I don't like messes. I like things to be orderly and neat.

When my daughter was learning how to feed herself my family would tease me how often I would wipe her hands in the midst of her shoveling food in her mouth. But I don't think there's anything wrong with neat eating, is there?

I cannot leave toys all over the house for extended periods of time. We (because my kids are actually really good at cleaning and it's become a routine) typically pick up mid-morning, before lunch, before dinner and before bed. I absolutely cannot have the kids in bed and still have toys everywhere. I just can't.

Those are a couple non-negotiables.

But a funny thing happened over the past couple of years. Some of my obsessive tendencies have faded a bit.

I used to not only pick-up multiple times everyday, but I would make sure each toy that was a part of a set was placed together, all parts accounted for. I would search high and low, each night, for a piece of pretend fruit that belonged in the picnic basket. I would move furniture to find that one animal that should be a part of the tractor set. I would set up all my daughter's princesses in her castle. And, if for some reason I couldn't find something, it would really bother me. And the next day I would be back at it, looking for those precious missing toys--toys that my kids didn't need or even know were missing. This behavior does not happen anymore. Partly because I've adjusted, partly out of pure exhaustion.

And don't even get me started on dirt and mud.

But, having kids is messy. There will be dirt and mud and toys and paint and more things that make a mess. And, if I hadn't changed a little I don't think I would have been ok with this.

But I am. I'm learning to love it all, messes included. (Full Disclosure: After they were done splashing around & got home, they immediately were placed in the tub to discard the wet clothing. Somethings will never change.)

xo Sara

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