I’ll admit I am no “Susie Homemaker,” and if we’re really being honest here, I hate cleaning house, but I will never let my kids know this, so they can grow up with the appreciation of keeping things neat and knowing how to take care of themselves whenever they get out on their own. Growing up I was always given a long list of chores to do on Saturdays with no help from my stepmom or from my dad; I looked at cleaning like it was a punishment, never learning anything about the value of a well-kept house. And, when I got on my own, I didn’t do a very good job of cleaning up after myself.
When I got married that all HAD to change…My husand couldn’t understand why I was such a “sourpuss” about fulfulling the domestic duties, and it irritated him that I disliked it very much. But, all I could think about was that long list of chores I had been given as a teenager every Saturday, the punishment. And, being in the military, he has gone away to different schools or deployments, and as the saying goes, “While the cat’s away, the mice will play,” well that was me. *hides face in shame* It wasn’t until I had my first child that my viewpoint on “domestication” changed. I still didn’t like it, but I pretended to like it, so my husband wouldn’t get irritated and my daughter would see that chores were not a bad thing. In fact, they could be “fun.”
Well, since then, I have come to actually like doing them. “Course being in the mood does help with motivation… I especially love to vacuum, not because of the chore itself, but because of my Dyson! I have the yellow one, and it is the best thing ever. Mr. Dyson could not have come up with a more perfect invention. I can use it on my bare floors; I hate to sweep, and besides it hurts my back. I can clean just about anything with its powerful suction. I don’t get excited over cleaning, but I will over my Dyson.
I’m not one for detail, either, just ask my husband. I guess I’m the if-I-see-it-I’ll-clean-it kind of girl; I don’t go “hunt” for dirt!!!! Besides, there’s too much to do to just take your time…clean it and move onto something else. Although, I have found myself “inspecting” better, though quickly, to make sure I don’t miss any spots.
There are days when I’m really domesticated and will cook and clean, do the laundry, do yardwork, no problem, and then there are days where I just don’t want to do anything. I know that’s bad though, because I should always want a clean house, especially when company just “pops” in without calling first (it’s kind of like getting caught with your pants down!!) And, unfortunately, that has happened to me before (not the pants thing). So, now I try to at least keep the front of the house looking good for just that reason. We have a breakfast bar and that area is always being cluttered with stuff. One minute it will be clean, and the next thing you know there’s homework papers, bills, placemats, etc. scattered all over it.
I may never become OCD when it comes to cleaning or just down right “love” it, but I can look at it differently now, and take pride in a clean house. And, I will never give my children a list of chores and leave them to do them by themselves; we will always work together as a family. To borrow a quote and change it up a bit…A family who “cleans” together…stays together!!!! 
Just Sharin’
It’s like we were separated at birth!!!