Housewife vs. Mother

I am not a very good housekeeper. I am okay. I keep things in fairly good order. I'm not that great with cleaning, however. One of the first things I think when someone comes over is, "I hope they won't need to use my bathroom." As I have more children it is getting worse. I do my best. I don't think I am lazy. I am just not very good at staying on top of it. Also, I would much rather bake bread, or make food, or weed the garden, or mow the lawn, or do laundry, or do just about any other chore than clean the toilet or mop the floor. Sometimes I really focus in on how I am 'failing' at housekeeping and I get really cranky and upset about it.

My dear friend Ashley shared this on her blog a few weeks ago. The message of this poem has been coming into my mind ever since I read it. Ashley shared that this poem was hung on the wall in a frame during her childhood. She said that as she read it as a child it made her feel loved. I want my children to know that they matter more than a clean house.

I also need a good excuse for the dirt in my house :)

Some houses try to hide the fact that children shelter there.

Ours boasts of it quite openly, the signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows and little smudges are on the door.

I should apologize, I guess, for toys strewn across the floor.

But I sat down with the children and we played and laughed and read;

and if the doorbell doesn't shine, their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to choose the one job or the other,

I want to be a housewife, but first I'll be a mother.

-Author Unknown