Paybacks

OK, no soapbox today, just a random vent. Am I the only one that sees cleaning as this horribly mad circle that never ends? For once I'd like to clean a room of my house and go back the next day and it still be all nice and sparkly and clean.

I had a big cleaning day Friday. I actually didn't have any obligations the entire day, except to get the kids to and from school, so I dove in. I swept and vacuumed. I scrubbed counters and walls (you'd be surprised how many finger prints make it onto my walls- ugh). I organized, and I cleared clutter. It felt good. I had a clean house. Then the kids came home. And the weekend happened. And I woke up this morning and no one would ever guess that I spent an entire day cleaning just three days ago. Sigh.

I guess you chalk it up to having a very active house with two kids (and two dogs and other random children coming in and out throughout the week). We are clean people. My kids have to keep their rooms clean, they help with chores on a weekly basis, they fold laundry and wash dishes. According to them I am very unfair and quite the tyrant because they are expected to help out around the house so much. :-) And anyone who knows my hubby knows he's a bit compulsive about organization and being clutter free. But even with all that, we have this weird phenomenon that as soon as you put things away or clean a room and then turn your back, well somehow, someway, it all becomes a mess again. In the blink of an eye. I don't get it. What am I doing wrong? Is it foolish of me to think things should stay in there place all the time? That I shouldn't have to repeat fifteen KAZILLION times that when you are finished with a cereal bowl you rinse it out and put it in the dishwasher?

I'm sure all those seasoned moms out there are laughing at me right now. I know my mom is. I was not the neatest child in the world. I guess what goes around comes around... paybacks, right mom. :-) And I guess it's good to know that she has a very clean house now. My time will come... maybe I shouldn't be so anxious to have a perfectly clean house all the time.