This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things-

A Tribute to Mamas Everywhere.

I knew I wanted to make a post for Mother's Day, as being a Mum is one of my absolute favorite things, but I was really struggling to come up with the right words to describe how I feel about motherhood. For a while I sat with a blank screen staring back at me, but then I remembered something I stumbled upon recently and the decision about my post was made for me. I will write about vacuum lines. Don't leave now, it's going to get good, I promise.


As I said, I recently came across a facebook post about vacuum lines. The post was about how a woman noticed vacuum lines on the carpet belonging to family she was visiting. She was envious of the vacuum lines because her carpet hadn't maintained them in nearly ten years and wouldn't any time in the near future (she has five kids, her oldest was ten years old and youngest was six months at the time). She longed for her dream home and those vacuum lines were a part of it. She wanted her home to maintain its cleanliness for longer than an afternoon. Eventually, later in life, she got exactly what she desired. Her children were grown and no longer living in her house, and she was free to clean her home without interruption. But then she saw the trade off.. Maintaining those vacuum lines meant that her home was quiet, and a lot less lively. She missed her children running wild all those years, and finally realized that, although nice to look at, vacuum lines are actually quite lonely.


I was nearly brought to tears reading her thoughts and realizations. It really hit home for me because I often find myself wishing I could have things in the house that clearly don't make sense right now with two very young children. On the top of my list is a nice fluffy white comforter for my bed (See what I mean? Anything white or fluffy is unrealistic with sticky and dirty fingers on the loose!). I think about how much I would love candles burning in every room, decor that's not limited to the highest shelves, cleaning a whole lot less often, or even wearing one outfit the entire day through without getting one of the kids' bodily fluids on me.


But there is no way I would give up my kids, wish I never had them, or wish time to go by faster. As far as I am concerned, time is already going by too fast as it is! Just yesterday I was giving birth to my daughter and now she's two years old and has a little brother. Since the day Liana was born, I've been savoring many memorable moments with her. For instance, she loves to blow bubbles. Her face lights up with joy and I can hear the genuine happiness radiate from her infectious giggle as she watches her rainbow bubble floating up toward the sky. This magical, always cut-too-short, bubble blowing session usually gives way to sticky fingers. Those fingers will inevitably become covered in dirt from being outside. And my sweet little girl loves to give hugs and kisses, especially when she is enjoying herself, so now I'm covered in the bubble fun too. Two new outfits (one for each of us) and a bath later and we are good as new! Until the next fun activity--which is probably ten minutes from now.


Clearly my days can become quite hectic, dirty, and a lot of work. And days become even harder when the kids are misbehaving or being cranky. They typically require patience, understanding, and a good old fashioned scrub down. And, oh, what I would give to not have to change little outfits several times a day and be left with a mound of dirty laundry at the end of each week. But the wonderous look on Liana's wildly giddy face while jumping as high as she can to pop a bubble, is not one of them. I wouldn't trade a single magical moment for the cleanliness of my home. As difficult as it may be, and as much as I would just like to relax once in a while, I will always want my kids to be kids for as long as possible. My kids have brought vibrance and spontaneity back into my life. They woke me up from my 9-5 slumber and reminded me what it means to really live; to capture and savor each passing moment, and to never wish any of it away.

At some point I will have vacuum lines that may last all week. And I will look at those lines and miss my home being dirty and loud and full of life. And I will miss my children, who truly made my house a home. The love will linger warmly in our hearts, and years of laughter and secrets may be forever ingrained in the walls, but those vacuum lines... they will be lonely.


So to mamas everywhere, take the time today to hug your children a little tighter, laugh a little louder, and let that bubble blowing session get just a little bit crazier. Before you know it, your children will be grown and move on and you'll be left with lonely vacuum lines.

And to myself and my boyfriend who constantly think, "this is why we can't have nice things", our children are so much more important, and they will bring us infinitely more joy and memories than having nice things ever will.



Happy Mother's Day.


CONVERSATION

18 comments:

  1. OMGoodness I so agree with you Danielle. I so miss my 3 silly, mischievous, noise makers, house destroyers, beautiful, huggable little girls. There isn't any nice things(material stuff) that I would have traded my 30 little sticky dirty fingers for. Vacuum lines really don't matter. Now that my 3 little lady's have grown and moved the one thing I miss most is when they used to play together off in another room, I so loved to hear the sound of there giggles together. Quality time is now Danielle because when they are grown you don't get to see them enough. Take it from this MOMMA I know. LOVE YOU LOTS

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    1. Thanks Mom, I agree. As monstrous as Liana is, I know she lives Ayrton and I can't wait for them to be able to play together. I already think it's adorable when she gets down to lay on the play mat with him. <3

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  2. Hahaha I couldn't agree with you more! EVERYTHING I have gets broken, messy or stolen by little ones. I have some (thankfully cheap) sunglasses that I love... my son ran off with them because he wanted them, then left them in his room and his sister broke them :'( Argh! H x

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    1. Oh no! My two year old is quick with her fingers as well.. but thankfully she has a fantastic memory. One day I couldn't find my car keys so I asked her where they were and she said "bus!". I had no idea why she said that so I just kept looking. After about 10 minutes again she says "mummy BUS!" and trots off in another room. She comes back with her toy bus, with my keys inside!

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  3. ha this is brilliant. I can so relate, as I'm sure all parents can. We can all have nice things, just when they're a lot older! ;)

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    1. Exactly! I have to remind myself to slow down sometimes and let my kids be kids!

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  4. That's such a simple way of putting it! Be careful what you wish for, even when it is vaccum lines.

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    1. Definitely! I like that lesson as a reminder to just relax and be present in my kids' lives woke they still want me there!

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  5. Such a brilliant post and basically sums it all up in one post! But you wouldn't have it any other way! x

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    1. Absolutely not! And I know things are about to get a whole lot crazier when my 2 month old gets a bit bigger she can cause a ruckus with my 2 year old!

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  6. So true. All the things I think I want I know I'll one day be able to have again, but the trade off will be my beautiful little boy who is at his cutest right now. x

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    1. I knew some days it seems like a hard trade off, but if I so and ask myself, "was having children really with it?", My answer is always, "hell YES!".

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  7. Oh I'm with you on this 100% I may possibly have sniffled my way through that same Facebook post. I'm a total perfectionist, so posts such as this serve as a strong reminder of the important things xx

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    1. I hear you. Some days I get so fed up with cleaning the kitchen floor for the third time. But I try as hard as possible to remind myself that kids are messy and they're still learning. Some day maybe I'll only have to clean the floor twice! 😉

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  8. Such a truthful post. I'd love a show home but I'd much rather a messy home shared with my babies.

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    1. Absolutely true! A messy home means it is well lived in and amidst the chaos there is evidence of laughter, learning, creativity, and family bonding.

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  9. I hear you. I have childcare on a thursday and friday which means I get the house to myself to work. And I HATE it! I cannot wait for the kids to come home. I won't wish my time away as I know how fast it will go, my mum reminds me all the time xx

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    1. Isn't that a catch 22?! Some days my two year old is so tough to handle and I just wish for a tiny break so I could escape for a few hours. But if I actually get a break I just think about the kids the whole time! 😂

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