Bless This Mess

by Jenny

I’m crying uncle! I have to call in reinforcements. I can’t keep up. I have two children who have taken over my life and the things I own in my life — such as my house.

I try. I really do. I pick up, I put away, I wipe down, I wash, I pick up, I put away, I fold, I pick up, I put away. And on and on. Right?

Before you have kids, you only have one or two people’s crap to clean up. One person being you and the other your lovable, thoughtful and wonderful husband who can’t seem to figure out that the dishes don’t wash themselves.

That was the case for me anyway. I kept up with my housecleaning for the most part. There was the one time I went on strike just to show my husband what I did that he didn’t notice. How I vacuumed, swept, dusted, did laundry, cleaned bathrooms, cooked, did dishes and so much more. Not begrudgingly because I was doing it for me, too. But sometimes you just want to make sure you’re appreciated.

The strike was highly effective. My work is highly appreciated and now all I have to do is remind him of the days of the strike, and there is no argument about what needs to get done.

But it’s now too much for both of us. With two kids, busy jobs and a desire for some semblance of a social life, we just don’t have the time to keep up with the cleaning like we need to. And we now have two more people’s things to pick up and put away and clean and wash and so on.

So I’ve called in a maid.

I hope she can help. I’m hoping she can give me back my weekends or the one day I have with my girls by myself. I would much rather lay around all day and read books with them, play in the backyard, teach my 3-year-old how to write her letters, than clean up my bathroom and vacuum.

Who wouldn’t? OK, sometimes I do enjoy the escape. But not enough to keep it up!

How do you keep your house clean? Or do you?

Comments

[Karen]

I am feeling the exact same way today! In fact I am so overwhelmed with work, house, kids etc... that I called in sick today to clean/organize the house and instead have slept for 5 hours. I have winter/spring/summer clothes all over the place to sort, launder, take to goodwill etc.. How do people with more kids do it? I have two like you. I happened upon your blog today and I'm glad I did. It made me feel better.Thanks.

[Erin]

I did the same for a while. When one of the boys needed braces, I had to give up something that wasn't a "necessity". I am not so sure that the maid was the right choice! I thought about using my tax rebate to hire her back after 1 1/2 year without one! Now I just do what is necessary. I also, leave the boys, 15 and 11 some kind of chore on a sticky note on the TV to do everyday after school.

[ChicMama]

This is a reality I've faced, too. A cleaning service is worth every penny when you're working FT, with kids. I began with a team that came for three hours on Saturdays, and then as I continued to protect my weekends, I didn't even want someone in my house (aside from my son and DH). So I found a trustworthy service that comes on alternating Mondays. It's reasonable ($150/month) and all I really need to do is straighten and run the vacuum in between visits. We're expecting baby #2 this fall, and though we will definitely tighten up our spending, I'm going to sacrifice other things to keep the cleaning service.

[Chris]

I've been (and am) enormously frustrated with pretty much everything since my son was born. I didn't realize how much I had been giving to work and how much I'd been compensating for my husband.

In trying out various ideas to solve our problems, I recently started a house cleaning service to help other Moms, make some money, and get more control of my time. So far, I've really been enjoying cleaning other people's houses. It's really not that bad. And I only have to work a couple of days a week, which gives me time to clean MY house!

[Terry]

I know the feeling. I had the same troubles with keeping up my house along with a full time job and 4 kids. I finally gave up and we hired someone to come in every other week. It costs me $160 for every other week and well worth it. There are two ladies and they do a lot of the heavy stuff such as mopping floors, bathrooms, showers, windows, dusting, etc. I believe that if you work full time and can afford it, this is one area that you should indulge in. Your time is better spent with your children.

[Terry]

Oops. I meant to say $80 every other week...$160 a month.

[Jodi]

I would not live without a maid. I've had once since my daughter was 2. She is now 11. You can not keep up with a full time job, a husband, kids, and a house. One has to go, and the house is the obvious choice. Give in, spend the money, it will be well worth it!!!

[Bonnie]

I grew up with a mom working full time and no cleaning service. My sister and I pitched in, we ate our alot, and the house was filthy. We just ignored it!!!!