One of my first dates with my now-husband brought me to his parents' home. I recall entering the lovely old farmhouse, being dazzled by the rustic feel and the vintage household items, and just how clean and tidy everything was. Later, when I went for Thanksgiving dinner, it was all pretty much the same.
But subsequent visits... something must have happened with my mother-in-law.
We visited last week, and entered to find a common event, that of garbage having been strewn everywhere by the pet dogs while my in-laws were out. Due to financial difficulties with their ranch, they've been driving trucks. And apparently that doesn't leave much time for cleaning.
Now, I should not be the one to judge. I adore my mother-in-law. She's crafty and creative and has taste. But while I've always been cluttered and messy, I've never been... dirty. And that's what this house is as of late: dirty. Garbage everywhere, no sign of sweeping, everything covered in thick layers of dust. And that's not counting the sheer amount of crap and clutter. It's not a hoarder house by any means, but I could see it heading in that direction.
I found myself picking up and dusting. Of course, my mother-in-law was all about "I'm so sorry you saw my messy house!" but nothing ever changes. My husband and his siblings (namely the ones that also live on the ranch) just take it in stride. My sister-in-law just down the dirt road keeps a beautiful house despite two little ones.
Again, the woman has great qualities. And I'm sure with her now-busy schedule she honestly has no time to clean. But she does have time to maintain her beautiful garden and yard and make crafts.
The yard looks great, but crafts and cutesiness does not do anything to alleviate a dirty, filthy home.
Earlier this summer, her own mother was visiting... and this dear old woman complained to me that she had come over to help clean the house only to have her daughter insist on other, less-pressing projects.
It's not my house, of course, but the situation has me thinking. Cleanliness needs to come first.
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