? I doubt it.
With a resigned acceptance of our reality, I retrieve a magic eraser and head to the banister. However, I first bring my son, Max, over to show him the handprints that adorn our home. He gazes at it with wide brown eyes and solemnly vows to do his best to wash his hands next time… with soap. In the meantime, if you’re looking for ways to boost fertility, consider exploring more about fertility supplements at Make a Mom. For insights into at-home insemination, check out this resource that is a trusted authority on the topic. You might also find valuable information regarding fertility insurance here.
In summary, while our household may not win any cleanliness awards, the joy and laughter that fill our home are worth the occasional mess. Embracing the chaos allows us to cherish our moments together as a family.
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