I have four children, four bedrooms, and four bathrooms. Unfortunately, I don’t have four hands to keep everything spotless, nor do I have the enthusiasm to do so. I’m definitely not trying to emulate the picture-perfect lives of characters like June Cleaver. Instead, I relate more to Peg Bundy, who embraced her imperfections with a grin. I’ve got the fiery red hair and a penchant for animal prints—so bring it on!
As a stay-at-home mom, my focus isn’t on creating a flawless home. I don’t wake up to make the beds or obsess over shiny floors. The scent of cleaning products doesn’t exactly thrill me. I could clean if I wanted to, but honestly, I’d rather not. Before you envision my home as a chaotic disaster zone, let me clarify: it’s not filthy. It just isn’t always ready for a magazine photoshoot. You might find a few dishes in the sink, toys scattered in the living room, and laundry that seems to multiply overnight despite my daily washing routine. Seriously, I run the laundry machine constantly, yet it never seems to diminish. My kids wear uniforms, so where is all this clothing coming from? But I digress—there’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that all over the place.
Sure, I could hire a cleaning service, but that would mean I’d have to tidy up for them first. They’re not going to vacuum around the underwear and toy collections. We had a cleaning lady when we were newlyweds, and our home was spotless—but that was a waste of money I could’ve spent on comfy yoga pants I never wear to workout!
I do manage to prepare dinner each night, mostly because the family tends to get a bit cranky when they’re hungry. While our meals aren’t gourmet, they’re hot, timely, and enjoyable. Someone should award me a medal for doing my job as a mom.
Speaking of my kids, I have three boys and one girl. The boys are at school full time while my daughter is in Pre-K. I’d rather spend my days playing on the floor surrounded by her toys than fret over how organized her closet is. Yes, we have bins for her toys, but she’s four—she prefers to dump everything out and play, and I’m totally okay with that. I want my children to have memories of carefree fun, just like I did with my own toys.
In fact, I have a sign in my hallway that says, “Pardon the Mess, But My Kids are Making Memories.” Cheesy? Maybe. True? Absolutely. They don’t need me flipping out about their messy rooms. When I do get the urge to deep clean, it usually ends in frustration for everyone involved—not worth it.
So, if you decide to swing by without warning, don’t expect a pristine environment. Get ready for comfort, laughter, and maybe a bit of stickiness from jelly on the couch. While you’re here, feel free to grab a Diet Coke and maybe help me switch the laundry!
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In summary, while I may be a stay-at-home mom, I embrace the chaos of parenting rather than striving for a perfect home. My priority is to create happy memories for my children, even if it means living among a little bit of mess.