There are those who look forward to the “loot” on a gift-giving holiday (they hope to clean up), and the rest of us who wearily scrub counter tops (and bathrooms), pack away clutter (anywhere we can), resort to last minute maneuvers (piles pushed under beds), and an assortment of small house emergency organizing tactics – in anticipation of entertaining company.
For a few hours, it’s gorgeous! And in the cooking commotion we splatter and splash, stir and stain, and then we serve, we eat, we laugh, we enjoy – and by nightfall we’re cleaning up again: platters to scrape, leftovers to pack into the fridge, boxes to break down and store, wrapping to discard, dishes to rinse and load in the washer.
‘Twas the night of Christmas, and we’re content with anything we can do – to make the morning after less onerous.
We’re grateful when the exercise of responsibilities and expectations – for children and adults – has lessened. And in the wake of holiday commotion, simple pleasures may be shared: a quiet coffee, time with a journal, an unhurried conversation.
And we hope that we had the common sense (and energy) to tend to most of the clean up before heading to bed!
Small House Organizing, Kids Who Clean
My small house has never benefited from proper organization and I take full ownership of that sorry state. Then again, I have the usual small space storage problems, which hasn’t affected my personal capacity for, well, everything!
While my boys may like to tease that I’m a hoarder – um, I’ve watched the show, I can still see my floors, I do not qualify – it is however undeniable that my young men have been raised amid stacks of books, papers, crazy art and languishing loads of laundry. They nonetheless have turned out okay (perhaps even better than okay?), and while I would have loved to follow the guidelines of “a place for everything and everything in its place,” let’s just say it hasn’t been high on the Single Mother Priority List. (And possibly on the Any Parent Priority List in our tumultuous times.)
Still, when called upon to assist (with reaching, lifting, and old-fashioned elbow grease), it is possible to teach children to clean. Toilets?
Not so easy.
Dirty socks anywhere but wherever removed and dropped?
Likewise. But it’s possible all the same, and I confess it still astonishes me when teenagers take up arms against mess – and help! Might we say it’s the eighth wonder of the world – teens who clean?
Entertaining is about People
My children are older and they certainly love to eat – well. I was a whirlwind of cleaning activity through much of yesterday, and last evening’s meal took far longer to cook than I planned. But entertaining is about people; my company was helpful and gracious, my kids were relaxed; the former didn’t notice the clutter I couldn’t hide, and the latter (my sons) were shocked to see the table cleared of every paper and book that normally covers it.
Cleaning up?
Yes indeed. That’s been a considerable chunk of my past days and nights. And my sons pitched in when asked, and jumped in to handle the dishes, late last night.
In the light of the day after, and with a steaming cup of strong coffee, I cannot help but find myself relieved that we have passed the stage of the young child’s chaos and commotion. The festivities were pretty wild at one point this weekend, yet they’ve given way to calm and consideration. For a few hours, at least.
Entertaining across multiple generations can be delightful and enriching. The preparation and the aftermath? Yes, it’s work – but worth it.
Morning After Musing
My kitchen is in reasonable shape. My mood is relaxed. My children – yes – are still sleeping.
It was a good weekend.
Now I ponder the piles pushed under my bed, the boxes teetering in a single storage closet, and though I’m itching to make more progress, as usual – “real life” will take precedence and I’ll focus on other priorities instead.
- Was your holiday what you hoped for?
- Did you or your little ones “clean up?”
- How crazy and chaotic are the holidays in your home?
- Dishes left in the sink, or did you clean up?
I have been away from the computer for way too long. I loved this post. This is a perfect picture of my Holidays growing up. My parents are not hoarders but clutterbugs could describe them fully. No rush to clean… just enjoy each others company. As I have grown and raised my own children, I do clean up a bit more, like to get the dishes out of the sink, but the more adults in the house the easier it is.
Hope you had one fabulous week and holiday. Hope to read you a little more now the rush is over. Merry Christmas to you and yours
And a very happy holiday to you, too, NAS. Hoping the new job is going well, and that you get to enjoy some relaxing time with your kids this week.
I hate cleaning and cleaning up. I blame that on childhood, too many hours spent doing dishes and what have you.
Ah, but I do like entertaining and that makes clean up an issue that I have to deal with.
The entertaining does indeed make the clean up worthwhile, Jack, I agree.
I believe with all my heart that there are Matters That Matter, and there are Matters that don’t. Those that scream the loudest are often those that DON”T. I commend you for your relaxed attitude…who cares about the mess, the dirty dishes, the Trader Joe’s Pies (vs. the homemade variety)? My house is still a mess, but we are sitting by the fire, playing backgammon and slurping home-made soup and crusty warm bread. Happy and surrounded by chaos….great piece!
Always happy when you stop by, Kristine. And your home-made soup and crusty bread sounds fantastic!
Did a lot of cooking, cleaning, hosting on a repeat cycle—but although tiring (mentally and physically) it is a good sort of tired… and now I’ve earned my place in bed, not just with a book, but with an electronic reading device that I found in my stocking (and on which I can also play Words with Friends). Feeling all modern and lucky at the same time—hope you are too. Namaste
We had three house guests — my father-in-law, my sister-in-law, and her husband. It was a mess — my father-in-law blew a fuse turning his heater up too high. We had the best time in years.
We had the family for Christmas Eve dinner. Quite relaxed, because Fran and I previously discussed how to make it easier for us (think of your blended families post earlier). Basically, we now agree not to have guests bring hors d’oeuvers because if they’re late, you’re eating their contribution when dinner is waiting to be served. Kids bring food already cooked, so that the turkey doesn’t get messed up in the oven. Salads should be ready to serve — don’t buy greens and tomatoes at the store on your way to dinner and arrive to set up shop here. They seem quite happy with this — they love bringing desserts and wine and hot vegetables.
Not that my kids were particularly bad offenders this way, but it happened occasionally. Perhaps this was because my sense of dinner (remember that I’m described as “food challenged” although Fran says I’m improving) was much more disorganized than Fran’s. My favorite example (and fond memory) was the time I insisted that we finish up the five pound bag of potatoes that I had purchased, even though the mixing bowl was probably designed for no more than four. We did it, and the excess made an attractive line all around the kitchen when we were using the mixer. But the mashed potatoes were great. The kids and I got a great laugh out of this, but blended families may not necessarily get it.
(Your mashed potatoes story makes me smile, Paul. Is it possible to ever have too much when it comes to potatoes?)
Wishing you and Fran and your blended families a very happy and healthy new year.