Last Thursday, my partner, Alex, inquired about our weekend plans. Hesitantly, I opened my calendar app, preparing for the whirlwind of commitments that usually filled our weekends. To my surprise, there was nothing scheduled. How could this be? We had been juggling at least three events every weekend since before the holidays. Surely, this was a mistake. I scoured my messages, checked school newsletters, and rummaged through the house for any forgotten invitations. Yet, there it was—an empty weekend.
We both did a little happy dance in our seats and resumed our TV watching. However, the joy quickly faded for me. With no obligations, the reality hit: I would have to… CLEAN THE HOUSE. Without distractions, I couldn’t ignore the pink slime in the shower or the dust bunnies multiplying in the corners. How could I unwind with that forsaken grape glaring at me from under the recliner? Yes, I saw you, but I refused to pick you up despite passing you a hundred times a day.
I committed to resisting the urge to clean, no matter how intense the grape’s gaze became. Just because I had time didn’t mean I had to use it for cleaning, right?
Friday Night and Saturday Adventures
Friday night passed smoothly. I was tired, and darkness made it easy to overlook the old grape. Saturday morning was manageable too; as a non-morning person, I easily ignored everything that lingered in my peripheral vision while I tried to wake up. Later, we took the kids to the park. Although I loathe the outdoors almost as much as I dislike mornings, the weather was too perfect to resist. Besides, keeping the kids cooped up was worse than being in the sunlight. After they had thoroughly explored the park, we headed to lunch.
Not long ago, Alex and I swore off taking our kids to restaurants, yet here we were again. Why did we subject ourselves to this chaos? Oh right—because I was dodging cleaning duties. I apologize to my fellow diners, but my battle against the urge to tidy up was far more pressing than your quiet lunch.
Eventually, we had to return home, as staying in a messy house was less appealing than witnessing my spouse’s growing discomfort in public. This is the essence of marriage—balancing your pet peeves with those of your partner.
Evening Reflections
After bathtime (hello, pink slime!) and a series of snack requests that led to unfinished dinners, I finally sank into my spot on the couch. As I cuddled with one child and glanced around to admire my other two adorable kids and my partner, I thought, “I’m so lucky—ugh, that darn grape!” It had become more shriveled since the morning, and I could have sworn it was winking at me. I rolled further into my snuggle and closed my eyes. Even the taunting of that grape couldn’t make me abandon my cozy spot to start cleaning. Once the kids were in bed, we indulged in a binge-worthy show, leaving me too distracted to care about the state of the house.
The Rainy Sunday Dilemma
The following day was forecasted to be rainy, and I eagerly anticipated a cozy day indoors with the family and a Harry Potter marathon. The morning started perfectly with blankets and lounging—exactly what I needed.
Suddenly, the sun broke through the clouds. Before I could draw the curtains, I was met with a scene of chaos. Toys littered the floor, breakfast and lunch dishes remained in the living room, and crumbs surrounded that shriveled grape, which now resembled poorly placed decor. I knew I wouldn’t last much longer in this mess.
As I tried to focus on my daughters’ lip-sync performance of “Shake It Off,” I realized that I couldn’t just let it go. Taylor Swift clearly hadn’t experienced the chaos of a messy home. I needed a moment to regroup, so I retreated to the bedroom. However, stepping on a Shopkins broke my calm, and I snapped, “That’s it! Everyone up!” The next 45 minutes are a blur, replaying like a fragmented battle scene in my mind. I recall a lot of yelling and crying, hearing trash bags rustling as my kids looked up at me with expressions of betrayal.
Once it was over, I felt guilty. Why was I so driven to clean? Why couldn’t I just relax? Cleaning isn’t even something I enjoy.
Reflections on Motherhood
I have a couple of theories. Perhaps it’s the overwhelming demands on mothers that drive us to control our environment to prevent meltdown. Alternatively, maybe the chaos of our lives pushes us to create order in our homes for peace. I honestly don’t know. What I do know is that if I could choose a superpower as a mom, it would be the ability to overlook a messy house.
Unfortunately, that superpower seems to be reserved for dads, and I doubt they’d trade it for our ability to breastfeed anytime soon. For further insights on managing family dynamics and home organization, check out this resource on treating infertility and learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on family life. Additionally, if you’re interested in enhancing your family planning journey, consider exploring fertility boosters for men.
Summary
Over a weekend devoid of plans, the author wrestles with the tension between the desire to clean and the need to relax. Despite the chaos of toys and mess, she learns that sometimes it’s okay to embrace the disorder and enjoy quality family time, even when it means ignoring the grape under the recliner.