Smiling at Chaos – Let Go and Function in Your Home
They’re busy says the mess
Built up and hidden by bedroom doors
Laundry is a constant must says the dryer
Tired from all its running
Little ones are about whisper the crib and the dolls
They run wild scream the bright little toys
Disguising the living room floor
Trailing up and down the hall
Chaos, chant all the different things
Neatly put back not in their proper place
They’re happy anyway say all the pictures
Smiling back from the scrapbooks, the wall and the mantel piece
When Jordan & Riley were little I was so anal about the housework. Everything had to be in place and the house had to be clean. I spent so much of my free time straightening and cleaning and missing out on quality time with them. Thank goodness once I had Dillon things became crazy enough I could no longer keep up. I had to make a decision about what I could stand to let go and what had to be done. I learned to close bedroom doors to avoid seeing the tornado left behind and only ventured in about twice a year with a trash bag to purge. After finding clean and folded clothes in the dirty clothes hamper, I learned to let go of the laundry and showed gave instructions how to wash their own clothes. If they chose to dig through the laundry basket for clean clothes, I let them. Don’t get me wrong, there were things I never let go like a clean kitchen but realizing at some point I just couldn’t do it “all” and stay sane was a turning point for me.
To remove all the chaos from my house would remove all these precious people from my world. My idea of clean and theirs is never going to be the same! Someday the house will be quiet and I will only have Keith to pick up after (he also has a different definition of clean) and it will be clutter free and organized and I will surround myself with pictures and memories that have nothing to do with chaos and everything to do with love. I will look forward to the days when they all return (I hope) with big families of their own and we can make a big mess and not care one little bit about anything but creating memories.
As a mom and a wife I think I often worry so much about maintaining a functional household I often forget to actually function in the household! It’s obvious the kids do not see the mess! Do I really want the one thing they remember about me to be my constant frenzy over the mess? I still suck at this so many days and still lose my stuff sometimes but as with all things I am a work in progress.
Today, I am so grateful I have learned to smile back at chaos!
Great, great post! I'd be lying if I said that I'm not bothered by the mess but at this stage, I'm just trying to function and am definitely in survival mode! You have always been such a good example with how you raised your bigs. You did good, mama! And, you continue to amaze me!
I needed this! I am always so consumed by the mess and chaos that I forget to live and enjoy the moments before they pass by. Thank you!
What an amazing poet you have. It is so easy to picture your life at the moment as I feel right there with you. It's amazing what can slide when moments happen!
ADORE this post. So needed it and still trying to learn that balance of what to let go (made beds!) and what I need to feel less stressed (clean kitchen). Thanks for sharing!
Love this! Thanks for sharing! At the mo, I'm living in chaos, but we're getting ready to move, I have 2 kids, one only being 8 months old, plus I'm a WAHM, so I try not to beat myself up about it and spend as much time making memories in the mess! 😉
Kudos to you Lianne…….there will be plenty of time to have a clean house!! Have a great weekend!
Wow, I love her poem!!! So much!
Great post and what a lovely poem! Its so hard to keep on top of everything and you're right, sometimes you just have to let go so you can enjoy your kids and your life! Xx #allaboutyou
Somedays are easier than others…but it definitely has made me feel a little more sane to let go. Have a great week!
Lovely poem, I love it! #alaboutyou
Thank you!
Love the quote! I have to remind myself of this constantly as I have a toddler and baby. I like how you are thankful for your busy youngest because it made you have to let go of a few things… Reminds me I need to look at the positives with my own kids, and what blessings can come from traits I may be taking for granted.
So true Aspen. It's hard when you are in the moment of raising those babies. Have a great weekend Aspen.