I saw a post on Facebook the other day that I have seen multiple times about it being ok as a mom to leave the mess and play with your kids because all too soon they grow up. The post is supposed to make a mom or parent feel less stressed and not feeling guilty about playing with your kids. I could see that point and I understood it. But, the main emotion I felt wasn't relief. Instead I felt annoyed, guilty, and frustrated.
When I was reading that post, I sitting on the messy couch in a messy living room in a messy house. Actually, "messy" might not be the right word for it-more like "disaster". Dishes are piled, laundry is far more behind than I care to admit, every room in the house is a mess and it was all too overwhelming for me to even begin. Granted, I think some of it was my anxiety/depression, but I truly think I just get to a point that I don't know where to start.
The worst part is that when my house is a disaster, my mind is a disaster. It's unorganized, foggy, forgetful, and chaotic. I can't think straight and when you have 3 kids in school and extracurriculars and all of them are needing donations for this, snacks for that, crazy hair day, volunteers, etc. and you are trying to remember appointments, events, schedules, and more....it just gets thrown into the mix and everything becomes scrambled.
The point is, I think it's ok to want both. I think it's super important to play with your kids; but I also need a decently organized and clean house in order to FUNCTION as a human being. When the house is somewhat in order, so is my mind. I feel happier and less forgetful. Currently, I am in the midst of purging and reorganizing every room in the house. My theory is that the less we have, the less we have to clean....right? Ever since I have started this, I have actually enjoyed playing with my kids MORE! When I look at why, I see that although it's not perfect and I have a long way to go, every room I get done means my brain is less chaotic. I actually feel like I have the time to sit and enjoy a game of Go Fish or Old Maid and not be thinking as much about cleaning.
In the end, YOU DO YOU! If you feel like you need some time to play with the kids instead of the dishes...do it without guilt. If your kid is asking you to play yet again today, but you just want to get those dishes done first...do it without guilt. Do what makes you the best version of yourself and do it without guilt!
