We Live Here

I remember how my mom used to host people in our home when I was little. She would make us help her clean up -- vacuum, dust (which is pertinent in Western Kansas), clean the bathrooms, put our things away, etc. Even when she wasn't expecting anyone, she would ask us to find places for our things. At the time, I thought it was so overrated, so menial. Now, I'm the same way. I've always been tidy, but now in my own home, I often find that things without a space annoy me. They provoke me -- Kyle's jeans that he always leaves on top of the dresser, our pajamas sitting randomly in our room (let's admit, pajamas never have a place! I mean, where do you even leave yours?), that one book laying on top of all the others because it won't fit on the shelf.  Those things can drive me crazy if I let them.

Finally, the other day I just had to say to myself, "Molly, y'all live here." Yes, like, we live here. A tidy home is a nice home, but a used home is welcoming, too. Actually, I think it's more welcoming. I'm not saying that everything should be out of place or misplaced all the time, but I think it's okay to let things just be the way they are sometimes because they represent our real, purposeful lives. Those books all over my couch? Yea, they're there because I read them to get this crazy 96-hour Masters degree. Those toys all over your floor? Yea, they're there because you have a three year old and a one year old and they're normal children who play. Here's to less stress about the small stuff  in our own homes because, you know what? We live here.