
Written by Megan Georgoulas
When I first met my husband Frank, I believed my share house days were behind me.
No more over-flowing bins no one will empty, no more stacked dirty dishes no one will clean, no more stained carpets and dents in the walls, and the big winner, no more stinky toilets with lids up and wee on the seat!
Ah the golden days of designer furniture, ornaments and art, and beautiful sparkling clean bathrooms were all ahead of me.
That was until our inner city studio apartment world was rocked by multiple toddler mayhem and chaos.
Out to the burbs we marched and back into share house squalor we entered.
Sometimes I want to document on time lapse cameras just how much destruction and filth can be created by the boys in such a short amount of time. It is like they have some sort of innate programming, where their primary aim is to seek, destroy and stain!
I am in awe of seemingly spottless ‘toddler’ houses. Are they the result of obsessive compulsive cleaning syndrome? Are the children (and husband) trained maids? Maybe the kids aren’t allowed in the house until bed time? Or maybe they have a full-time cleaner, cook, nanny, personal assistant, child care and psychiatrist?!
Of an evening when the boys have finally gone to sleep and I am spending the rest of my ‘free’ time cleaning that particular day’s squalor, I try to remember that this too shall pass.
I remind myself that when they are teenagers, at least the mess and strange smells will be limited to their own bedrooms. They won’t always put everything they find in their mouths, they won’t always wee on the carpet or smear their dinner on the walls…
And this always brings me back to the fact that along with the bad stuff not lasting forever, neither will the good stuff. They won’t always fall asleep in my arms, or cuddle me in bed on cold winter mornings, or tell me they love me everynight as I tuck them in to bed. Remembering this puts the mess into beautiful perspective … Designer furniture can wait.
God bless our mess!