You know the drill: another mom says, “I can’t invite you over; my house is a disaster.” The moment I step into her home, she insists, “Please don’t judge me. It’s horrifyingly messy.” Let’s be real—this is just not true.
When I walk into her perfectly tidy house, I’m torn between laughter and disbelief. Seriously, lady, this space is spotless! You have neatly arranged guest towels, and your kids’ toys are contained to a single rug, devoid of crumbs. Sippy cups are strictly in the kitchen, and the dog’s fur doesn’t dare to land on the floor. If you think your house is dirty, it’s time for a reality check. You can’t have both a pristine home and small children, especially when I’m wrangling three boys under five.
So to all those moms out there who insist their immaculate homes are messy—and to those who feel too self-conscious to host playdates because achieving that level of cleanliness seems impossible—let’s clarify what “normal” looks like.
Normal: There’s always a room that’s in a perpetual state of chaos.
For me, it’s the dining room, filled with my great-grandmother’s cherry furniture. It doubles as my crafting zone and art supply storage. You can’t see a hint of that beautiful wood because it’s buried under glitter projects and train tracks. I only tidy up for special occasions, so don’t even think about judging me, Miss Perfection.
Normal: Laundry is an eternal battle.
Currently, I’m navigating a mountain of laundry: five clean baskets occupying the laundry room, another in the bedroom, plus a load in the dryer and one in the washer. Dirty clothes? Nope, not today. We’re laundry heroes this week! But will those baskets make it to the folding stage? That’s the real question. I once heard of a relative who hid a pet snake under her laundry baskets for two weeks. Talk about dedication!
Normal: Dishes are everywhere.
Your sink? Overflowing. Your dishwasher? Full. The table? Covered in them. On the mornings when you can’t find a clean spoon, you resort to using a teaspoon for cereal—only to find yourself contemplating the grapefruit spoon at the bottom of the drawer. At that point, it’s time to load the dishwasher, if only to ensure the kids have plates for lunch.
Normal: Kids’ bath toys are exactly where they were left.
You definitely don’t want to pull the shower curtain shut because we all know what’s hiding behind there.
Normal: Toys are scattered throughout the house.
No matter how hard you try or what bribes you offer, you cannot pick up every piece. I’ve found stray ball-pit balls in my washer, front yard, and wedged between car seats. And let’s not even get started on the Duplos and action figures.
Normal: Cups, cups, and more cups.
Somehow, my kids manage to leave a trail of cups around the house. One minute they’re asking, “Is this good, Mama?” while holding up yet another half-empty cup. It’s a hydration mystery that makes me question how we survived the ’80s.
Normal: Art damage is part of life.
My bathtub now sports some colorful tie-dye stains, courtesy of my toddlers experimenting with acrylics. And I’m definitely overdue for a touch-up paint job in the kitchen, thanks to some enthusiastic wall doodling.
Normal: Your car’s floor is a no-go zone.
Where else are you supposed to stash fast-food cups, spare diapers, and all those abandoned sippy cups? It’s just part of the parenting lifestyle.
Normal: You forgot trash day…again.
Your garbage can is overflowing, and your recycling bin looks like a hoarder’s collection, just because you lost track of time. As long as you got the trash out of the house, you’re winning!
Normal: Dusting? What’s that?
I think I might own Pledge somewhere in the depths of a closet. Just don’t look at the high shelves if you have allergies.
Normal: There’s a part of your house in disrepair.
My oldest son has never seen our master bath shower in use. It’s a renovation project that hasn’t happened yet. But when I admitted this to other moms, I found out I’m not alone. Many have bathrooms they can’t use or decks with holes.
So there you have it. Either your house is truly clean, and you should drop the apologies, or we can all agree that it’s perfectly okay to throw a playdate amid the chaos. We’re all in this together, so I won’t peek into your dining room if you don’t look into mine.
If you’re looking for advice on home insemination, check out our blog post on the home insemination kit for more insights. Another excellent resource for understanding fertility is WomensHealth.gov, which provides valuable information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, let’s embrace the reality of family life—it’s messy, chaotic, and perfectly normal. So go ahead and invite me over; I promise not to judge.
Keyphrase: What Normal Looks Like in a Family Home
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