I've been a bit absent from the blogging world for awhile, and that's because I have a new baby boy! Mason James was born on Thursday, May 30 at 5:28am. He's pretty much an ah-mazing baby (praise God!), but caring for a newborn and a toddler has definitely been a challenge. The hubby has been a big help, but my (already lacking) ability to stay in top of laundry, cleaning, etc. has taken somewhat of a nosedive in the past three weeks.
Sometimes that really stresses me out.
I have perfectionistic tendencies, and I really like when things are neat, clean, and organized. However, I seem to constantly battle to make that happen.
I used to blame it on my hubby. I thought that our home would be Pinterest-perfect if he would just pick up his clothes and wipe up the crumbs. Then I looked in the mirror. Metaphorically. Really, I took one look around the kitchen to see the cereal box I never put back in the pantry, and the pile of washcloths I hadn't put in he laundry basket. My computer and calendar were spread across the counter. This was my mess. No doubt about it.
Oh, sure, the Mr. had his fair share of clutter lying around, but I could no longer deceive myself into thinking that I was not a part of he problem.
But tonight at dinner I realized that it really isn't a problem at all.
Not for me.
After we were done eating, my son-the-comedian was cracking up as he hid carrots inside of his T-shirt. He laughed hysterically as he stuffed it down his shirt, and I could get over the adorable crinkles under his eyes as he asked us where it went. The sheer joy in his face as he pulled down his collar to reveal the collateral was just TOO MUCH. There was no way I could be upset that the collar on his shirt was completely
stretched out and the T-shirt was now more of a loose wrap around his tiny body.
I thought about how special it was that we were all here, in THIS MOMENT, laughing together, sharing life.
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This is why I don't like to have a lot (any?) "perfect" things. I don't want to risk being upset if they get ruined. Things aren't nearly as important to me as the people in my life.
I looked over my son's shoulder at the kitchen chair...the same kitchen chair which we bought only six months ago. Instead of looking shiny and new, most of our chairs look like something has been eating them. Literally. That's because our newest cat, Rambo, literally gnaws on the corners of all of our chairs. I have no idea why. Believe me, it drives me insane and makes me want to clamp his mouth shut BUT someday I will look at those teeth marks and they will remind me of this cat, who in his own way has been just exactly what each member of our family needed from a pet.
Tonight I've been looking around the house through his lens, one of seeing the imperfect things as a testament to the life I am living rather than glimpses of what I wish it were.
The shoes scattered by the door tell a story of an evening playing at the park and being too excited for bath time to bother to pick them up.
The crumpled towel in the bathroom shows that (1) we actually wash and dry our hands and (2) I'm usually running out of the bathroom to make sure my almost-2 year old hasn't poked out the eyes of his little brother. And, hey, that's WAY more important than neatly hung linens!
The basket of laundry in the living room is filled with the blessing of having clean clothes to wear.
If you come to my house, I will welcome you with open arms. I'll probably apologize for the mess because that's what Minnesota women do. But really, I'll be more grateful for the sock war I had with my son than embarrassed by the laundry strewn about the living room. So, come on over, but you might want to watch your step.
Sincerely,
A recovering neat freak
P.S. If you have ANY idea how to get my cat to stop eating my chairs for lunch, I'd love to hear it. He's left me enough "mementos." ;)
