Unwashed dishes….

Ten years ago when my husband and I learned we were going to be parents, we made a collective decision that I would stay home with the children while my husband would “bring home the bacon”.


To this day, there is no question in my mind that this was the right choice – I was prepared to be the best mom I could be. 


But what I didn’t expect was the pressure that a stay at home mom feels to not only be ‘the best mom’, but also ‘the best housekeeper’, ‘the best cook’, etc, etc.  You know, a Martha Stewart kinda woman (even though she has a team of about 300 people doing this and that for her and all she needs to do is pretend she did it all in 15 mins or so….and then say “It’s a good thing”).


During one of those crazy ‘I need to do dishes, make the beds, wash laundry and make dinner while I let Dora babysit my then 3 and 2 year old sons’, I remembered this little poem that was given to me by someone, somewhere, someday. 


I decided to put the words of the poem into action and be free…even if just for a day…and to this day, I’m still trying to not make my bed.


I had printed and posted this poem on my fridge as a reminder and I hope you do the same.  Take your child’s hand and follow……..



My dishes went unwashed today
I didn’t make my bed
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led

Oh, yes, we went a little adventuring
My little child and I
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the sun and sky

We watched a robin feed her young

We plucked a daffodil

That the house was so neglected
That I didn’t brush the stairs