Embracing the mess

To the mom who is sitting in the middle of the mess. It’s 8pm and your staring at your house convinced you did nothing today or maybe you feel like you did everything and have nothing to show for it.

There are solo cups strewn across the room from building countless cup towers. The 50 Peppa Pig puzzle pieces need to be sorted into their puzzle bags. Somehow the kid’s toothbrushes and toothpaste have landed on the couch. The blanket and pillows need fluffed and folded. The dishes have piled in the sink all day. Laundry has sat needed to be folded and don’t even think about the kids bedrooms.

The big kids are finally asleep and the baby is finally content not being held. Your looking around at everything that wasn’t accomplished today, knowing it needs to be done before you go to bed; but wanting nothing more than to crawl into your own bed and go to sleep while you can.

I see you.

I am you.

Embrace the mess.

The dirty dishes? Your kids ate today. The puzzles and solo cups? Your kids played with you for hours today. The blankets and pillows? Your kids got cozy cuddles with you today. The laundry that wasn’t folded? You nurtured a baby while watching the big kids play together. The toothbrushes and toothpaste out of place? Your kids have clean teeth. The kids bedroom? You read books and colored with your kids today.

Embrace the mess.

For in the mess is where your kids find you. In the mess is where memories are made.

The mess won’t be there forever. Soon kids will grow and solo cup towers and puzzles will be replaced with trips to the mall for makeup and clothes, outings with friends where your only purpose will be to hand out money.

Your sitting in the middle of the mess wondering where to begin, remember the laughter, the hugs and the cuddles. Your kids won’t remember the mess and honestly you probably won’t either. They will remember the solo cup towers. And when your old and gray watching the grandkids play with solo cup towers you will say “I used to do that with your mommy”.

When your old and gray you will look at your grown kids stressing over their own messy house. You will tell them…

embrace the mess.

Or so I’m told. I’m still learning to embrace the mess. To remember that babies don’t keep. So today I’m embracing the mess. I’m soaking in all the cuddles I can get. Tomorrow chores will be done by all. Today we just needed a pajama and play day. Today we are learning to embrace the mess.