Now I really believe that we can have it all . . . just not all at the same time. I think there is more pressure than ever to be perfect now, there are pinterest boards full of how to have a beautiful home, and instagram only backs up the fact that everyone else has a tidier house than mine. There are blogs full of perfectly dressed, well behaved children, facebook shows me craft projects and baking that other parents have done with their children and of course these children are running around outdoors, getting their daily quota of vitamin D and fresh air.
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All the while, the parents hold down a job, a marriage, friendships and have hobbies. It must be easy to have it all, or that is how it can sometimes feel.
The thing is, there is usually more to it than that. Those stunning instagram images of breakfast in bed usually have the child who is bouncing on your feet cropped out, as well as the pile of dirty washing. Well, they do in my house anyway. I record the things I want to remember, I write a blog so that my children can look back and see the good times, the happy faces, the adventures we had together. The washing up is real enough every day that I have no desire to record and talk about it online as well.
Last month, we hired a cleaner. I have always wondered what kind of people have a cleaner and I now know exactly who - real people. I have three small children, only one of which is old enough for an education, I have a job, and a blog, and a social life and a relationship and all of that (plus a love of Netflix) doesn't really leave any time for scrubbing my bathroom tiles and cleaning out the kitchen cupboards. The washing baskets are overflowing, there is often crumbs under the dining room table and my boys want to go out and explore.
I admire the mothers who seem to do it so well, and I remember what I am good at. Art in my house consists of water painting, colouring in and other less messy pastimes. Baking is not a word the children understand. They do know adventure though, they know we will always go out, that I would pick the park over painting anyday. They know they are loved more than anything and really that is the most important thing. There are many boards on pinterest that I flick straight past, but there are plenty that I use for ideas and inspiration too.
My house is never going to be tidy, it looks 'lived in' at best, but it is our home regardless. It is full of our clothes, toys and the remnants of our fun. It is slowly getting better now though (with the help of a cleaner for a couple of hours on a Tuesday morning!).
My house is never going to be tidy, it looks 'lived in' at best, but it is our home regardless. It is full of our clothes, toys and the remnants of our fun. It is slowly getting better now though (with the help of a cleaner for a couple of hours on a Tuesday morning!).
I can't have it all, at least not right now, but I can have enough.
Do you have a cleaner? Would you if you could?
Do you have a cleaner? Would you if you could?
