Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Clock's Ticking...

I'm giving myself a 10 minute time limit to write this post today. Why? My mother-in-law is coming to stay for a week. Tonight! AAAAAAHHHH!!!



Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this woman. She is incredible and loving and helpful and sweet and non-judgemental and just a fun person to have around. (Read here to find out why I love her soooo much!)

Still, there is nothing like having company coming to open your eyes to the fact that your house is a disaster.


Really, I clean, scrub, launder and pick-up as much as anyone. Normally, I love my house and think it looks pretty good on an everyday basis. However, looking at it with "company vision" makes me wonder, How have I been living in this filth?


Suddenly, every room I enter needs a fresh coat of paint, a carpet cleaning and at least three new cool accessories from Pottery Barn. Not to mention that every vertical surface is covered with fingerprints and every horizontal surface is slightly sticky. I wander into the children's rooms and wonder how they can function with such dirty desks and chaotic closets. Then, I walk into my room and realize those little nuts didn't fall very from the tree.

It's one thing to have a party. I can have my house ready in a snap. Just hide all the clutter for a few hours, light a couple candles, dim the lights and serve really good refreshments. No one is the wiser. But when someone is coming to STAY...you can't fake it. The fridge, the closets, the bathrooms, the gross cabinets under the sink are all on display. Yikes!!

So, I'm on the "Company's-Coming-Adrenaline-Rush" natural high and I'm cleaning like crazy. Time's up! Gotta go...

15 comments:

Christie said...

Me, too! Both sets of parents come next week for Chase's baptism. I'm nowhere near ready. I am in my paint clothes as we speak - taking a break to read some blogs. Good luck with yours!

Rochelleht said...

How funny! Yes, I looked in my fridge the other day and had that "other people" perspective. Do I really LIVE like this? Now, you see I haven't actually cleaned it yet, but I did look.

I hate cleaning fridges.

Bridget said...

Oh yes, the cleaning through company is coming eyes. It is harrowing. Good luck with that!

Amy said...

Hopefully your mom-in-law walks in totally understanding that even the cleanest house becomes a total disaster within a few minutes when there are children living there. Do what I do, leave it a disaster so that when your helpful mom-in-law comes there is something for her to do!

Annie said...

Good luck! I know what you mean...my parents are coming this weekend (although I do think parent visits are somehow different than in-law visits, no matter how wonderful the in-law)!

Shaka said...

ahh, been there! have fun!

Mique (as in Mickey) said...

I feel ya- my in-laws are MOVING IN today!!! Are you feeling bad for me? You should. My life should get even more interesting.......and I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to blog again. So if you don't hear from me, that's why....have fun with your mil...........

Celia Fae said...

You know what I hate? It's when the "company eyes" are worn by my traveling husband. He returns and notices all sorts of things. And then he fixes them, which is good, except really, I am the one who needs fixing! Have fun with the houseguests.

Wendi said...

Ha ha! I feel the same way!

mama jo said...

sounds like visits are in order...guess i better go visiting..

Celia Fae said...

Hi. It's me again. Good idea. Move to California and we can hang out. Or just come and visit. I'll even clean a bathroom for you.... Maybe.

kelly said...

i guess that's another benefit to having both sets of parents fairly local... no one ever has to stay the night!

laina kay said...

Ahh... mother-in-law visits! Mine only lives about 2 miles away but insists on staying here with my children the one time a year that she babysits them overnight. Cleaning for that is FUN since I know she pokes around EVERYWHERE! Gotta love it!

Polly said...

I used to clean out the kids drawers and reorganize their closets...Just when people came to dinner! Crazy huh? Now I just make sure the one bathroom gets a wipeover and vacuum and we're set. Sometimes I don't vacuum, cause it will just have to be done when they leave...I am old and very wise now.

Anonymous said...

Your house is always wonderful to stay at Gab! I'm sure it was gorgeous! Have fun with Grama.

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