Here's the problem: cleaning my house turns me into Mean Mom. I absolutely cannot be patient with my kids when I am cleaning or after I clean BECAUSE they are just messing the crap out of everything three steps behind me! WHAT AM I CLEANING FOR? I was sweeping this morning, turned around to get the dustpan, and I see Gabe emptying the desk drawers of all their writing utensils, glue sticks, etc. Argh! Claire is picking things out of the dustpile that I am about to sweep up because she doesn't want that particular tile spacer to be lost forever. ARGH! GET OUT! While I fill the dishwasher, Gabe is emptying it; while I fold laundry, Gabe and Claire are turning over the laundry baskets; while I refill the desk drawers, Gabe is pulling garbage out of the trashcan and throwing it on my swept floor. Seriously. I feel like the 3 Stooges. Well, the one Mom Stooge and the two little Stinkers.
Ok, so now I'm just mad while I clean. I'm mad if I actually succeed in getting it clean b/c it will only be clean for an nth of a second. And, since I'm mad, I can't be patient with anything else they do. For example, every time I try to practice the piano 1, every single kid in the house tries to talk to me, sit on the bench, play along, or stand and howl once I've told them to stop all that. So, I'm angry, I force them all out of the room, and I try to practice for 3 minutes while I listen to them sobbing and screaming in another room. Does all this seem pointless to you? Cuz it does to me.
So, I get to live in a filthy house OR my kids spend 90% of their day in bed or timeout. They aren't bad kids, really, although they are so not used to me cleaning that they apparently turn into gremlins after midnight. So, usually the house is filthy. I consider it a favor to my kids :)
1I am actually practicing for a reason, otherwise, why would I bother? I have to accompany a trio tonight at my stake primary meeting, and I'm freaking out about it. I never play anymore, so I'm very rusty. And these ladies are superb singers, and I'm afraid of screwing it up and ruining their lovely performance.
2 comments:
I totally sympathize. When our house was on the market and we had to keep the house spotless I was a wreck. Every little thing had to be clean all the time. Even smudges on glass. It was a night mare. People say that you have a happier family if your house is clean but I disagree. It just made everyone crazy.
P.S. You will do great in your musical number.
I feel your pain
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