Child-free company
That’s the best incentive I’ve found yet to clean up the damn house.
Don’t get me wrong; I keep the place clean. Regrettably, I’m on the neat freak end of the cleanliness spectrum. That’s regrettable because not only do I drive my family crazy with my cleaning compulsions (which have relaxed considerably over the past six years), I make myself a little nuts too.
Just like many people (mostly men, but not all) have to make an effort to notice what needs to be cleaned up, I have to make an effort too – an effort to ignore what needs to be cleaned up. Otherwise I’d forever be straightening pictures and dusting baseboards. In other people’s houses as well as my own.
(I just killed my chances at ever being invited to your home, didn’t I?)
There’s one time of year that I let the house get out of control, and that’s the stretch between Christmas and New Year’s. In the days leading up the Christmas, I clean as if Santa himself will be conducting an inspection. On Christmas Day, I’m vigilant about cleaning up the wrapping paper, but that’s it. Everything else slides through New Year’s. Well, as much as I let anything slide around here.
This year, I really got lazy about putting an official end to the Christmas festivities. Yesterday, January 10, the tree was still up (a live tree, mind you), the stockings were still up, and a few presents still lingered out of place. If Kyle hadn’t invited one of his co-workers and his wife over for dinner, the status quo would have probably still been in effect next week. Possibly even beyond that.
Again, don’t get me wrong; I clean the place when we have guests with young children too. But in that case my standards are a bit looser. People with stray Cheerios on their own floors aren’t likely to throw stones.
So I finally took down all the ornaments and lights and stockings and packed them away. Kyle hauled the tree outside and vacuumed up the needles. And other than a few new toys and a Rock Band drum set, no visible evidence of Christmas remains. I wish I could say that it makes me sad, but it’s actually quite a relief.
Next year, I think we’ll invite child-free company for dinner on December 26.
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January 11th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I completely understand. I always give my house a thorough cleaning when I’m expecting visit from my OCD brother-in-law, Felix Unger.
feefifotos last blog post..Photo Hunters: Aftermath
January 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Actually, I’m thinking – will you please come to my house?? My baseboards are embarrassing. Well, actually, it all is. Don’t those pine needles make the vacuum bag smell heavenly? Ahhh…
BarelyKnitTogethers last blog post..Post Holiday Damage Control: Organizing and Cleaning Tips for Real People
January 11th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
The company coming over always pushes the issue for me. I tend to wait till the kids are in school before doing the De-Christmasizing of the house…
traceys last blog post..Ten. Diez. 10. One-Oh.
January 11th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Oh, thank you SO much for saying this! I swear I have a different standard for people without kids because really – they just don’t understand the toys in every crevice of every room the same way.
That said, the tree is still here because it’s live. And small. But it has no ornaments on it, so I guess that’s good.
Mom101s last blog post..Quit yer coddling, woman
January 11th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Wait a minute? If you come to my house, you say you will dust baseboards and straighten pictures? When can you get here?
Fairly Odd Mothers last blog post..But, will the CPSIA really affect you?
January 11th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I have never been a neat freak, or so I thought, but since having a child I realize just how tidy I used to be. Now there is stuff everywhere and it simply is not possible to keep up with it and not lose my mind. That said, the living room is the kid-free room. No toys in there, that way I have a place I can go or allow people into. It sort of works.
Caras last blog post..I Said I Don’t Want Peas!
January 11th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
You clean baseboards? You can come too my house any time you want.
Issas last blog post..Unsettled
January 11th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Child-free company? Who are these people?
Heathers last blog post..Updated Blog Roll
January 11th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
@Heather: They actually do have children, but they are grown up and out of the house. Proof that it is possible!
January 15th, 2009 at 7:33 am
I have no kids, but I still have Cheerios on my kitchen floor.