I have always been pretty OCD when it comes to cleaning. When we moved into our new home, it was just too big for me to really worry about keeping every area clean.
Not only that but with two children that are very lively, it’s hard to keep up sometimes. As soon as I clean one room, they run in and mess it up right away. It is the never ending chore.
One thing I can’t stand though is seeing fingerprints all over the windows, glass doors and our stainless steel appliances. I am constantly wiping them to remove the grimy little prints.
The other day I was sitting in the kitchen staring across the table at my glass back door. It was completely covered in little fingerprints.
Then it hit me.
Why do I try to remove their fingerprints so quickly? Yes it can look dirty and distracting, but one day there will be no more to wipe away. As much as life can be crazy with little kids, its a life that I would never trade.
I think about the day when the boys are older. They will probably be active in sports and busy hanging out with their friends. The house will be very quiet and lonely.
I will be sitting in the kitchen at the same table staring over at the same back door. The only difference this time is that the glass will be sparkling clean, with no fingerprints in sight.
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I have little smudges and fingerprints all over my stainless steel too! I think I will look at them differently after reading your post though. It is so true…before we know it they will be gone!
.-= The Mommyologist´s last blog ..My Interview With Julie Chu =-.
You are so, so right. Some day our children will be off leaving their fingerprints on other peoples lives. Let’s just let them leave our lives a little messy for now.
.-= Kerri´s last blog ..I Need You =-.
So beautiful!
I do feel like I’m fighting a constant battle against fingerprints and the toys and all the mess. But, it won’t be too long before they aren’t there any more.
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I live in my house… we have a chore day called Saturday and that is when everything is wiped clean, picked up, vacuumed and perfect for at least a day as I kick kids outside to play for the day… if they come in, they get put to work;-)
During the rest of the week, I shut their doors and look past the mess as I am too busy just enjoying my time with them as we are approaching that time where they don’t want to hang with their parents.
Great post!!!
.-= Kisma´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Oh, this is so true! It’s a really great way to look at it, because our kids are only little once, are they? I do look forward to the day that I can have my house looking nice and staying nice for longer, but I know that when that day comes, it’ll be all the things my littles ones bring me now that I’ll be missing.
.-= Hear Mum Roar´s last blog ..Update =-.
I used to worry about keeping my glass kitchen door clean… now I don’t see the point as it’s got my boys’ fingerprints all ove it in seconds anyway! Like you say… they’ll not be there for long.
.-= Marylin´s last blog ..In the Buff =-.
I used to be the same way, until my OCD mom confessed to me that she leaves the fingerprints so that she can look at them after the boys go home! Very sweet post!
.-= Erica Walters´s last blog ..Post-It Note Tuesday =-.
That’s so sweet!
It’s so important to enjoy this time while we have it with them.
The cleaning will always be there…..but the kids won’t always be young.
Isn’t it amazing how often we wish they were older, or could do more and then suddenly we realize we are wishing their lives away..
.-= Angel´s last blog ..Commetn Love letters for Monkey =-.
So very true. I need to start enjoying the disaster my living room is on a daily basis. One day he won’t even want to hang out in the living room let alone destroy it with his toys.
.-= Nolie´s last blog ..Growing Up Without a Cell Phone =-.
This is an awesome post; so true.
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What a great perspective! I think sometimes I need to take a step back and see through the mess to the people/good times causing it.
.-= Laurel´s last blog ..Pour Your Heart Out: Happiness =-.
Oh how true this is. Mine are growing so fast, it makes me cry. It’s a good reminder to enjoy them and hold them close. xoxo
Great Write-Up! I never put it into that perspective. I will admit though, there was a handprint on the kids’ bathroom mirror that I left there for months b/c I just thought it was cute……
Great post. I never even thought to look at it that way before. My son has my OCD and won’t allow fingerprints on anything. He is constantly wiping down our tv. Maybe I need to chill out some?!
.-= Joanne @ Barely Domestic Mama´s last blog ..Pardon the quiet while I clean up around here… =-.
I am OCD when it comes to cleaning, too and ever since I had my daughter I’ve given up on the prints – I kind of like it now, it’s a reminder of the stage I am at right now with her.
I’ve got dirt everywhere. It is impossible for me to even try to keep up. My philosophy – what do i want my kids to remember about me when they’re older? That i was obsessed about cleaning and had a super clean house or that I was relaxed and we had a lot of fun?
I don’t even pretend to be able to keep up with it – i just do my best
.-= Devan @ Accustomed Chaos´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: My Baby’s Not A Baby =-.
I share your frustration with cleaning a room only to come back into it minutes later to find a mess. It’s so frustrating. Sometimes it’s best to just let it go. It’s a constant battle and not one that I want to constantly fight. Your advice to let it go and enjoy it for exactly what it is and to know that it won’t last forever is great advice!
This was great! I spend my life battling mess and fingerprints, but they’re left by my husband. We have no children, yet my house looks like a tornado hit it, thanks to a grown man
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Pour Your Heart Out: My Journey =-.
I completely understand how you feel. Your post today was just what I needed to read, just what I needed to be reminded of- those prints will be gone before long!
.-= Ashley @ Just Another Mom of 2´s last blog ..The days are long but the years are short =-.
So true…and this is a great post. Next year is my daughter’s last year home (preschool) and then she is off to kindergarten. I still can’t believe it. Time is flying by.
.-= alyssa´s last blog ..COMMENTERS. SAY. The. DARNDEST. Things. =-.
How sweet–we should always take time to reflect. Clean houses are overrated..ha, ha! I’ve got my girl cleaning our front glass right now as I sit for a second.