You’re not welcome at my house right now. I’m not joking around. This isn’t a playful excuse about wrinkled throw rugs or scattered toys (though, believe me, both of those are true). I’m not obsessing over cleanliness or worrying that you’ll judge me for having dirty dishes in the sink—yes, there are dishes in the sink, but that’s not the main issue. The reality is that my home is in complete disarray, and trust me, you really don’t want to see it. It’s been nearly a year since anyone except my mother has stepped foot inside.
Let me clarify: my house isn’t filthy. There are no roaches or leftover food lying around, and certainly no cups with murky liquid just sitting there. We keep our dishes stacked neatly by the sink, and laundry may not always make it into drawers, but at least it’s clean and organized in baskets—thanks to my partner for that. We manage to take out the trash and keep the floors relatively clear. But beyond that, it’s chaos.
Stuck in a Holiday Theme
Take, for instance, our inability to take down Christmas decorations. Yes, you read that right. Our home is stuck in a perpetual holiday theme, with decorations still hanging around months after the last holiday season. Our tree is still up, adorned with dusty ornaments, and the nativity scene is sprawled across the living room. I’ve decided that we’re just going to leave it all up until it becomes relevant again. I’ve told my kids that this year, we’re only getting a tree and that’s it. My nine-year-old nodded in agreement, which says a lot about the state of our home.
To keep up appearances, I have to keep the front curtains drawn. I don’t want the neighbors to witness our “Christmas village” in the middle of summer.
A Surrendered Space
We’ve basically surrendered the front of the house to the kids. After repurposing our formal dining room into a playroom, we filled it with their toys, hoping that would contain the mess. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. Now, the dining room has become a mountain of toys that my partner, who has a hoarding tendency, insists we can’t part with. As a result, the clutter has spilled into the living room, which is filled with not only toys but also the remnants of Christmas decorations. It’s a challenge just to walk through.
Then there’s the usual chaos: papers and craft supplies strewn about, unfinished projects lying around, overflowing laundry baskets—you name it. I’ve got a pile of clothes perched atop our dog crate in the bedroom that’s been there for far too long. Honestly, it’s overwhelming.
The Reality of Time
When your home is in such a state, inviting others in feels impossible. I can already sense the judgment: Why don’t you just clean it up? The answer is simple—I don’t have the time.
My partner works full-time, leaving the house at dawn and returning home exhausted at the end of the day. He does his best, but it’s not enough, and I love him for it. Meanwhile, I’m managing our children’s education and working from home. I wake up at 5 a.m. every day, including weekends, and work until bedtime. Finding time to clean just isn’t feasible, especially since I’m dedicated to building my career. We can’t afford outside help.
So, I work 12-14 hours a day while juggling parenting duties, and something had to give—it was the house. Go ahead, judge me. I’m lucky if I get four to five hours of sleep each night. You think I should sacrifice sleep to tackle the mess? If only you knew how little time I have. Any spare moments I find, I want to spend with my kids.
A Plan for the Future
Come December, we’ll finally address the decorations. I’ll devote one precious afternoon to folding laundry and organizing the chaos. I’ve marked a day on the calendar when everything comes down. We’ll reclaim our space, and I’ll enforce a strict “anything left out gets tossed” policy.
For now, my house remains a disaster, and no, you can’t come in. It’s isolating and frustrating. Thankfully, my mom kindly ignores the mess, which I deeply appreciate. I have a few close friends who understand and won’t judge—they can come over. The rest of you? Please stay away. Amazon, just leave the packages on the porch. And pizza delivery? I’ll meet you at the side door to avoid any embarrassment over our Christmas village.
In Summary
In summary, my house is a chaotic mix of toys, unfinished projects, and decorations from months past. I’m working tirelessly to balance family life and my career, and unfortunately, cleaning has taken a backseat. I have a plan to tackle the mess eventually, but until then, please respect my need for privacy.