Day #297 Tip – Loosen Your Expectations for the House

Let me just put it out there – my house is not as clean as I’d hope. I think that’s fairly inevitable with small children, but I have begun to compromise my desires for the house in trade for the time I spend with the kids (oh, and the time I blog ). We don’t live in a pig sty by any means. I host a small group here every Thursday, so I have it fairly put together by then. However, I have had to be very intentional about letting some of it go. My husband came home the other day and said, “The house has been really clean the last few days. How did you make that happen?” I said, “Other than a few activities, I basically ignored the kids.” He didn’t believe me, but it was true. I was lucky to have them pretty self entertained those days, but I feel like it’s always a choice I have to make. If I want a clean, clean house, the kids are on their own or helping. I once read of a mom who had kids begging her to go out sledding, but she wanted to get the dishes done. She went out sledding and never regretted it. We don’t get those memories or opportunities back. This time is short (or so I’ve heard), so make the most of it. Face it, you’ll have to make choices. Do you want to go down in history as always having an amazing house or being an amazingly present mom? Your kids will rise up and call you blessed. The dishes (like the one pictured in my sink right now) will wait. Al that said, maybe some of you need the opposite advice. The house is falling apart around you, and you aren’t getting it done because of lack of motivation. I also don’t find it healthy for your kids to live constantly in disorganized chaos, so you’ll have to find the happy balance.