Ten years ago I would have a day with nothing but housework planned and I would feel free. There was no one else in the house to distract me so I would distract myself. I would play classic country music loudly and reminisce about summertime cleaning with my Mom. I would start the way she taught me... begin in one end of the house and work toward the other end. Of course, I would have hours to myself so I would do just like Mom and allow myself side projects during the day. No matter what little bits I started the day with I would stretch the imaginary to-do list further and further as the hours went by. By the time L.C. pulled into the driveway there was no telling what could be found. Perhaps a closet would be empty and the contents moved to other hiding places throughout the house so that I could have my own scrapbook closet. Maybe the bed would be broken because I rammed the frame with all my might in order to rearrange the furniture just the way I wanted it. A couple times he even returned to see the paint colors had changed with little to no warning.
I was in my own little creative world back then. I allowed myself to get lost in projects whenever my heartstrings pulled them. The consistency of just two of us in the home allowed me with plenty of opportunities to mix things up on a regular basis. I liked it that way.
For the last handful of years things have been pretty different. The major factors of life were changing what seemed like constantly. Many moves, back to back pregnancies, completely dependent children with persistence and dedication to their ways left me in a very different place. I found myself unable to handle some of the minor details in daily living with much grace. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't label myself as graceful at all in the last several years. I definitely lived as a product of tremendous grace. I struggled with all my might to get through any minor task that lay before me and clung to the advice of other's who said it would get easier if I would just survive the first 6 months/1 year/18 months/2 years of having two babies 13 months apart.
Sure enough, I am the Mom of preschoolers who enjoy discovering things as Lewis & Clark did in days gone by. Except my kids explore my freshly tidied home rather than the vast expanse of new lands. Now-a-days I certainly invest much of my energy in replacing items the kids play with throughout the day. I love the adventure that our life is. But I would be flat out lying if I insinuated that it has been an adventure I would gladly re-enter from the beginning. Its been harder than I ever imagined.
But...
Something interesting has happened.
This week I not only accomplished Laundry Monday complete with all bedding washed, but I also aced House Cleaning Tuesday with flying colors! My house is clean folks! Granted there are toys scattered about that L.C. will pry help the kids clean up before bed. The children are in the bedrooms now doing who-knows-what. But the floors are clean. The throw pillows got washed. And last, but certainly not least...
L.C. gets to come home to a surprise! The living room is rearranged!
I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but I may just see the light at the end of the stay-at-home-mom-of-preschoolers tunnel. And. I. Love. It.
3 comments:
It sure is a journey with these little ones isn't it? It's a great place to be with older ones. Not that I don't love babies but it is very hard work. I don't believe the work gets any less hard as they grow up but it's less time consuming. Thus you get time to do fun things like rearrange! :-D
Thanks for sharing!!
Hang in there! They will all be gone all too soon.
I glad we're in the same season of life! God knew I needed some stay at home mom friends and he has graciously placed you and a few other special ladies in my life. And, while I still have Ruthie too small to "help", I will say that Adison and Obi (who are less than 2 years apart) have matured into really helping. It actually happens. Your "light at the end of the tunnel" is real! Love you friend!
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