Learning to keep house.

When I was a young girl of 5 to 12 my mother and I spent a ton of time together cleaning. I'm sure we did before then but my memory of age five is probably more dependable! I remember little things here and there from age 3 or so but it is kinda fuzzy.

I always had my little job to do while my mother did the big stuff. Before she started working I spent every day with her at home always enjoying the midday grilled cheese while watching the news then it was back to work we went. I don't remember naps, I must have blocked them out! :)

My mother kept a clean house, VERY clean. The dishes were always done right after dinner and we were the dishwashers. When she cleaned the bathroom or dusted her furniture she would remove every little thing and hand it to me to clean with Windex, then when she was done I got to help her put it all back up on the shelf where it went. I fondly remember jumping under her freshly washed sheet as it floated gently to the bed. This was normal day to day life for me and I thought it was great fun! I don't think I would have thought so if she hadn't done all this with me and enjoyed it herself. When I got bigger she let me try my hand at cleaning the sink all by myself! What a coming of age!:D

So, after that it was quite often when I would get asked to clean the bathroom all by myself, we still did it together some but I began to learn that my mother's duties were much farther reaching than doing dishes and cleaning bathroom sinks. I don't think I ever fully appreciated what it was to be totally responsible for a household 7 days a week all by myself, not until I married and even moreso when I had babies to care for on top of it.

By the time I grew into a young lady I had learned how to iron a shirt, do the laundry, mop, floors, do spring cleaning jobs on a regular basis so nothing ever got out of hand terribly; we never had to actually do a big spring cleaning all at once. She taught me everything I know when it comes to how to clean and keep a meal on the table and clean clothes on our backs.

I will admit, I learned a lot of new tricks and natural cleaning ideas long after I became married, but my mother gave me my start; my foundation and a strong one at that. I knew what it was to serve others at the dinner table and do the little things no one notices like keep stickerburs out of the carpet (well, I guess they notice if I miss one!). As far as cleaning goes organizing was one of the greatest things she taught me as well as speed but more than that even, it was a love of cleaning. The JOY of caring for my family and doing it well. Working hard and working effectively and being content with it.

By the time I was 15 years old; I could clean the entire house for mom and dad while they were at work and knew how to get a meal on the table all the while having the laundry going and still time to sit and read. (I must say I loved Dad's wrinkle free shirts and pants! I miss those! My DH's shirts require ironing! Yikes.)

Things are a little different now with two toddlers running my home, taking out toys all hours of the day and learning to use the potty and trying to figure out daddy's playstation when I turn away to wash a dish. But after they are sleeping or when they are busy playing quietly I know how to get it done and get it done fast all thanks to the training given to me by my mom. Thanks mom.

Besides training me as a youngster my mother still comes over to help me clean and still getting to clean side by side with my mom is a true blessing. And she was right when she said to me (when I was being stubborn not wanting to help with the dishes...teenagers....) "When we do it together it goes fast and it is more fun!"

As mother's I think we have a wonderful opportunity to effect how our own daughters will keep house. Not just by teaching them how to do it but by teaching them that it is normal every day life and normal everyday life and even chores can be done with JOY if done in the spirit of serving our family and our Lord.