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Thursday, November 14, 2013

When a neat freak becomes a mom


My favorite part of the day--besides H coming home from work is the morning after Mariam goes down for a nap. Serena is at school and it's just me and Layla. During this time Layla and I work on her ABC's and numbers, and then we play, or we might go in the backyard for a little while. Since Mariam naps for about 2 hours in the morning, I also spend a little bit of this time cleaning up and doing some laundry. With a family of five I tend to be washing a load or two at least every other day. 

There's something about folding a fresh batch of sheets as the sun shines through the blinds in my room that comforts me. It's really the act of getting something done with it being quiet, and something that I can control that I like. I am a neat freak by nature. I've always been like this since I was little. My parents never had to ask me to pick up my room, I just always did. I know in most cases, keeping a clean house with little kids goes to hell in a hand basket, but not here. I just feel like things are out of control if the house is too messy.

You know those cute little signs about the house being messy you see plastered on Pinterest or on a friend's Facebook page..


Yeah no. I'm in the camp of my children are making memories, but the house is clean.

This isn't too say that I'm constantly picking up, but I do spend a lot more time than I probably should picking up after everybody. If you know me, you know I can juggle a lot. That doesn't say it doesn't come with a price for myself, but that subject is for another day. When you become a parent, your former self doesn't just pick up a suitcase and leave, rather you adapt, or modify your ways a bit. My neatness hasn't changed but I have gotten better about relaxing a little about it.


9 comments:

  1. I love a clean house too! Makes me happy. But there are days there are toys everywhere and I just say oh well! I usually clean at night when everyone is sleeping for like an hour and then head to bed. Wonder how it will be with another addition in the house hehe ;) Thanks for sharing!!

    Luba

    www.lubalovely.com

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    1. Haha me too. There are definitely days were I will leave the living room (where most of the toys are) a mess till night time.

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  2. I'm the exact same way! I have to have a clean house or I feel all out of sorts and anxious. I usually pick up during nap times and after bed time. Only to do it all over again the next day:)

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    1. Yes! I'm with you. I'm not ashamed to admit sometimes I pick up the main messes a couple times during one day. Serena who is 11 also helps pick up so I'm not the only one doing it. She also is old enough for chores like unloading the dishwasher. :)

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  3. I'm running myself into the ground trying to keep up my old standards of cleanliness. I'm more stressed by a messy house than I am by pushing to get it clean. Usually I sacrifice sleep to make it happen, but I'm pregnant with baby #3 and its really catching up to me. Still I'm with you, having kids in the house is no excuse for messy living space!

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    1. I can imagine how tired you must be pregnant and trying to keep things in order. I was just there last year. I don't judge anyone who does have a messy house with kids. I completely understand that it's not easy.

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  4. I'm with you on this one. A messy house will literally drive me insane. I don't particularly like to clean all the time, and I do admit letting it go a bit more, but it is always neat and clutter-free. And laundry? I LOVE IT!

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  5. I'm like this too and I loathe those signs! My child will be making memories in a clean house, where he actually has space to play and knows where all of his things are.

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