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How Tidy Are You as a Mom?
I’ve always struggled with being messy, and honestly, it’s been a bit of a source of embarrassment for me. It seems like society has this ongoing narrative that it’s more acceptable for men to be disorganized than it is for women. Back in college, guys could have their rooms looking like tornadoes hit them, and nobody batted an eye. You’d just walk in, shove aside a few pizza boxes, and plop down. But if a girl had a messy space, people would think, “Is she okay?”
Women, often seen as the caretakers of the home, are expected to maintain tidy environments where guests feel comfortable to kick back, sip tea, and stay awhile. Somehow, I missed that memo. I’ve always been the one with laundry piled high next to a heap of clean clothes. When I was living alone, I’d let dishes sit in the sink for days. Cleaning the bathroom was a rushed affair to avoid complete chaos, and deep cleaning? Rarely happened. When visitors came over, I’d scramble to make my space look presentable—suddenly I transformed into a cleaning whirlwind, scrubbing and organizing like my life depended on it.
But guess what? Adding kids into the mix turns an already messy home into a total disaster area. It’s almost comical that someone like me, who struggles to keep a one-person household in order, is now tasked with managing a family of four—especially when two of them are little mess-making machines. Every step they take unleashes a storm: sand from shoes ends up on the floor, clothes are stripped off and left everywhere, and crumbs seem to magically appear under the table. The laundry piles up like a never-ending mountain, and dishes multiply like rabbits. It’s like a punishment designed by some mischievous deity for someone who would procrastinate washing just one plate.
On the bright side, I have improved! Back when I was single, I’d rate my tidiness at a solid 4 out of 10. Now, as a mom, I’m still a 4 on the Mom Tidiness Scale, but here’s the twist: a 4 now is a lot tidier than it was before. I’ve learned that if I don’t tackle the dishes right away, they’ll just get worse. I unpack backpacks and diaper bags immediately, because it only gets harder if I wait. I’m actually on top of the laundry most of the time. If I had put in this level of effort back when I lived alone, my home would have been immaculate.
Sure, I still crash on the couch in the evenings while the super-moms are busy tidying up every tiny mess from craft time. But at least my house isn’t a pigsty! I’m hopeful that when the kids are grown and gone, this new tidiness will stick with me. Who knows? I might even be the cleanest resident in the nursing home someday!
If you’re looking for more insights about home insemination, check out our other posts for helpful tips. This one from IVF Babble is an excellent resource if you’re navigating this journey. And if you want to explore options for at-home insemination, Make a Mom offers a great selection of kits.
Summary
Navigating motherhood while managing messiness can feel overwhelming, but with some strategies and a positive attitude, tidiness can improve. Whether tackling the endless laundry or sneaky crumbs, every little effort counts towards creating a more organized home!