Oftentimes I make the mistake of looking at the floors
Noticing that they need a cleaning
Due to splattered yogurt, spilled soup, smashed crumbs
And count the baskets of laundry needing to be sorted, folded, put away
Know in back of my mind that there are dishes in the sink that need washing
Chicken in the refrigerator to be baked for dinner
And the list goes on and on
So I overthink it
And start feeling inadequate
As if somehow I am failing because I can’t just
Press a button and get it all done
And fool myself into believing that my family is the worst off because of all that

I am learning
Slowly
That my house will never be clean all the time
The laundry will never be done
Whether with or without cleaning help
And that there will always be dinner to eat
Sometimes baked or cooked by me
Sometimes via curbside pickup at the pizza shop
Whose staff already knows my number

And that I am successful when I take time
To listen, make eye contact, connect, spend time
As that is what counts in the long run
That is what my family needs and remembers
So I choose to take the time to talk every day and listen
Play games
Sometimes just sit and be
And let the house wait
For as long as I need
For I know the mess will not run away
But opportunities will
If I let them go