Life's too Short to clean the house

A Mother's unending battle with dust bunnies and little toys.

It was a lovely Saturday Morning. Perfect for a cup of Coffee. My dear daughter was fidgeting next to me while we sat in one of the comfy lounging sofa of a local Coffee house in Huntersville NC waiting for our drinks.

I glanced at the stack of papers and magazines strewn on the center table and started flipping through them when this flier blared right into my eyes!

"Life's too short to clean your own home"

Life speaking to me? As a mother, this is one of my great stressors. Self-admitted neat freak {blame this on my mother}, mess became my ultimate nemesis the day my daughter was born. Toys that comes in all sizes has found refuge in every nook and cranny of the house. Best of all, their favorite spot is the floor where I walk on. Each day is like "under the sea". Except that my sea is made up of toys, toys and dust bunnies!

So, Is life really short to clean your own home? I think it will be shorter if I don't. A messy house begets a messy life. Imagine your house full of clutter. How does that translate to being organized? Impossible!

But, I'd rather spend quality time with my daughter and husband than enslaving myself cleaning. Life is too short after all.

I've accepted that my battle with the messes will not cease anytime soon. My daughter is only 5 years old. I've got a long time ahead of me. So for now, here is what I do: {or not do anyway}

DO:
a) Place Catch basins - I have this big laundry basket stationed in the living room for the sole purpose of "catching" loose toys, books and whatchamacallits at the end of the day. Makes for less trips carrying collected stuffs back to the kiddos room.

b) Subtraction - Implement the power of subtraction. The rule is, if she wants to play with something else, she has to put away the previous one. It's still a work in progress but she's getting it. Less toys to deal with, less stress when it's time to clean.

c) Employ the help of an Elf - I've started teaching my daughter the "art of cleaning". Who else will help me but the one who creates the mess. Little help goes a long way. Start them early.

DO NOT:

Be a SOFTIE - you're not a paper product. You're the mother! My daughter knew that whenever she flutters her eyes and flash me that cute smile and say "please", she's in for instant victory! BUT I've learned my lesson (except my husband. He's still in training camp}.

Be the Role Model - For mess and clutter. What they see, is what they copy. I have enrolled my husband and his office in Bootcamp to fix this. AND you didn't hear this from me.

If all else fails, be BFF with the dust bunnies! I am. Then just snuck the toys under the couch, the coffee table or anywhere that's out of your sight!

Life is too short...