Home Sweet Home

This is how my house looks like after I've cleared away all the baby clutter, kiddy clutter, bicycles, toys, kiddy books, assorted biscuits smeared on the carpet, milk bottles as well as the kids themselves - at the time I took this picture, the kiddies were wrecking havoc at Granny's place. I couldn't believe how sane my house looked after I cleared away all the mess that I had to take a picture. Maybe I need to remind myself now and then that this is my dream home and not some place trying to pass off as a playschool.

The reality of having kids and no maid is that a messy habitat is the norm. You can pick up after them a million times a day, but magically they manage to haul out all their belongings again and scatter them all over the place, not to mention my belongings that they treat as their own and therefore have a right to scatter them also. It doesn't help if you have a messy Hubby thrown in as part of the package.

When we first moved in four years ago or so, I was such a neatness freak. Everything has its place is my mantra. I never cease to preach it to Dearest Hubby. I bought flowers, I arranged things just so and god forbid if there was anything left in the sink. I vacummed, mopped and scrubbed like a woman possesed - come to think of it, I was a little like Bree in those days. However my standards now have ceased to be so exacting.

I didn't realise that kids and babies can create so much mess. They are so small but their paraphenalia occupies nearly half the house! And, my two kiddies are like two tornadoes leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. I love them both to pieces, but I wish they would pick up after themselves. Trying to train the little boy but it's a losing battle. I've got to give it to him though, he will pick up about 5 toys and then lose all interest despite sweet talk, threats and stern looks.

So, what to do? Now I clear everything up only when they are asleep. That way there will be at least an 8 hour interval before the hurricane strikes again. The only problem is, I would also be asleep for a major part of those 8 hours, so who gets to enjoy the orderly state of the house? The ants and lizards probably ...