Um, what if the dishes stay dirty & the laundry stays piled in a basket on the floor for just one more day? What does that say about this wife, this momma?
I'll answer that in a bit, first I'll share my Monday with you. 
So these pretty blue kitchen counters of mine love to collect stuff. Stuff like the depressing mail, half eaten bananas, sunglasses, paint brushes, and toys. And that sink over there, it tends to be full of pretty white dishes, cute little tea cups, and empty mason jars with soggy paper straws.
The laundry's favorite spot in the house is cozied up by the foot of our bed in baskets. As much as I ask it to find its way into our closet & drawers it refuses to deny me this request. So each week I close my eyes as I walk past it, until two or three days pass & I give in to put it away. For the past 1.5 weeks I let the laundry disappear totally from my mind.
Heres the truth. I'm a proud stay-at-home mommy to this little guy. Sometimes I would rather take him on a play date with other mommas & their kids than stay at home to clean. Inviting a friend over for coffee on the back porch sounds more appealing to me than putting my laundry up, so I'll let it hide in our room for another day. Snuggling on the couch with a very sweet little three year old while he talks to this baby bump of mine is way more precious to me than washing dishes after lunch.
So what does it say about this wife & momma who some weeks lets the laundry pile 3 feet high & lets the pretty dishes stay unwashed for a whole day or two?
For me it says I've learned where my value rest. It says I know where to invest my time. It says I've made a small victory in this life as a momma & wife.
To me, it means that I've learned how to give myself grace in the little things to enjoy the better things in life. Two years ago if these house chores were not done this wife & momma might have refused to invite a friend over because her sink had dishes from last night still in it. I may not have stopped to call a friend who I knew needed some prayer or encouragement. Or I might have stayed home from a play date to get the laundry put up before small group at our house later that night.
Thats the ugly truth.
The truth of who I use to be.
The momma I use to be.
The wife I use to be.
The believer I use to be.
Yuck. Thank the Lord I've invited & allowed him to teach me the value of relationships, friendships, and place more importance making memories with my Noah than keeping my house looking perfect. And praise the Lord for a husband who sees the importance of this grace in his wife's life.
Just keeping it real. Happy Tuesday!
~Brit
Linking up with a sweet lady for Pint Sized Moment.
I am so proud of you for writing this! Seriously! I will never forget the sweet words a friend's hubby said to her upon coming home to find her stressing over the dishes and the house not being clean. he said, "Your job right now is to be the best mom you can be to our girls. The dishes and house can always come later. They'll always be there." It was neat to me that he looked at it that way. I would rather have a playdate in a realistic looking house than a museum! Go you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. Sometimes I feel like I'm a little too honest after hitting "publish" but I know I can't be the only one whose house isn't perfect & hopefully I'm not the only momma enjoying her baby more than keeping her home looking like a museum! :)
DeleteI love your post, totally my life too. Thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tanya!
DeleteLOVE this!!! You are my mommy role model friend!! :)
ReplyDeleteyou're so sweet lady.
DeleteBrittany, this is a much-needed challenge for me. Thanks for being honest and sharing this victory (and for linking up!) It really is true that where we use our time is what we value. You are a wise woman!
ReplyDeleteThank you friend. I enjoyed linking up & visiting other mommas blogs.
DeleteSo, after reading this i feel a little better about my house being in a constant state of chaos...lately we've been so busy that when free time opens up i just rather spend it cuddling on the couch, not scrubbing my shower lol. I guess i'm still in that new wife stage where i feel if my house isn't clean i'm not doing a good job as a wife...io! So thanks for sharing that you can be a great wife (and in your case momma) and have a not so organized home all the time :) Btw, can't wait to found out if my new cousin will be a boy or girl! :)
ReplyDeleteOh I hear ya... I think most women spent the first year or two feeling like that. lol. Also, had no clue you had a blog missy! lol. Have to come follow you!!
DeleteI few months ago I decided I would only put away laundry when my kids are awake and helping instead of doing it all myself during nap time. The laundry doesn't always get done (or done to my perfectionist standard), but I'm a less stressed mom. Thanks for this reminder.
ReplyDeleteGood point Becky. Yay for being less stressed mommas :)
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