But take a quick tour of my house and there are things you will notice. Dust bunnies in the corners and peeking out from under the furniture. The faint smell of kitty litter that always seems to need scooping. Shoes and books and occasional dirty dishes left in odd places by my children. Always a basket of laundry acting as a plastic dresser instead of a tool to move clothes directly from the dryer to the drawer. So yes, I have a mostly organized but generally sloppy house. I can always find my car keys but would never eat food off the floor. Except for chocolate.
As long as I'm being forthcoming, the real reason for buying the plaque is insecurity. See, I'm a good Mom. I know I'm a good Mom. I don't need anyone to tell me I'm a good Mom, but I feel like the best Mom would be doing all that I do with my kids while at the same time having a perfectly clean house. I'll admit, I don't know any Mom like that. June Cleaver comes to mind but no one in the real world.
And now I'm having second thoughts about the plaque and am considering taking it down, because I don't think the opposite is true, either. I don't think Moms with clean houses are bad Moms. I don't think they're ignoring their kids, even if they don't allow playdough or confetti or moon sand to cross the threshold. In fact, I'll bet those Moms are looking for plaques that say things like "Good Moms Strike a Balance Between Housekeeping and Parenting." I don't want to offend any of my somewhat germophobic friends who might wander into my kitchen and think I make the bold assumption that their parenting is lacking because their house is cleaner than mine.
Here's the bottom line: We are all walking that fine line, balancing fun quality family time with mountains of laundry and dishes and paperwork. It's a common frustration and there's no simple answer, only what works for you and your kids and your house and your family. And your comfort levels. Personally, I can live with a bit of a mess if it means a few more minutes to snuggle my girls. But if another Mom spends those extra minutes picking up, I'm not going to judge her for it, and who knows what precious moments she's carved out for her kids while letting a different chore slide?
Okay, so the ex-husband rolls his eyes at the mess occasionally, but I know that my children recognize I'm a good Mom to them, and I'm certain if you asked them they would choose those few moments of snuggling rather than Mom pulling dust bunnies out from under the sofa.
Do not forget the reason that this Mom is called "blessed" by her family. It's not for her clean house, her impeccable wardrobe or her five-star, home-cooked meals. Verse ten of the same chapter explains why she is so valuable in her home: "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." She is virtuous, despite the dust and dirty dishes!
For all of you Moms who are doing an amazing job of juggling family and home, blessings to you! I'm thinking about putting up a new plaque:
You are a great mom. And I love you, too!
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