My Beautiful Mess

Last week I was reading the book 'At Wits End' by Erma Bombeck, and i was practically rolling with laughter. She is truly one of my favorite authors to read. She combines humor and motherhood, which (if you want to stay sane) go hand in hand. Being a mom isnt just a job, its a priviledge and a blessing.

Even though I am a young mother, I like to think i have a jump start on things. I love my kids, and that is an understatement. I ADORE my kids, they mean the world to me, as they should. I have heard many women with grown children talking about how they wish they had spent more time with their kids. They wish they would have taken more time to play and more time to listen. Unfortunately in these times, a lot of us mom's (myself included) have to work at least part-time to contribute to the household income. Combine an outside job with cooking, cleaning, laundry, pets, errands, shopping, etc... well you can see why a mother's work is never done. A mother's work is never done, because there is only one mommy, and enough work for eleven mommies. :)

So here is what i have decided:
For the personal best interests of my children and myself, i have decided not to sweat the small stuff. If i get off work at 5 o'clock im going to cook dinner for my family, then we are going to enjoy each other. We are gonna laugh and play and wrestle and chase each other and be silly and loud and just enjoy each other. Im not going to fix dinner, clean dishes, clean the house, run get the groceries, give kids bath, put kids to bed, finish laundry, vacuum, make a to-do list for tomorrow, then go to bed tired, stressed and feeling guilty.
NO, that is not the life i want for my kids or myself. (that being said, my house is actually well stocked with groceries and very clean right now. i do enjoy a tidy house, its just not my number one priority.)

I make no apologies if you are to come to my house and find a mess.
Here is why:
My sink might be full of dishes but thats because tonight i read 3 books to Bella and taught her how to 'quack' like a duck. My carpet didnt get vacuumed today because I played dress-up with Sophie and then we painted our nails together. The laundry is going to have to wait another day, too, because the girls want to watch their favorite movie and Sophie says she cant watch it without mommy and daddy. I suppose I could have mopped the kitchen and bathroom, but it was way more fun to help sophia paint 3 pictures with her new art set and watch bella stack blocks 2 feet high and then knock them over.

When my kids are grown, I will not look back and wish that i had spent more time enjoying them, I will look back and know i spent every ounce of my time and energy i could playing, laughing, and loving with them.

I have never in my 26 years heard a parent say "I wish i would have spent more time working and making sure my house was spotless, and spent less time playing with my kids." Have You??