By Cheryl Demas
Are you always prepared for the unexpected? If someone wants to visit you at home, do you make excuses or do you let them in? Do you run for cover, or put out the Welcome Mat?
You know those lists that rank people’s greatest fears? Most often public speaking comes out at the top of the list, but I’m willing to bet that among Work At Home Moms, Unexpected Guests is the greatest fear. I know a lot of Work At Home Moms who get stressed out for days when they’re expecting visitors.
But what are we stressed about? Do we worry that someone will judge us based on the smudges on our windows? Isn’t it better to look forward to the friendships we can share? The fun times we can have, and the contacts we can make? Now, I’m not advocating to completely let the housework slide, just keep it in perspective. I know I can’t work at home, take care of my children, and keep a perfect house too. I doubt if many moms can.
Erma Bombeck wrote that if she had her life to live over again,
“I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light fire in the fireplace”
I used to be more of the run-for-cover-type when we had company. If I knew someone was coming over, I would spend days cleaning and do my best to hide all traces of our lives from view. Then I would still apologize for the messy house. Of course my cover would be blown when my husband would come home and say, “Wow, you’ve really cleaned this place up!”
Now, I’ve decided that we live in a WYSIWYG house, “What You See Is What You Get.” Yes there are fingerprints on the window, (gasp) dirty dishes in the sink, and (horrors) the kids’ craft projects are spread over the dining room table – but this is just the way it is.
And what a relief it is.
