The lesson of a clean house

So lady like....it is working. hahaha

My house is generally a clean place.

You cannot eat off my floors but my house is usually picked up, dishes put away, things in their place, etc.

There are PLENTY of times during the day that different areas of my house are messy, toys thrown all over the place,etc.

But during nap time and after all little people are in bed for the night, I clean/pickup.

It helps me to feel organized and sane.

I cannot breathe when there is stuff all over the place.

I've tried really hard to teach my children that having a clean home is important and that working hard to have a clean home isn't always fun but it's worth it.

I also try to teach my kids that having LOTS of fun is important too.

We aren't all work and no play.

2 weeks ago Abbey and Jack were outside playing with our neighbor girl, Radikah.

Radikah is 10 almost 11 and an only child. She loves my kids and is so sweet with them.

She invited Abbey and Jack over to have icecream. They were so excited to go.

Radikah is from India so they have lots of beautiful statues and things in their home.

They were so excited to see all of her foreign treasures.

After a while they came home because it was time for Radikah to practice piano.

I inquired about their little icecream party.

Abbey told me all about all the icecream toppings and fun things they found in Radikah's house.

Then she said "but Mom her house was messy. Things all over the counters, dishes in the sink, and Radikah had books and things all over the floor of her room".

And I replied "oh, how was that?" not really thinking anything of it.

Abbey quipped "I didn't like it. A home should be clean like ours"

That night I began to ponder the things we teach our children purposefully and the things they learn by watching and listening to us.

I don't ever talk about why I clean in specifics. (*Abbey we clean the bathroom sink b/c it's disgusting to look at the chunks of toothpaste you leave behind. And Jack we clean the bathroom floor 1000x a day b/c of the lovely surprises you leave behind on the floor* not so pleasant HA)

So obviously my children have learned by watching me pick up and having them pick up.

I hope that my children will pick up the good habits I have and not the bad ones *which I will not reveal ;)*

As a woman I hope that I set a good example of how a woman/girl should act and dress. That I will never let my insecurities regarding my body or anything else cross my lips so that my children will hear them and feel those things about themselves.

I remember when I was a little girl my Mom always joked that her diet started on Monday.

Which is funny but I don't want them to wonder when their diet is going to start.

Our kids really are sponges.

When they see our insecurities/habits, etc. they will mimic them.

Sometimes this parenting stuff is hard work.

*and when I have these moments of intense thinking and brain usage, I pray my kids inherited their Dad's brains because I'm not built to handle it.

And now I have to erase that before they read it. :)