Company's coming!

When I became a stay-at-home mom, I learned quickly that it can be a lonely and boring job.  Yes, I'm around my children all day, every day, but I was lacking adult conversation and encouragement that I was doing anything right.  Over the last few months, it's been a pleasure for me to build up acquaintances with my fellow local mothers, and these wonderful ladies have helped me fill the gaps in my sanity.

Today, our local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group had scheduled an outdoor play date at a local park.  The weather, however, was being completely uncooperative.  We had storms all night and morning, leaving the playground saturated and the equipment too slick for play.  On a whim, I offered to have all the moms and kids over to my house so that we wouldn't have to cancel the play date.

There was a flurry of text messages, and it suddenly occurred to me that I had a scant 30 minutes to make my house appear clean and inviting.  I felt a familiar panicked sensation, recognizing quickly that I wouldn't have time to clean everything before our company arrived, and I regretted having made the offer in the first place.

But then...I actually made a pass through my house.  And, wonder of wonders, it actually looked moderately clean!  The past week's work had paid off.  I quickly swept the kitchen and had the girls put away a few toys.  I put a new roll of toilet paper in the front bathroom and took out the garbage.  I turned on some music.  Suddenly, the house looked appealing and fresh, rather than dingy and cluttered.

I read somewhere, probably in this book, which I'm currently reading, that it's easier to keep the house moderately clean all the time so that you can be hospitable whenever the time comes than it is to have a cleaning frenzy before a big event.  I had initially scoffed at the idea; the author had obviously never had three children under the age of five and a large dog all at the same time.  I think, though, that today was proof of how well that advice really works.  When the house doesn't feel like a disaster, I'm much more likely to invite over company.  At the moment, that company might be for me just as easily as for my kids, but I want the kids to feel comfortable inviting their friends from school or soccer team over to the house for snacks or a study group when that time comes.  I want them to be proud of their home, not ashamed of it.  In that regard, I think a little vigorous spring cleaning once a year followed by consistent daily upkeep will be completely worth it.