A friend of mine and I once had an eye-opening conversation about the daily grind of our lives. At that time, I was a stay-at-home mom, while he held an impressive title at a high-profile advertising agency—something along the lines of “Director of Creative Branded Cross-Advertorial Synergistic Relationships.” Intrigued, I asked him to explain his role.
“I direct creative branded cross-advertorial synergistic relationships,” he responded.
“What does that even mean?” I pressed further.
“I facilitate creative branded cross-advertorial synergistic relationships,” he said, his patience wearing thin.
“So, when you step into your office and grab your morning coffee, what are you actually doing until 6 p.m.?” I asked, speaking slowly as if to a child.
“I send emails,” he replied. “What about you?”
“I wipe stuff,” I answered.
Motherhood comes with various labels: homemaker, domestic engineer, working mother, full-time mom, stay-at-home parent, or work-from-home mom. We can dissect these terms as much as we want, but when it boils down to the actual duties of being a mother, it’s a whole lot of wiping.
Let’s be honest; it’s not just wiping. I sometimes find myself scraping, scrubbing, folding, and sweeping. The title doesn’t matter; if you were to analyze my daily tasks, it would be fair to say that I’m essentially a cleaning lady.
The issue lies in the fact that I don’t particularly enjoy cleaning. I despise chores that require constant repetition, like doing the dishes or laundering clothes, only to have them pile up again shortly after. I feel similarly about personal grooming. While showering, I often think, “Didn’t I just do this yesterday?”
When you bring a baby into your life, many things are surprising: the pain of childbirth, the financial burden of childcare, and the unsolicited advice about dressing your baby appropriately—even when it’s 70 degrees outside. However, what shocked me most, and what nobody warned me about, was the sheer volume of cleaning that suddenly became my life. (If I could invent a word for when tasks increase tenfold, I would—but for now, let’s just say it quintupled.)
Before kids, my husband and I treated cleaning as a minor inconvenience. We cleaned a few dishes each evening, vacuumed occasionally, and scrubbed the tub only when it reached a certain level of grunge. But with children, a single meal feels like a disaster zone. After breakfast, it looks like a war zone with toast crusts and jam splattered around. We use a staggering number of plates, cutting boards, and utensils for each meal. Grit seems to multiply underfoot, no matter how often I sweep or vacuum.
The dirty dishes could easily be on a conveyor belt. In the early days of being a stay-at-home mom, I would joke with my husband, “You know who Sisyphus’ wife was? Dishyphus. While he was busy making his mark with that boulder, she was at home battling egg residue on the frying pan.” I’d laugh until I cried, after which my wise husband suggested we reconsider how we divide household tasks.
Yet, even with both of us committed to housework, it feels like an unending cycle. It takes all day, every day, for the two of us to restore order from the chaos the kids create. One child loves cutting tiny pieces of paper that are impossible to pick up, while another has decorated his door with marker scribbles. Shoes and bags litter the hallway like a marathon route, and I often just kick them aside, weary of reminding the kids to hang up their belongings.
When a baby is born, hospitals should provide new mothers with microfiber cloths, rags, and paper towels, alongside breastfeeding and bathing classes. They should offer a housekeeping crash course that says, “Get ready. Breastfeeding and diaper changes are temporary, but the wiping? That’s here to stay.” If you’re curious about home insemination options for parenthood, check out Cryobaby Home Intracervical Insemination Syringe Kit Combo. Another excellent resource for understanding the ins and outs of pregnancy and home insemination is Healthline’s guide to IUI. For those looking into self-insemination, consider exploring the Babymaker At-Home Insemination Kit.
In summary, motherhood often feels like a relentless cycle of cleaning and tidying up, a reality that many don’t anticipate. While it comes with its challenges, it also has its moments of joy and fulfillment.
Keyphrase: Cleaning in Motherhood
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