Can I let you in on a little secret? Probably one that not very many people know.
I don’t clean my house.
What you scream?
Wait. I didn’t say I live in a dirty house. I simply said I don’t clean my house.
Yes, I pick up after myself. Yes, my boys are supposed to clean their own rooms. Yes, my husband helps with daily housework. Yes, the dishes are done. Well, they are almost done some nights.
For years I have struggled with keeping a clean house. I have tried different planning schedules. Yes, we have put a cleaning schedule on our fridge. I have tried different ways to help me stay on top of cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, and dusting. I have tried different cleaning products that are supposed to save you time and energy.
Yet, it was never enough because there was always something else calling my name – time with my family, finishing my masters degree, taking care of my children, working out, working on a freelance project. You name it and it probably was keeping me from the time to clean.
Over the years, I have thought about having someone help me. When I worked full-time before kids, I thought about it. I’ve thought about it when I’ve had an incredible freelance load. I’ve thought about it while trying to balance my responsibilities with my husband’s responsibilities. I should note he is a wonderful help to keeping our house in order, but he also runs his own business, coaches baseball, spends a lot of time with our boys and finds time for himself too.
I always found some way to out-justify my desire to have someone help me. Sometimes it was the cost. Sometimes it was the fear of having someone see the nitty-gritty corners of dirt in my house. Sometimes it was just laziness of not knowing how to find help.
That changed this year thanks to my mom’s simple question, “have you thought about having someone help you clean your house.” I had to chuckle in a way because my mom is super busy too. I remember her always struggling to stay ahead of a clean house as she and my dad worked together to build their own business.
So I did it. I called a friend who cleans houses. I asked for her help. And I am so glad. It is one less thing for me to think about in the midst of freelance writing projects, homeschooling, managing the behind-the-scenes of my husband’s business and treasurer responsibilities for two non-profits in which we are involved as well as being a mom, a wife, and just me! It is one less thing to stress about in my life.
Why am I posting this today? Because this week she should have been here to clean my house, but she is on vacation. I miss my clean house as I remind myself to make sure to vacuum before she returns to my home in two weeks. I miss her help as I’m under a “real” writing deadline. I miss having her around to chat with while she is cleaning and I’m working, teaching, or anything else other than cleaning my house! I simply miss this important part of and friend in my life because “I can’t do it all.”
What gets pushed to the side of your life because you can’t do it all? Is there a way you can change that?
Heh, I gave in to the “let someone else do it” bug before you did! That, and I give up about stupid things like putting away laundry.
Life is too short. We need to allow ourselves to do what we love – and give up what we don’t- more often.
Life is to short to worry about dust.
Thank you for the reminder to spend time on what is important.
My painting usually gets pushed to the side.
So…. with that thought I will get off the computer and paint.
I think you are wise: We can’t do it all! It’s a relief, just saying it, isn’t it?
Having someone clean the house was a special day every two weeks. That was the one day I could walk in and say “Ahhh” when the scent of the cleaner hit the nose. Of course the rule was I didn’t cook dinner that night. You don’t mess up a clean kitchen.