I often marvel at parents who manage to maintain a spotless home while raising toddlers. Honestly, I can’t fathom how they do it. If I knew their secret, my place wouldn’t resemble a chaotic explosion followed by a minor implosion. Maybe they have magical cleaning powers or employ a cleaning service every week!
Since having kids, keeping my home tidy has become a Herculean task. With time being a precious commodity, it’s challenging to balance daily responsibilities with cleaning the house from top to bottom. It often feels like an endless cycle of picking up toys and cleaning up messes, which seem to multiply overnight. Sure, I might get a load of laundry done, but that often results in it sitting in the washer for days, serving as my defense for why nobody has clean clothes: “Look, I’m doing laundry!”
Even on the rare occasion that I manage to tidy up — usually when guests are on the way and I want to hide the chaos — it rarely stays that way for long. My threshold for “messy” has shifted to what looks like a landfill, and I’m too exhausted to care. As long as the toilet doesn’t resemble a science experiment gone wrong, I’m okay with the following:
- Dusting
Living in a dry, sunny state means my home is constantly invaded by dust particles. I feel like I’m battling the dust fairies daily with my dish towel, only to have to start over again almost immediately. - De-cluttering
My kitchen counter is a notorious clutter magnet. It’s like a black hole that sucks in random items, and even after a thorough cleaning, it manages to refill itself almost instantly. - Mopping
Once a nightly ritual, I now only mop when absolutely necessary, like after any unfortunate accidents. It’s just not worth the effort when crumbs and spills seem to appear out of nowhere overnight. - Sweeping
I find myself sweeping more often than I’d like, not out of enjoyment, but because the amount of food debris my kids create is staggering! It’s almost like they’re little farm animals scattering crumbs everywhere. - Vacuuming
While I don’t mind vacuuming, I only do it rarely enough that it feels like a special event when I do. If I could just infuse my carpet with pleasant scents while I vacuum, I might convince others I keep a cleaner home than I actually do. - Cleaning Bathrooms
This task gets done only for three reasons: a potty accident, an unexpected visitor, or if I have a moment to give them a good scrub. Honestly, my bathrooms are probably the cleanest parts of the house. - Laundry
Once a simple task, laundry has morphed into a mountain of clothes that needs attention constantly. What was once a manageable chore has become a never-ending cycle of laundry days. - Washing Sheets
When I had one child, I was diligent about washing sheets every two weeks. With a third little one in the mix, now it only happens if there’s an unfortunate incident! - Dishes
Dishes are my nemesis. They pile up quickly, and my goal of keeping the kitchen clean is often thwarted by the sheer volume of sippy cups and plates that appear at every meal. - Washing Windows
I’ve learned to let this one slide until it’s so bad that we can’t see outside. Sometimes, ignoring the dirt is just easier. - Cleaning the Litter Box
I used to keep this spotless for my cat, but with a new little one around, it often gets neglected. Sometimes, I just dump it and start fresh. - Taking Out the Trash
This is non-negotiable. I can’t have trash piling up, especially with family visiting. So, I often find creative ways to compact it or enlist my kids to help. - Oven Cleaning
The self-cleaning feature is a lifesaver, even if it leaves a lingering smell of burnt meals. I still have to tackle the aftermath, which is a messy reminder of my culinary adventures. - Refrigerator Cleaning
I put off cleaning out the fridge until it’s practically a science experiment inside. Often, I just wait until I run out of storage containers! - Pantry Organizing
My pantry is a disaster zone. I have no idea how it gets so out of hand, and organizing it takes forever. Moving would probably be easier! - The Garage
This space is mainly my husband’s domain. I might do a quick sweep here and there, but I usually leave it to him. - Picking Up Toys
Sometimes, I find it easier to just bag up toys and donate them than to keep picking them up every day. - Making Beds
Is this still a thing? I can’t remember the last time I made a bed. - Yard Work
I don’t mind tackling the yard as long as someone else is keeping an eye on the kids. Otherwise, it’s a high-stakes game of dodging little feet! - Closet Organizing
Closets are often like the pantry — a chaotic mess. I usually just shove everything in there and say it’s organized!
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant state of disorder. However, I’ve come to accept that this is just a phase of life. One day, I know I’ll have a tidy home again, free from toys on the floor and greasy fingerprints on the windows. While I don’t enjoy the mess, it does signify that life is happening here. So, I choose to embrace the chaos because, right now, prioritizing time with my family is what truly matters.
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Summary:
In this humorous take on parenting and housekeeping, Olivia shares her adapted cleaning strategies since becoming a parent. From dusting and laundry to managing clutter, she embraces the chaos of family life, accepting that a perfectly clean home is a distant dream for now.