The laundry pile is beginning to resemble Mount St. Helens and
you’re afraid to touch it for fear of what might jump out at
you. Your sink is overflowing with dishes caked with food two
days old. Dust bunnies are multiplying under your kitchen table
faster than you can say “hippety-hop.” You allow your home to
remain in a state of disarray for weeks until you have company
coming and then give it an eight-hour power-clean.

Sound familiar?

To a work-at-home mom, keeping the house clean may seem like an
unachievable goal. And it’s no wonder. Because you and the kids
are always home, there’s constant mess-potential. Plus, you’re
always there to see that mess, which adds to your stress-meter.
And added stress is something you just don’t need. But, let’s be
honest. Between work and the kids, cleaning is low on the
priority list. So how do you keep your house clean and still
keep doing everything else a working mom has to do?

First, cut yourself some slack. Remind yourself that people
actually live in your home and keeping it spotless is near
impossible. Be thankful you have a family to make that mess in
the first place! Not so easy to do when you’re stubbing your toe
on toys scattered on the floor, I know. But even though there
are probably times you long for a few consecutive quiet days to
yourself, admit it. You’d miss them – they’re your family!

Next, decide what areas of your house are most important to you
to keep clean. For instance, while I was growing up, my mom was
notorious for leaving dishes in the sink and lying around the
counter for a couple days at a time. I hated that! So one of the
things I make sure is done every day is the dishes. Having the
dishes done every day is something that makes me feel more on
top of things.

Your priority may be having counters or floors free of clutter,
vacuumed carpet, a sparkling bathroom or dust-free furniture.
Focus on keeping clean those areas that are most important for
you. If your priority is different from your husbands, work it
out so he is in charge of his “area” and you take care of yours.

Third, ask for help! As mentioned above, your kids and husband
live there too. It’s only fair that they do their part. If
getting your kids to pitch in is difficult, consider incentives.
A trip to the ice cream shop, a movie, cash…it’s amazing what
kids will do for a few bucks. Five-year-olds can pick up toys,
seven-year-olds can dust baseboards, ten-year- olds can help
with laundry or the dishes. Every little thing helps and lessons
your load.

If the budget allows, hire someone to deep clean your house
once a month. This will be the best money you ever spent because
it will not only free up your time but will eliminate the stress
of getting to those nasty chores you’ve been putting off for
months.

Finally, come up with a plan that works for you and your family
- whether it’s a couple of brief cleaning bursts per day, a
daily sweep of your entire home or a once-a-week thorough
cleaning.

Remember, keeping a clean house certainly has its benefits, but
the next time you trip over a toy or tackle that pile of
laundry, remind yourself that the people who live there are what
truly make up your home.

About the Author: Visit WahmZone, the ultimate community for
the Wahm and work at home mom. http://www.wahmzone.com or
http://www.wahmforums.com/

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