I saw a tweet yesterday that really got me thinking…….
“Everyone seems to post about lovely days out and all I ever seem to do is be stuck up home doing housework ! I’m really unhappy at the mo “
My reply was……
“It is too easy to stay at home sometimes – the housework can wait – get out and have fun xxx“
The conversation was then joined in by others, some with the same reasoning as me, others saying that housework takes too much time.
Does housework really get in the way of taking the kids out and having fun in your house?
I will admit that, much to my Mum’s exasperation, I don’t live in a show home. My house is functional and clean but I am certainly not a slave to housework!
Yes, I am the first to admit that my house could be tidier. I try to make the kids tidy up after themselves, sometimes with more success than others and the teens have been trained in the art of vacuuming and loading the dishwasher. I have at least one load of washing done and on the line before I take the kids to school, but my bedroom does look like a laundry room as sorting it out and packing it away is my least favourite job!
With Sebastian at the food throwing age, my Dyson is out at least three times a day to try to clear his mess and I really need to attach a cleaning pad to his stomach so he can clean as he crawls.
My favourite fridge magnet has this phrase:
“Cleaning the house when the kids are growing is like shovelling snow when it’s still snowing“
I refuse to be a slave to housework because kids don’t remember a clean home – they remember having fun!
Yes, sometimes hubby is grumpy when he gets home from work because the house could be tidier, but, he understands that entertaining the kids is a full time job and we both pitch in to sort it out once the kids are in bed. He would much rather the kids be out enjoying themselves and they are more likely to have a good nights sleep if they have been outside in the fresh air.
I realise I am very lucky with where we live – we have the beach, New Forest and gorgeous countryside on our doorstep so I am going to use it.
Is housework a barrier to getting outside and having fun?
Not in my house, that’s for sure – we are busy making memories!
I think it’s sad when people choose to keep a house tidy rather than have fun with the kids – 100% agree – get outside and have some fun
I don’t think that it’s as black or white as tidy house OR doing things with the kids. I have anxiety and one of the things that helps reduce it is making sure my house is tidy, but this doesn’t stop me heading out with the kids, enjoying messy play at home or building awesome memories. It’s all about balance for me.
I couldn’t bare it if my house was a pigsty and hate coming home to a messy house. If you still get to head out and have fun with the kids then whatever works for you is fab!
I’ll always pick a day out over housework! I certainly don’t live in a showhome, it’s clean but never tidy. But honestly who cares?!
I love your reply to the original tweet! I myself am not domesticated at all, I’m lucky that i don’t need to do housework as my house would no doubt be a tip if I had to do it! lol
I don’t disagree with you, but for me the housework is part of feeling in control, there is too much I don’t feel in control of to let it go :S But more than that, for me the biggest their of my time is the need to cook everything from scratch on the day (freefrom food rarely keeps well) for my kids on restricted diets. We just can’t pack up and go, I can’t buy anything for them anywhere.
That must be a struggle for you, but you don’t have to go out for hours……even a couple of hours at the park is great for the kids as they can run free and stretch their legs!
Oh I should do more housework. I like it to be clean and tidy, but in reality it rarely is! I would never think I couldn’t take Baby somewhere because the housework needs doing x
We make sure that we go out for at least one day at the weeekend. AS a family we manage the housework together as we are aware that we will never get this time back
I totally agree. My house is clean but definitely not tidy, we mainly only tidy if someone is coming over!! But who cares? We’re out and about having fun and that’s what we’ll look back and remember, not how lovely the lounge looked!! 🙂
My sisters house is a showhouse….she has no kids…and in comparison my family think my house is a tip and a mess…..
BUT it looks lived in…and we are happy and having fun..that is more important to me!
I am much more relaxed about having an untidy house than I used to be. I try to tidy throughout the day and do it in small manageable chunks, it works best that way for us.
The fact you talk about having a tidy house with children makes me believe that it could be possible. I didnt think it was. 😉
Goodness no. But then I only tend to fit the basics in anyway.
I agree with you. During the day, I just keep on top of the chaos so that it doesn’t cave in on me, for example tidying up the kitchen after each meal. But the rest of it will wait. Love the idea of a cleaning pad on your baby so he can clean as he crawls!!
I tend to make sure the essentials (bathroom and kitchen) are presentable and then the rest of it, well it;s a case of as and when I am afraid!
Sometimes I just ‘throw in the towel’ grab our bags and head outside. We try to catch up at the weekends – but it is easier to keep a tidy house when it is blowing a gale outside rather than balmy sunshine!!
I like that quote on your fridge magnet. I might just put it up as a reminder. I do need to get out more often with J. Not that I have a clean house!
Housework can wait otherwise you will miss out on spending quality time with your family.
I agree, my house is a mess but a happy mess. I’d far rather take the children out and have some fun than be a slave to my vacuum cleaner.
I totally agree!! Yes my house could be cleaner but its not dirty as such. I hoover once a day and we all have clean clothes to wear and a hot meal at the end of the day. Yes I probably could polish a little more and that pile of clothes that sit by the wardrobe waiting to be put away but actually get worn before they make it onto a hanger and into the wardrobe could do with being sorted, however seeing that smile on my kids face when we head out on a day trip is priceless and certainly worth not having a show home!
Jess
http://owlcrazymummy.blogspot.co.uk
Cleaning is a must in every household. That is why I love my trusty vacuum cleaner.It keeps chores easier around the house. My kids even love dusting using our vacuum.