Ever seen a time lapse video from a construction site where things that took hours and days to create in reality, could be condensed into several seconds time? I have begun to wonder what it really looks like to have one of those videos filmed at our house.
It may be my imagination, but I believe that the video would show rooms in relatively clean order, seconds later, the room would be filled with explosions of toys. All the while, the boys would be shown running around dumping, throwing, jumping on, and playing with the toys. The next frame would reveal the clean up process. I can imagine that the clean up phase would last a bit longer than the explosion. Funny how that works!
I've been attempting to get simple chores done while the boys play. Something like me the doing the laundry seems to take a toll on our upstairs. I really am so thankful that the boys can be functional without me interacting with them all the time (when they are not fighting, breaking toys, excessively tired or hungry)! However, when the laundry is done, I don't have much to show for my efforts when the entire upstairs looks like a war-zone.
Here are some pictures to provide an idea of our upstairs...before and after the boys and their toys:
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
And then, when we go downstairs to clean the kitchen (or make a meal), this is what it looks like:
Before:
After:
(And yes, thanks to our baby, that really is purple marker on the couch pillow!)
And to think that we had house cleaners BEFORE kids! What did we do with all our free time?!
I really am trying to enjoy these crazy/busy days and not get wrapped up in having our house always look like "before", because that's just not realistic right now with 2 little ones running around, (3 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old). I just have to laugh as things take on such a different look when the boys "have their way" with our house!
I am exhausted with simple house chores, and I guess now that I think of it, it's with good cause!
This too shall pass. :)
** As I was finishing this blog entry, I heard our baby crying from his nap. I just had to come back and add this last part for memory sake. I went in to his room to find that he had not only had a blow-out diaper, he had put his hand in it and smeared it on his crib rails, sheets and body...so, I suppose that this could also be titled, "When Doing ALL the Duties Required As a Mom Feels Like Running A Marathon"!
7 comments:
You'll have to come visit someday and see my craziness. I swear, it's two steps forward, three steps back! The messes are never ending!
I LOVE to see all your house pics! Your home is beautiful:)I agree, it sometimes seems futile to clean up after them and so tough when a clean room is so easily NOT clean anymore!!! It's like laundry, I can't seem to get all the clothes clean before there are more dirty ones at the bottom of the hamper!!!!!!!!!! Errrrrr:)
It is so hard to get it all in without feeling totally helpless and overwhelmed. In a few years, you'll be able to say, "Boys, I am setting the timer and all of these toys need to be put away in __ minutes!" They will be able to clean it all up by themselves. Yes, it will pass. But it is so tireless when you are in the midst of it! You are doing a great job! And the boys are so adorable! I remember when my boys were 3 and 1!
I know! Is a few minutes of quiet (or doing the laundry alone) really worth the mess you face and have to clean up??? Yes, it is at times! Where do you keep your Geo Trax when it is not out in the floor? Ours is taking up half the playroom floor right now!!! Wyatt loves it, though! ~Shan
I'm sorry I'm laughing! I completely feel the same way most days! Maybe I should take before and after to show that I really did have things clean at one moment. I love that you took the progression pictures:)
That is GREAT! Keep it up, you will need evidence one day so you can say things like, "No, you may NOT join the armed forces. Yes, you have to do what I say, you TOTALLY owe me." :)
I'm countin' on it.
I cannot imagine having more than one boy. One boy does more than enough damage here. But most of the time I'm just happy for him to be busy doing... something, anything. Whew.
Reminds me of that bible verse in proverbs somewhere that says something like, "the stall is clean where no oxen are, but much is gained by the strength of an ox." I think about the truth of that one a lot!
But I'm too lazy to look up the reference, I'm afraid.
Your house may be a mess, but it looks like they are having a great time. :) Have you ever heard that song, "Sacred" by... Caedmon's Call, I think? It is SO PERFECT for us moms. If you haven't heard it, you really must go find it. You'll want to listen to it every day! :)
Enjoy your "sacred" days. Have a great week.
Jen
Okay, so I'm probably the only one commenting with only one girl, and I know boys can be WAY different than girls... So, at our house, Adrianna knows she can only play with the box of toys we pull out, and everything else is off limits for that time. It sure makes clean up easy, because she and I know where everything goes. If she's done with that box, we can clean it up and go onto the next.
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