I keep reminding myself that some day the house will be clean again. Right now I am in an unusual season as I find in the time it takes me to tidy one room, the kids can untidy two of them. They are learning how to help out, but the process is slow. I can tell I won’t be winning any housekeeping awards this year because when I rolled the vacuum into my son’s room he yelled, “AAAHHH! What are you going to do with THAT thing?!”
I have also found myself secretly feeling relieved when a child drops and breaks a dish. My first thought is always “Well, at least I won’t have to wash that one.”
Having a child who is preparing to start Kindergarten in the fall is reminding me how very short this life is and how quickly these years of intense parental supervision fly by. The day will come when they will all be out the door at school or at summer camp and I can finally get that linen closet organized or complete their baby books or vacuum under the couch cushions. But I bet when that day gets here I’ll feel a sadness that they’re not underfoot and crying for my attention. And truthfully, I’ll probably never want to organize that linen closet.
But for now I try to walk that tightrope- investing my time and energy wisely in the daily tasks of mothering while also trying to stay just enough on top of the housework that I can feel okay inviting a friend over when she needs to talk. I hope you’ll pray with me- God, help me to be a good steward of the time you’ve given me and the little lives you’ve called me to care for.