Perception

As I walked into my laundry room today something hit me. I looked down at the pile of clean laundry overflowing the basket and all of the stuff piled on top of the counter top in it's rightful convenient place. The floor was full of dirt from the dog and kids running in and out of the back door. There was dirt on the walls from grubby little hands bracing themselves as they put on their shoes. The shoe basket was overflowing with shoes and you had to step on the ones that had "fallen" out of the basket. You could see into the bathroom, which I'm sure the seat was up and it hadn't been flushed. There's a spot of paint that has been pealed off of the wall in there thanks to my nine year old. The white cabinets have dirt marks on them from my six year old using them as step to wash his hands. What perception do I give people when they come over? I'm sure you can guess my answer. I'm sure most of you are the same. There's no way my laundry room would look that way if I knew someone was coming over. I would take the laundry upstairs and throw it on my bed, or onto the sofa that already has piles of laundry on it. Mostly folded but sitting there non-the-less calling my name. I would take the piles of "stuff" to the garage, because most likely that's where it belongs. I would sweep and mop the floor and wipe down the walls. I would put the shoes back in the basket and push the basket under the shelf. I'd paint that spot where the paint is missing and wipe the dirt from the cabinet. I would put the seat down and oh yes, flush the toilet. So who am I kidding? My house is never clean. never. well, I shouldn't say never. Maybe for a beautiful second where I can sit down and enjoy it. Then the kids will come home and it will be begin again. This isn't just about the laundry room of course. That's just the room that triggered my thinking. All of my rooms are like this. All of them. Even the babies room. So am I really fooling anyone? Doesn't everyone know this? So am I just attempting to convince myself? Do I pick up my house before I have company? For sure. I was taught that it was the proper thing to do. But let's be real people. I have four kids, a husband a dog and a cat. There is laundry always to be done, dishes to wash, floors to clean and noses to wipe. I wouldn't have it any other way. One day, when my kids are grown and gone my house will be clean. I will miss their little hand smudges on the walls from where they brace themselves to put on their shoes. I will be miss their little voices as they laugh and play outside, running in time to time to "get something" or to tell me something funny or weird. I will miss the little shoes covering the floor. I have to remind myself of that. Because if I don't I will go crazy trying to give people the perception that my house is always clean.