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I’ve always wanted a clean house. A clean, uncluttered house, free of laundry piles, discarded shoes, and Lego debris.
Well, I finally got my wish. Since Thursday, my house has been pristine. Pri. Steen.
Beds made. Check.
Every article of clothing shelved and put away. Check.
Every toy tucked away in a closet. Check.
A gleaming kitchen sink, with nary a dish. Check.
Etc. Check.
Well, it ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
I’ve had to keep my house clean –pristine– because we’re on the market and we want to entice buyers. Aside from the lessons I’m getting on listing prices, disclosures, and negotiations, I have learned a major life lesson:
I’d rather live in a slightly messy home and have it be happy and loving, than live in a model house and be constantly nagging at my family to put their stuff away.
I’m glad I learned this lesson, and it was a lesson I had to experience to really understand. I still appreciate a clean home, but quite honestly, a little clutter never hurt anyone.
What makes your house a home?
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Clutter and dust bunnies make my house a home. That and having my family in the midst of it all with me.
funny, i was just thinking about this same thing. I had read something I had wrote about my mom. she has quite a few collections. some may seem them as clutter. she sees them as treasures. clutter still drives me crazy but sometimes it is not worth all the hassle.
you know, with that, it might just make it possible for me to go to bed without grimicing over the piles of dirty laundry and puzzle pieces under the table!
Seriously.
I love that you’re ok with slightly messy.
Oh girl…I’ve been there (twice!) and you are so right. I used to keep my house like a museum…NO MORE! A little clutter does the family good!
Great post!
Moving is a great opportunity to clear out the clutter! Praying for you during this time of transition.
This is a really, really good lesson for me to hear — I aspire to pristine…but perhaps it’s not the be all and end all!
You’ve got that right. I’m a recovering cleanaholic…light on the recovery part. As much as I love a clean house, I know that when my kids are grown and gone and everything is in place, life just won’t be the same. I’m trying to enjoy the messes and mayhem.
Such a great lesson, isn’t it? We went through that when sold our home three years ago-I’d take a bit cluttered than a lot grumpy anyday! I remind myself that I live in the mess season, and I’m good with that-one day things will be cleaner because the house won’t be filled with cute little kiddos.
That’s a very good point. I would kill for a super clean house, but I know as long as I have children in this home, that is not going to happen…and that’s ok. Thanks for the reminder!
Not an easy lesson, huh? It is most definitely the imperfections and messes that say “real people live here” that turn a house into a home.
Good point! I actually had to learn to let go when my sis/her kids stayed with me for awhile
I am sure that even on a day you feel your house is messy, it’s cleaner than most 
xoxo ~ Me