Or L1, really. Not because I’m all nastaulgic about that time, but because it would mean that my house was clean. Someone is stopping by to pick up L4 today, and when she said so yesterday, it threw me into a bit of a panic. Her house is pristine. Mine is not. There are always other things to do (bake bread, knit, sew, read, play with kids, grade, work on powerpoints, eat…) that cleaning just falls by the wayside. Couple that with the fact that I am a single-mom this week because L1 is chaperoning the 7th grade trip to Washington DC and even less cleaning is getting done because there is only one of us here. Sweeping is the one thing I do on a regular basis or I would be buried by fur and dirt with the hardwood floors naught to be seen. A lot of the “unclean” is really kid-clutter, and our general clutter, too. Just don’t know where to put things. *sigh*
Now comes my dilemma. I love to have people over to visit. I like to sit and chat, or show projects we’re all working on from sewing to the garden, and I like to share my home. But at the same time, when I have visitors it sends me into a panic mode because I don’t want my house to be slovenly for them. I daydream about friends just stopping by unannounced for a visit. The idea is so appealing because it speaks to the fact that they’re comfortable coming here. But I know that most of the time, our home is NOT fit for company. I know, I know, if they loved me they wouldn’t care. . . but I do care. I just can’t seem to get over it. But apparently not enough to make big changes.
So dear reader, if you are one who has never been to my home, now you know why. I probably am aching to invite you, to share a meal or a tasty treat with you. But my home is generally a big mess, and I have a big dog who loves people more than they tend to love him. If you’re willing to overlook all of that, well then, my door is open, come pay a call.
We are very alike in this regard… I’d love to have an open door to my home at all times, but my god the dust-bunnies! And worse, we have no pets, just one kid, and the clutter is mostly my stuff. I walk by a particularly egregious bit of fluff and dust on the floor and think, gee, I should clean that up, but I’d much rather spin. Or knit. Or cook. Or garden. Or be with my daughter.
I was reading my great grandmother’s daily diaries from the early 1900s last month. She cleaned, did laundry (by hand!), and cooked daily and baked weekly, and people were in and out of her farmhouse home every day of the week. W/out calling ahead. The progression from that lifestyle norm to the one I’m leading is (to me) a fascinating little study.
I’m so with you and Patii on this one. I think about cleaning then realize I’d much rather play with the baby or the dog or sew, knit, read… really anything rather than clean. I have such a hard time justifying spending what little “free” time I have on cleaning. Though I’d horribly embarrassed if anyone where to drop by and see all my dust/dog hair bunnies and baby/life paraphernalia everywhere. But still I don’t change my lifestyle. When I look back – I think I’d rather know that I spent time and enjoyed my family than had a squeeky clean house. I don’t think people will really remember in the end.
I think ‘mess’ is a sign of genious…personally. If you could only see my office right now. It’s downright scary. I can certainly look over the mess and say I’ve had a generally lovely day with all my students so that’s ok.
I am scared to add my comment… you know me and this subject too well.
Have you gotten there yet? To that point where you want me to come over? I will you know, and I won’t judge. I will make you find spots for things. I will grab your broom and knock down cobwebs. I will wash floors and baseboards… I will clear the counter tops. I got methods to mad cleaning. I am having a gentle sigh of contentment about it right now.
My Mom taught me that it is all about maintance. Yes, the first couple of days of getting things calmed down is a lot of work. But once everything is clean, you just gotta maintain. It takes me less then an hour to clean this whole house. And I consider my house BIG! That is because I maintain. I can’t think straight to ‘create’ until I clean up.
Take her up on it, Lindsey! A clean(ish) house is sooooo relaxing to be in. And the kids can help keep it clean. And they’ll learn to value their things more because they will be cared for and appreciated (and found from under the bed!).
I too would like a cleaner house. It seems the dust builds until on some days (rarely) I go into a mad cleaning mode and clean a room up nicely … then it sits until the next expisode. I’m trying to get myself to make a schedule as I think a clean house would be more relaxing. However, it is true there is always something else you want to do more than clean.
Well you have been to my messy house! lol….I am always more comfortable and at ease when people have a relaxed atmosphere 🙂
Not to mention, I am pretty sure June Cleaver was a stepford wife or a zombie!
Hope to see you soon.