Several weeks ago, we hosted a pretty big bash for my mom’s birthday party. Guests by the dozens rolled into the house, all with a mission to drink red wine and lots of it. Who would argue with anyone on a mission like that? Least of all me. Which is why, when a glass of wine would spill, or a bottle of wine would spill, I’d try and clean it up (without disturbing the merriment) and get over it. That was, until my husband cornered me in the closet and questioned me about why I wasn’t doing more to manage clean-up during the party. My reaction? Dude, relax… people are having fun; our home is their home for the night. Plus, Spot Shot can do amazing things.
Turns out, at the end of the party besides having piles (and piles) of recycling to manage, we came out all right. Just a few bottles short of Spot Shot. Hey, you buy it to use it!
I want guests and my family to feel comfortable in our home. It’s not a museum, it’s a house. Don’t get me wrong. I have nice china, but I want to use the nice china (for relatively important celebrations like half-birthdays and hump day). I want my son to enjoy his sticker collection, but also to stick them on things (preferably in a not-so-permanent way). I want my boys to get the most out of playing with their toys. Although, everything in the home should be treated with respect, toys will break. Don’t cry about it. It was supposed to generate smiles! And it did… for however long it lasted.
I have to tel
l myself the same things sometimes too. Like I should wear my Prada shoes to the mall, even if I am pushing a beat up stroller with a chocolate-covered tot in it. Hey, at least my feet will look good. Until they get spit up on or pooped in. And, yes, that has happened before. Don’t ask.
I also really happen to like the (white) rug under my kitchen table. Sure, it’s a little less white now that two babies have explored the world of eating while in high chairs perched atop this rug. I could have replaced it with a cheap-o, non-white rug. It would have masked any spills, and would have been a soft spot for feet to land. But I like my white-ish one, and we’re keeping it. Even with it’s new “character marks.” Yeah, those Christmas crafts probably would have been better off done on top of cardboard. You live, you learn.
But most importantly….you LIVE. Enjoy your good stuff. Pull out those rock star shoes and super cute clutch you’ve been meaning to use. Treat yourself to the “fancy” beauty products you save for special occasions. Every day is an occasion if you’re leaving the house! Use your china. They don’t look nearly as good covered in dust.
And, let your kids do the same. You’ll only get to keep them close for 18 years. Maybe when they are off at school one day, I’ll look back at the blue spot on my white rug and think… that’s from a light bulb craft we did during Christmas years ago. And, I’ll smile as I sit down to eat on my good china at the table that has a few marks from the years of parties, scrapbooking, homework and game playing.
Life is good. Too good to not enjoy! Think it’s time to open that bottle of wine. To light that candle on the table. To walk out of the room when my kid has a box of crayons in his hand. Nothing a good scrub, a spray or two of Spot Shot, and a fresh coat of paint can’t fix. Right???
Let’s all collectively wish each other luck, and repeat after me, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t sweat the relatively medium-sized stuff.” Only worry about the giant stuff. And when you do, open up that nice bottle of vino we were talking about earlier. It’ll make everything seem medium-sized, and then we’re back to being a-ok. 🙂
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