Anyone else feel like it’s groundhog day when it comes to cleaning and tidying your house? Chores take on a new meaning once kids come along.
1. Kitchen floor
- Before kids – you were determined to get it so sparkling and shiny you could see your face in it.
- After kids – when you sweep at the end of the day you wonder how it’s possible mice haven’t moved in.
2. Living room
- Before kids – you plumped up the cushions on the sofa and made sure your ornaments were all sitting symmetrically.
- After kids – hoover up the mountain of crumbs that have accumulated between the seat cushions, check your accessories for any new cracks or chips.
3. Polish
- Before kids – quick dust and everything looked brand new.
- After kids – how will these finger prints EVER come off the TV?
4. Tidying up
- Before kids – you described yourself as a ‘Monica’ because you liked everything just so.
- After kids – having kids has cured your OCD; if a visitor came around unannounced they’d be forgiven for thinking you were burgled.
5. Bath
- Before kids – a quick spritz and wipe around, trimmed the wicks of all your candles, re-arranged your luxury oils.
- After kids – remove fifty toys from the bath and scrub off a weeks worth of dirt and grime.
6. Garden
- Before kids – watered your flowers and mowed the lawn.
- After kids – try to cram all the outdoor toys into the shed so you can actually see the lawn; wonder what your potato masher is doing in the flower bed.
7. Cleaning the car
- Before kids – why pay for a valet when you were such a whizz at doing it yourself.
- After kids – once you can no longer put the hand brake down or push the seats back you know it’s time to clean out the car.
8. Ironing
- Before kids– not the worst chore in the world, you could catch up on your favourite soap while you flew through it.
- After kids– your iron hasn’t been used since you had a child. One of the key criteria when buying clothes is that ironing will not be necessary.
9. Laundry
- Before kids – resent your other half for having to do their laundry.
- After kids – help I’m drowning in dirty clothes.
10. Washing up
- Before kids – what washing up? I have a dishwasher.
- After kids – your hands are red raw from the amount of washing up you do; it’s a shame Fairy isn’t an actual fairy that would do it for you…
Jennie lives in Co Kildare with her husband Matt and toddler son Ethan. In her blog mummyvstheworld.com she takes a lighthearted look at the world of motherhood. You can also find her musings on twitter @DennehyJennie.
