Be careful...this could get deep!
I live in this house with four other people and one dog.
None of them seem to share my view of how our home should look.
What does all of this clutter say to me?
Brittany has been here...
...and here.
Sam has been here (can't that dog make his bed?)...
and here...
and here.
Richard has been here...
and here...
and here...
Rachel has been here...
and here...
and here...
and she hangs out with Sam here.
What? Harry Potter passed through? At least he hung up his Gryffindor scarf!
Dee was here...
and here...
and here. (Ooo! See the thread? That's mine!)
They all were here!
And I confess, I was here.
Now why would I show you the clutter that grows here from morning until after school? Well, to prove for one thing that I am not perfect (in case you wondered). Generally, when confronted with the stuff laying around I grumble and pick it up. Obviously they don't!One morning recently I tried to look at it in a more positive way. Here is what the clutter said to me that day:
You have a lovely daughter who goes to college and studies!
You have a doggie who gives you great joy and amusement and chews on his toys rather that your furniture or shoes!
Your son will eventually put his clean clothes away, and see all of those video games? He bought most of them himself with his lawn mowing money! He also is beginning to take off on his viola. He sounds great!
Your high schooler has been applying to college and for scholarships all on her own. She has taken the lead. Her scriptures are by her bed because she reads them! Her art portfolio is full of amazing stuff that will get her those scholarships! And unlike most teens, she actually wears her coat!
Instead of WWF or ESPN your husband fills his head with history and conference talks.
He also eats a good breakfast every day along with everyone else. He takes his vitamins and fish oil (yuck) and takes care of himself. He also gave you that Ipod and your beautiful scriptures!
Someday when my house is empty of children most of that clutter will be gone and I will be lonely. It tells me now that they are all busy, happy, and using their talents. I love them all!
7 comments:
You are right on target Marianne. I am one that can testify to the fact that after your kids are all grown up and gone you do get lonely and you think of a million things you could have done for them and didn't, or messes that you fussed over and finally realized they weren't that big a deal and the important thing was that you had these sweet little kids who loved you and were just happy that you were their Mommy. It is very lonerly after thery are gone and thingsd will never be the same again. Believe me, I know. Mom
That is such an awesome way to look at clutter. I think I'm gonna try that :)
You know that is so so true! It's funny I have a friend in my ward who has 4 little children. 1 is in school 1 is in pre-school and the other 2 are to small to go to school. She frequently complains about how hard they and how she can't seem to get anything done without them following right behind her and messing up what she just got done. My heart has gone out to her because I remember how hard it was when mine were little. However, the other day as she was kind of complaining a bit. I kindly said, "I know it's rough right now but someday you'll miss this. While your living it, it seems like you'll never escape it but then one day you will look around and they'll all be gone to school and you'll be sad."
After I hung up with her I thought about how many times I gripe about the kids leaving their junk around or about when Blake and his buddies come in eat in the kitchen, play their video games, and leave their stuff everywhere and take off to go play basketball and then come back in after I just get things picked up and they remake a big mess. This all reminded me that in 5 short years Blake will be on a mission and I will sure miss him and all of that stuff!
I'm so glad that you love your kids. That you allow them to live in their homes and be comfortable and that they feel loved safe and wanted there!
You are a wonderful example to me! Thank you!
Love Ya, JoLynn
Aw, gee mom! I'm glad you find SOME enjoyment in my mess...maybe I should leave MORE stuff lying around, eh? ha!
Very good perspective on life and clutter, Marianne. I agree with all you said, however, I do want you to know that it is fun having a clean and tidy house too...empty nesting isn't all bad, once you get used to it!! BUT then your grandchildren come to visit and the clutter returns...ahh, the cycle of life.
Yep that is always the hope that when they are gone from the home the clutter seems to go away, Nope not at my house LOL, when they hungry they come home, thats okay but mommy does the dishes, and sometime even when they gone that don't take all of there things, thus leaving it for us more LOL, Some day I hope to not have a cluttery home, hopfully before I am 60 again with the LOL
Its ok I still love all my kids and grandkids even the one I have been married to for 24 years :)
I am living that feeling of loneliness, but I have to confess, I love that there are no more big messes. No children leaving backpacks on the kitchen floor, no more clothes, shoes and other things on their bedroom floors. No more dirty dishes in the sink even though we have a dishwasher that no one seems to remember how to load and unload except me (what's with that?) and no more little doggie with an unmade bed. I miss the people that made those messes, but I really don't miss the messes. I still have Doug's messes, but they aren't too bad and a messy box turtle with an attitude. At least her messes are contained in her glass house.
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