Confessions of a Recovering Neat-Freak

What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?

For years, I believed a spotless house was the mark of a successful woman. The floors had to shine, the cushions must sit perfectly, and toys were supposed to live in their designated boxes (not under my feet). My mantra was simple — “Clean home, peaceful mind.” Or so I thought.

Then came reality — three kids, one husband, and a house that seemed to throw its own surprise party every day. My once-cherished motto quickly transformed into a comedy show titled “Mission: Impossible — The Clean Edition.”

One evening, as I stood glaring at the mountain of Lego on the floor, my youngest looked up and said, “Mamma, can I keep it like this? It’s my city!” I paused. That little “city” wasn’t chaos; it was creativity, joy, imagination in 3D! That day, I changed my mind. A messy home wasn’t a failure — it was a story in progress.

Now, I laugh at the glitter on my couch, the cookie crumbs that form mysterious patterns, and the socks that play hide-and-seek. After all, “Perfection is overrated; presence is not.”

The house still gets cleaned, of course, but I no longer chase spotless floors — I chase giggles, hugs, and moments that don’t fit into storage boxes.

Thought to ponder: Maybe life’s true beauty isn’t in what’s in order, but in what’s alive.