Let It Go - The Messy Stuff

At the beginning of this year I talked about how my mantra for the year was "Let It Go."  And while it has mostly applied to situations and relationships I was having a tough time with, there is also one other huge thing I have decided to let go of.  It is pretty silly really.  But here it is.  Messes.  And by this I mean literal messes.  I'll explain.
I have spent most of my life as a neat freak.  I had a routine of always cleaning house as soon as I got home from work on a Friday so I could enjoy a nice clean house for the weekend.  Nate is a little opposite of me when it comes to that type of thing, but that's why he has an office in our basement where we could shut the door. My desk at work is organized and never cluttered.  I will fully admit, I'm just a girl who appreciates a little order. 
But now I have this little storm at my house now called Hurricane Oliver.  The destruction this storm leaves in it's path is pretty intense at times.  But here's the big thing - I don't care.  I am a boy mom. Boys are messy.  It is just a fact of life.  I thought that it would make me crazy, but it doesn't.  Maybe I let go of perfectionism and not just messes.  Not to mention, spending time with my boy when I first get home on Friday is more important to me than having a clean house for the weekend - so really it was a no brainer.  I haven't really even thought that much about it, but I have seen the shift in priorities.

There's more to it than just a clean house.  A couple of weeks ago we were out at the disc golf course. It had rained the night before and there was actually standing water in some areas.  We had dressed Ollie in head to toe rain gear just in case.  And naturally, at one point he marched himself right over to one of the puddles and headed right on in.  The old me would have been cringing and freaking out. But this new relaxed me said, OK.  It's not my favorite thing, but we can wash his clothes and give him a bath.  He's going to make some messes sometimes that are harder to clean up, but that's part of being a boy and growing and learning and playing.  And he was having fun.  That's more important than anything.

I have let go of my old ways and embraced (that's that other word of the year!) the mess.  Life is too short to be cleaning up all the time, you should be out living it.  Take time to deal with the big messes and let the little ones be - and I think that is something that can apply in a symbolic way and not just a literal one too.  Sometimes life is messy.  This boy of mine is teaching me just as much as I'm teaching him I think.  He's definitely making me a better person!

So, if you come over for coffee or a beer just know, I might not remember when I last vacuumed and there might be toys everywhere, but I promise to make up for it with the company and being present with you.  Hopefully that is what matters most!