First of all, I usually like to clean on a cloudy day so that I can’t see how much dirt and dust I am missing with my frenetic cleaning, but I had already decided that today was the day, so I got after it, sunshine streaming in and all…
I was serious when I said my cleaning is “frenetic”, because I try to get it all done during the kids naps. Of course, Madi decided that she wouldn’t take a nap today, so I fixed her up with a “craft”, so that she wouldn’t slip on the wet floor and knock herself out. (don’t get excited, it was just decorating an empty Country Crock container with crayon and stickers)
Also, I use the term “cleaning” pretty loosely, especially compared to the cleaning expectations that I grew up with. On occasion, I beat myself up about what I don’t do when I clean, you know, such important things like dusting the baseboards and mini blinds or moving all the furniture to vacuum under it more than once or twice a year. I know…such important tasks…
But I had to decide for myself that what I do get done is “good enough”, because…
- Ben and the kids don’t care if the mini blinds are dusty
- It will only look “clean” for about 10 minutes, if I’m lucky
- There are more important things to do with my time
- It will never be “perfect”, and even if it was, the items listed above would still apply
The whole looking clean for about 10 minutes is actually painfully true. Last time I cleaned, I smashed a jar of minced garlic to smithereens on the kitchen floor almost immediately after I had finished cleaning. Nice work.
So, if you are at my house, don’t look under any furniture, because you might find stray Cheerios mixed with dust bunnies…I see a few right now, actually. I guess I will go pick them up…
