I’ve come a long way in my journey to being willing to open the door to unexpected visitors, but there’s one person who is always allowed into my home, no matter how bad my recent tunnel vision has been.
My mother.
I know that many slobs don’t have this kind of relationship with their mothers, so I most definitely don’t take it for granted.
That picture above shows one of the reasons I’m always glad to have her here.
She’s great about tackling tasks that I tend to put off until . . . well, forever!
I have a lovely window above my kitchen sink. Really, it’s beautiful.
It lets in tons of light, and is a great place to display stuff.
Except that stuff (especially stuff that exists for no other purpose than to be pretty) is my nemesis. It becomes invisible to me . . . as does the dust that settles on it. And kitchen dust is ever-so-much-more-lovely than dust in any other part of the house, since kitchen dust is sticky. No long-handled duster will make quick work of this job.
Soapy water, dedicated time and a small amount of not-so-elegant-counter-climbing are required to get this task done.
As I walked into the kitchen this morning after my mother left to go eat lunch with as many grandchildren as she could possibly eat with today, I felt loved. I saw that she had once again washed my sticky-dusty stuff that hadn’t been washed since the last time she washed it.
Yes, Grammy’s welcome anytime around here.
My mom is wonderful that way too. Once, I felt I did a really great job getting the house cleaned up for her visit, and then I caught her cleaning my DISH DRAINER! That was a new one… 🙂
This about made me cry! I am missing my mom big time. She was with me for a week after my little one was born. I was totally pampered. Sadly, we live 8 hours apart. Now I want her to come back sooo bad!
How wonderful that she can see a need and take care of it for you in a way that blesses you instead of feeling like criticism. Sigh…
Yes. I’m extremely grateful!
Nony, I’m so glad for you that you have this relationship with your mom. I do with my mom too. 🙂 For years I took it for granted for the most part, but the older I get to more I realize what a treasure she is! 🙂
Oh my mom is the same way. I love when she comes because she helps me with my 4 kids, the kitchen and makes at least one meal that I never make myself because her version is so much better.
Wow–your “stuff” is really gorgeous. I love the blue! And you’re right, you do have a nice kitchen window.
I echo what Christina says. It is great that when she does things around the house, she does it in the spirit of love, and it is equally important that you accept it that way. None of this would have ever have happened with my mother, but if my sister were to visit, she would be just like your mother.
My mother used to do that kind of thing too…unfortunately, I never had the impression that she did it because she loved me. It was more “I’m-doing-it-because-your-a-slob-and-don’t-do-it-and-since-I’m-here-and-can’t-stand-looking-at-it…
We have a much better relationship now. She has accepted that my way of housekeeping doesn’t have to be hers. But I’m better than I was too (besides I married a man who’s an awesome housekeeper)
WEllll…. I came over her to comment on your BOOK, and got a big ol’ smack in the head….. Glad your momma is a sweetie about it all… I just had a “freak out” last few weeks, cuz my momma was coming. she lives 7 hours away and has not visited my home in more than 4 years… then she decided to only drive to a large metro area and hour away, where she had several things to take care of (so we met her over there for dinner) She decided to tell me she wasn’t coming THE DAY BEFORE she was supposed to arrive, leaving me teetering between relief and sadness…. Your book was one I purchased the day after she told me they were coming…. and I didnt get to read “day two” for TWENTY SIX DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, thats right, I didnt COMPLETE step one for that many days!!!! I did work at it daily, but for some odd reason, my family also requires eating TWO TO THREE TIMES A DAY!!! LOL – Imagine my surprise and laughter when I scrolled down to “day 2” yesterday….. You KNOW me……. Thanks for the laugh, and for todays reminder to appreciate “neater” people and their contributions to my life (though my Momma is often like Sharon’s “I’m Doing it because…I can’t stand looking at it” and ” I never left these thing undone at home whne you were a child, how did it get like this” kind of Mom…. AND…… I love her….
Oh Ann, this made me laugh. And I totally understand the combination of relief and sadness. And I know that for me, when there’s that combo – I then feel guilt!
Sorry to be adding to the comments so late – but I just wanted to chime in that you should also be glad that you *have* your Mom. So many people, including me, take their mothers for granted. While my Mom would never have done what yours did (she once asked my husband why he would clean the ceiling fan…”You don’t need to clean those.” – and no, she was not joking) – I just wish she could come for a visit. Sadly, she died quite unexpectedly of a heart attack on Father’s Day – just 3 days after her 61st birthday. So treasure your Moms, ladies – whether they make you feel guilty for your “slobbish” ways or not. You never know how long you’ll have them!