you’ll be a family of two for just a few more months. Your house is almost completely remodeled, and it’s coming together perfectly! The windows are clean, the floor is spotless, and everything has its own place. You’re just a tad OCD and the idea of a clean house rules your every thought, but your first baby is on her way and your desire to clean every square inch of your house is in overdrive. You. Must. Clean.
Life has always been this way for you, though. Needing to clean and organize is just part of who you are. People have told you that things will change after Piper arrives, but you’ve got the system figured out. No need to worry.
Laundry will get done and the house will get cleaned. But your life is going to look much different in four years. The beautiful baby girl that you’re about to have will be an energetic, full of life, 3 years old and you’ll have a chunky, little 8-month-old who is into everything. Your hands will be full!
There will be fingerprints on every surface of your house, yogurt on the couch, peanut butter on the T.V., and sweet potato on the high chair. You will find syrup in places you didn’t know you could find syrup.
But life is going to be so much more beautiful than you could ever imagine. Sometimes it will feel like you’ll never get caught up on the mess. You won’t. Once one load of laundry is done, you’ll have another one waiting. And it’s ok if you only want to clean the fingerprints once a week. It’s pointless to try for any more than that.
One day, though, one day the surfaces of your house will be clean again. You won’t see tiny fingerprints and yogurt on the stainless steel and glass. And surprisingly, the mere thought of this will make you sad.
You’ll be able to hang your white, monogrammed towels again and you won’t have to worry about crayon all over the couch. The nest you’re preparing now will one day be empty, and you’ll long for the days of endless chores and messy countertops.
Dear 30-year-old Lauren,
soak it in, mama. You can clean another day.
You write so beautifully, it is so inspiring for me.
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award in my latest post: thoughtsofadventure852428559.wordpress.com/2018/02/28/versatile-blogger-award/
Oh wow! Thank you so much!!
I love this so much, what a great reminder to just sit back and enjoy your life knowing tomorrow will be different
Beautiful words! I would say, inspiring 🙂
Beautifully written Lauren. We should all reflect and take in the little things. Life and spaces might not be able to be clean but they sure are perfect.
I love the approach of this piece! Our days with little ones are so chaotic and messy, but they are full of joy and beauty, which you are so talented at capturing through your images. Thanks for this!
So much yes!!!! LOVE every detail!
This is just wonderful. There are so many mundane details that make up our lives and they are so important to document <3
Lauren, your honesty is so inspiring! I love that you wrote letters to yourself. And, in essence, to your family. ❤️
I think I will bookmark this post and come back to it on the days I cry out, “Why is this house always a mess!?!” while looking at the toys strewn around, the sandwich crusts among the Duplo blocks and the windows with nose and lip marks all over it.
Beautiful images and a friendly reminder to let some things slide.
So true. No need for a clean house when it is filled with the love of a little one