the flip side

I've been accused before of being inauthentic on this blog. I'll deny that to the cows come home. However, there are things I just can't blog about. Like, for instance, ummm...when my kids are naughty or frustrating or disobedient...I can't really expose their foibles to the world wide web. They are entitled to their privacy and should expect to live out their lives apart from outside comment. I respect that. Also, if ever I were to fight with my incredible, darling husband, I wouldn't feel comfortable putting that on the blog...because my incredible, darling husband would dislike that greatly. I, for one, think it would be endlessly entertaining. (Not that we ever disagree. Right, honey? Honey?)

What I can tell you is that I often let the ball drop. Many balls, in fact. The first thing to go? Housekeeping, of course. I hate it when this happens because I detest a messy house. None of the rest of my family seems to care about the mess one. tiny. bit. (And thus their reluctance to chip in.)

This is what met me when I walked in the door from A&M today:

This picture doesn't do the mess justice. You are missing out on two large counter areas completely covered with dishes and miscellaneous junk. I made sweet and sour chicken last night...but by the time I picked up the last kiddo a little after 8, I was done. I sent everyone to bed and finished my grading. The dishes would have to wait.

And wait, they did. They are extremely patient little stinkers.

I also saw this:

Hmmm. Half of the Easter breakfast set-up remains. The baggie on the right side of the table contains Jordan's inhaler. ???? Inside those adorable egg cups? Splashes of leftover egg dye. It's a little gross and crusty to tell the truth.

My first inclination is to walk past this entire mess and leave it for tomorrow. My second inclination is to scream at the kids to clean it up. My third inclination is to curl up in the fetal position and suck my thumb. In the past, I've tried all of these options, none of which is ultimately satisfying. You know, we talk a lot in our church about enduring to the end. And, of course, this means being good and faithful and living a Christ-like life in the face of adversity and temptation and trials. But even more often, I think enduring to the end means rolling up your sleeves and washing the day-old dishes when you don't feel like it.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you swore that when you grew up you'd never have to cook or clean because you'd have a personal chef and a maid and be super rich and famous? Sometimes I still catch myself thinking those things. And then I think..."Wait. I'm already grown up."

Still not ready to give up on the personal chef or maid quite yet...but the rich and famous? I can let that slide.

Comments

[Em]

Heck I'm just glad to know I'm not the only one who looks at day old dishes from time to time. And I wouldn't say you're inauthentic at all. I should probably keep more stuff to myself rather than blogging it for the whole world. You are right to give your children the privacy. But I do love hearing your stories!