Mama Always Knows Best

I have always been a little nutty about coming home to a clean house after a family trip. The difference between a trip and vacation is kids. If the kids are coming, particularly little kids, I’m going on a trip. Trips involve some level of work. Family trips with little kids involves all the normal work done in a place where none of their stuff is in its normal place. While trips are fun, there is nothing restful about toting kids anywhere over night. Hence, we went on a lot family trips as opposed to family vacations. Vacations, at least in my mind, involve a rest from work and a chance to relax from daily responsibilities. After our trips, I need to come home to order and calm.

That means the kids and I would clean and clean before we left. If I could manage it, there would be no dirty clothes in the hamper, no dishes in the sink, beds would be made and rooms orderly, if not down right clean. The longer our trip the cleaner the house had to be before we left. As the children got older they were expected to aid in my pre-trip cleaning fits.

They never quite understood the frenzy and it did make going away stressful. My oldest has moved out and now has a place of his own. He had his first visit home as an “adult” for Christmas. A free agent, able to make his own decision, he told me with not a little glee he left dirty dishes in the sink and didn't take out the garbage before he left.

Hee, hee, hee...unfortunately for him, my son had a four week delay getting back to his place.  Four weeks of dirty dishes and smelly garbage in the 100 square feet he calls home.

Mama always knows best.

Comments

[Tina Kubala]

Since I moved out from my parents' home, I find all the time that my mother's way of doing things was very smart. Of course, I'll never be the neat-nick she is. That gene skips a generation, we suspect.