June 12, 2008

You’ve just gotten used to a somewhat clean house, much less trash to take out, a sparse refrigerator, and some peace and quiet. And then they come home! It might be for the summer or for a visit or yikes-even to move back in for a time! But whatever the event, that new life style you’d slowly adjusted to has just flown out the window!  Now chaos reigns, cell phones which can’t be found are ringing with weird tunes, the front door is slamming at all hours and once again you lay awake late into the night wondering if they are safe, where they are, and when they’ll be home.

It seems like just yesterday you were mourning their leaving and now they are back and that serenity you’d barely grown accustomed to has vanished! Or perhaps the grandkids have arrived for a visit. And the house you just cleaned yesterday is a wreck today. That is me this week. Yesterday my house was clean. Today I’ve had 14 kids, my grandkids and friends (ages 10 to five months) racing throughout the house. There are cheerios stuck in the couch, lemonade sticking to the floor, muddy footprints across the kitchen floor, and a “pee puddle” on the living room floor. Oh yes, did I mention a thunder storm and a tornado watch?

 But at this season I’ve finally learned to just let it go. To lower my expectations.

The house doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact why clean up before they come? It’s more important that the kids and especially their mothers have fun. It’s more important that I be relaxed instead of anxious about one more spill. Relationships are more important than cleanliness. The children will leave again and my house will be quiet and clean again—maybe even just a little too quiet and clean. So now I am enjoying the moment because at this season I’ve learned they will all grow up too fast.