upstairs/downstairs
I don't know about you, but I can only be in one place at any given time. So, if I am upstairs cleaning, I can not be downstairs. If I am downstairs working, I can not be upstairs. The problem with this arrangement is that my kids tend to choose the floor that I am not on and proceed with creating total chaos in their location at the same time I am trying to clean up the last chaotic incident. For example: I was upstairs folding laundry the other morning. I made great progress and decided to come down for a bite to eat. What I found as I came down the stairs was a huge pile of couch cushions and several blankets turned into a fort. I rolled my eyes, grabbed a slim-fast from the fridge and went to work, putting the cushions back on the couch. I know I should have told the kids to do it, but they had already made it upstairs and I was enjoying the quiet downstairs while I considered what job to do next. I checked my email, grabbed some dirty towels and headed upstairs to change the laundry. When looking for any other towels that needed to be washed, I discovered the bathroom sink full of water with cups and toys all around!
This is how every day goes for me. I work on a job upstairs while a mess is made downstairs. I clean up the mess downstairs while a new mess is being made upstairs. Downstairs. Upstairs. Downstairs. Upstairs. All day long! I think I need a front door for both the upstairs and the downstairs, so when people come over, they can come to the floor that I have been cleaning instead of the one residing in caos!
What I really find myself wondering is- will I ever miss this? When my kids are grown and gone will I being saying, "Thank heavens! I was so tired of cleaning up their mess!" or will I find myself with so little to do that I miss my kids like crazy and long for these crazy, chaotic days when no matter how hard I try, I can't ever clean my whole house? The next time I am cleaning toothpaste off the walls, I will try to enjoy the delightful proof of curious, creative, and wonderful children who fill our home with laughter before looking ahead to the glorious day when my walls will stay clean for more than 5 mintues!
posted by jenn | 3/15/2006
5 Comments:
It's hard for me to imagine missing the chaos and the messes, but I can easily imagine how sad the silence could be (and how great too). I love the sound of the kids playing happily, or running in to tell me a joke or to show me a dance move. I'm sure having those things gone will be sad, so you are very wise to think of this and to go with the flow of your life rather than to fight it and be miserable.
P.S. What a darling towel that is, wherever did you get it?
What a great idea to have more than one door! Boy, this brings back memories. No, you won't miss the constant mess and work at all. And yes, you get quiet boring-ness instead. So try to enjoy this passing season. It's hard to see now, but someday you may realize that it was a privilege to live your life for others, even if it was doing mundane stuff. It's supposed to make you a bitter person--I mean, better.
Jenn, I can't imagine you ever being bored. Not having messes to clean up will just mean that you get to indulge your creativity even more and make us even more jealous than we already are! You will miss the kids, though--the noises, the fun, and even the chaos (but maybe only a little).
Good question. I really don't think I'll miss the messes. I have the same problem with cleaning up stuff. But I do think it'll be awfully quiet when the kids are gone. I never thought I'd be the kind of mother who would get upset about that, but more and more I feel slightly panicky about it!
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