Can we say STRESSED!

I was getting back into what I call a normal routine since the kids moved out. After hubby goes to work, I go thru and work on each room of the house, cleaning as needed and doing some of what he calls "piddling". If I don't feel up to doing it in the morning, I take an easy morning and do it later but it is ALWAYS done by 3pm. I like it to be neat when he gets home. When you live in a small space, even 1 thing out of place makes it look cluttered....like on weekends when I choose to spend more time with him than on cleaning house. By Sunday night, its looks pretty darn small in here.

Well, my youngest son had a dr appt in town Monday morning. He ran out of gas in the '71 RV about 2 blocks from here. Missed his appt and rescheduled for today. So they have been spending the day here and evening here, then drive the RV someplace for the night. I love them to death but 2 more adults, a 3 yr old and a dog tend to make my place SMALL and NOISY. The 3yr old can be sweet as honey for about 5 minutes at a time then "Sybil" shows up intent on driving everyone nuts, destroying stuff, sassing and even hitting us from time to time. Of course she ends up in the time out corner but it doesn't phase her, she just keeps on keeping on. She doesn't take time out well, and so we all pay the price. Definitely wears on the nerves.

They don't think about trying to keep things neat when they are here, don't think of doing dishes after eating, etc. It's weird, when I was younger and had more energy, less weight and less arthritis, I wouldn't have thought anything of it. I would just tell myself they are only here for a little while and I can clean when they leave. My grandmother that raised me was that way. EVERYONE was a guest, even her kids and she made you feel like you were welcomed and didn't expect you to do anything when visiting.

My mom on the other hand was always a clean freak, even making you take your shoes off at the door. God help you if you didn't put your chair just right when you got up from the table...EVEN if you were an adult. If you drank out of a glass you better wash it, dry it and put it away. She was an ANAL WOMAN! Then last year, my oldest son, my 5 yr old grandbaby and I went back home and stayed at my moms. When I got up, I started making my bed and she fussed me telling me we could do that later? I thought, "Wow, she must really miss me!" I made the bed and straightened out the room anyway. I learned well.

Imagine my horror when after playing in the barn, my 5 yr old grandson tried to come in the house covered with dust and chicken poop! I told him we would have to clean him up before he could come in. I couldn't believe my ears when my mother said, " Good Lord, let that child come in, he can't hurt anything!" My oldest son and I at the same time said " WHAT???" She told us that she used to let my sons come in like that when they were little! Well let me tell you that the echo was LOUD when we said, ARE YOU KIDDING?? YOU WOULD HOSE THEM OFF AND STRIPPED THEM DOWN NAKED FIRST! We all had a good laugh and she finally admitted that after losing her baby sister and her mother within the last few years she decided life is too short to worry about crap like that. We were floored but very happy that we could relax a little and enjoy our visit, but still following the rules imbedded in our brains!

So, I guess I need to realize that young people these days don't have the same thoughts on life, love and cleaning up after themselves. I will try to remember that they don't feel they should be "responsible" for the way my house looks. I will just enjoy the visits and try to keep the close relationship I have with my kids, because they are after all grown men and may not always live close to me as they do now. If the young one has his way he will drive himself across the world in his '71 RV, keeping in touch thru his blog at http://www.trulyfreeride.blogspot.com/