It's Like a Bomb Went Off-

In so many ways, I've come so far-
I really have learned lessons in balancing almost 85 % of things that go on in this circus
act, that is my life.
It's not so much really even directing myself or prioritizing, but
more of an "embracing"
and then immediately after that, letting go of some things...

Like in all the houses around the world, starting at the sunrise
of the day-
we awake to our schedules, whatever they may be, and start jogging
(or sprinting) thru, until our heads hit the pillow,
after a HUGE glass of wine.
No matter what your home may be made up of, and
if you one kid, no kids, or ten kids,
you will be pulling out all the stops to try
and do your thing-

But when the heck do the bombs go off??
Did I miss something around this house?? 
EVERYYYY time???
I never see a bomb, nor do I smell smoke, or hear it being lit??
But there is a freaking bomb somewhere, closets full of them I guess-
They can go off once or twice a day, and I must also have specially
made ones, that can sit and magically then explode two more times after-
Aren't I lucky?

I try, most days any way, to make it look, (even if it's just imaginary),
like I actually did
something around this place.
I'm really not a all -day- lay- around- at- home- mommy, so
it's almost insulting
to see what my
hard work completed, looks like.
If it's mopping or the infamous wiping down of any or everything.
Loads of clothes, and then
spending 2.5 hrs putting them away...
Loading the dishwasher, only to start, and empty, and reload, two more
times before dinner....
And dusting?  Seriously?
Dusting is the biggest waste of time ever because it just sits right back
down on whatever you dust.
But we do it, because it is in the handbook-if you don't, your kids
will be taken away.

Whatever energy I give this house of mine, it is sure to go
unnoticed and most times,  made to look in seconds, like I have never tried
once in my life to complete anything here.

Every mother knows her role as housekeeper....
Whether you work or stay home, under the definition and picture of you,
is seven words: trying to nail jello to the wall.

You find it hard to even begin to make a plan in cleaning because
(if you have young children)
even where to put them while you do it, is a crap shoot.
NO matter where their entertaining spot will be, they will need to leave
that place, in order to
clean THAT room, which only leads to them to destroying the
room you just finished cleaning...
Just play the Barnum and Bayley theme song and be done with it.
On and on it goes until you, every single time, settle for the
partially clean rooms
throughout...good enough.

Double edged sword, asking for help...
But when you are making a group effort there is a must.
You must always assign an "assistant"-
The assistant has multiple roles which are very, very, important to
a woman like you.

First, the assistant needs to have speed-
It cannot be one that tends to be a straggler or the
caboose of your clan..
This child will be sent off with things you are picking up here and there,
and must be able to put stuff away, at lightening speed, returning for more.
Second, a good deligator-
If new jobs arise, the assistant will be telling
someone, to tell someone else, what someone else,
should be doing.
And third, but maybe most importantly, take on, like they're life depends
on it, the role of "spy". 
There is always one family member
that veers off course more than the others. 
You can count on them to be easily distracted and end up playing
with the Legos that he's pulling out of the vacuum hose-
The assistant will be your "rat", enabling you to stay on top of the
delays that are sure to happen.

This is all on the days you even WANT help..
Another reason were exhausted when we have war- zone- houses,
are the arms of dilemma.
Some days it is simply more tiring to have
to give orders rather then just get things done all ourselves.
Like company in for dinner, that is trying to help you-
putting things in the wrong places or
needing to be told where everything is...
Not really called HELP, although they mean well.
You must decide.

Around here, you (almost always) choose help.
One of the great 
things about a large family
is the competition in things.
Yes, we love when different sports are chosen, or some go a
different route
with an interest, things are all their own in certain areas.
But when a few are involved in the same thing, they really
do watch each others strengths and weaknesses.
And not because they are so wise and knowledgeable, well,
maybe a little...:)
It is the race of life, sibling rivalry, and wanting to be the best...
Pleaseeee...have you met their father? 
Voted most popular in high school, most athletic, and something else..
Me?  I was runner up for best party....wonder if that helps at all..

Having said that, it's very strange...
On one hand we have that, and on the other-I have never
seen such independent people-at all different ages,
different interests,
really believing things should always be even and fair.

I know it is a kid thing-
He has a ball, I should have a ball. 
She got a cell phone at 13, so I should, etc.
But in this house, it is relentless.
And when we are cleaning and organizing-it is front and center
to conversation.

Everyone gets their lists and it begins.
Wait, why does she have 4 things and I have five?
If I have to clean our room, why doesn't he have to help?
They made the mess, why am I the only one....
I always have to do everything.
He never has to do anything.
I do everyyything.

Um excuse me, no you don't...
Mommy does everything.
And the answer to your questions, why do we always have to clean?
Yeah, that would be, because you are always making a  mess...

So they start...and if all are involved, yes, it can be more of a
commotion,
but it does take 1/2 the time.
We turn on the music, and with everyone running in their directions,
me and my assistant run in ours.
Our fastest time (without scrubbing but just wiping down) is just over
two hours.
That will give an impressive shine, pine sol smell, and crisp clean beds.
Not bad.

It's annoying, It's work. But it's part of life, part of a household-
And you can get into battles with each other, if you
don't learn to work as a team.
Why we feel guilty sometimes, for involving everyone, is beyond me.
It was a squad's mess, the squad cleans it up.

If a bomb, no, when your next bomb goes off, remember...
Moms everywhere, are dressed in their camouflage just like you.
We are all dragging our bodies through the rubble, just in a different
colored living room.
We are barking orders to our own armys, and like we did last weekend,
asking our co-captains to set the timer
for cocktail hour.

As long as you are living, you will have your battlefields to clean.
But there will come a day, that
you won't need so much ammo to do it with.
All too soon, you will have more free time to get it completed,
and it won't be
spread across so much of your territory.
But as nice as that sounds, it will only be for one reason-
Your troops have completed their mission with you, and are gone...

When you really think about it, you aren't measured, (by awesome people anyway),
on how clean and organized you are.
Is anyone that's truly important to you, really leaving, having judged
your kitchen while you guys had coffee ?
I'm tellin ya, you're getting more smiles from neighbors that see you
having a picnic in your front yard
or jumping under the sprinkler, rather than scrubbing your deck.

Truth is, you can believe (and announce) that this will be the last time
you will let it get this bad.
You can tell yourself over and over, that chores are gonna change,
or your husband
is going to pitch in more...
You can even set up the whole house with the fanciest bins and gadgets
to make thing run more smooth-
But in the end, it doesn't matter.
Unlike the rule of life, there is a guarantee.

After all is said and done, there is one thing I can promise you -
Once your house is clean?  No one will stop by.

Have a home be your home, whatever that looks like-
And "they will come."

Hugs :)