Clean it up.
One of the common themes taught to young mothers is to not worry about the mess. I read and heard advice given over and over that the children are only small for such a short time. Don't worry about the mess. A messy house is a lived-in house. Enjoy your children, don't worry about cleaning.
I tried that for a while. And then one day I thought, "I am leaving my children a legacy of sloppiness. This is not me. This is not the legacy I want to leave." So I started cleaning. I am not a paranoid cleaner. I allow the kids to create and explore, but we always clean up afterward. When the house is clean, the children are happier. There is less fighting. There is more creativity and play. They are more attentive in school. I am happier and more energized. I find I have time for so much more if my house is clean.
We are far from perfect on this one. But it is something that matters to me. I want to leave my children a legacy of cleanliness. I want them to understand how to balance work and play and to be responsible for their behaviors--that includes being responsible for the messes they make. When my husband comes home to a clean house, he is better able to relax. When I'm out for the evening and I come home to a clean house, I am very, very happy. It's a simple way to welcome people, including our own family members, into our home. I am talking about basic tidying up, organizing, and day-to-day cleaning; I am not talking about living in a sterile environment.
Cleanliness is a legacy worth leaving.
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