I don’t count myself as a dainty neat freak — but who doesn’t like an impeccable arrangement of cushions on their couch just like they show in those pretty home interior magazines? Sometimes my family makes fun of my collection of towels and liners but seriously, who cares! I know I am far away from the Monica-level league but with the new motherhood life, it’s all quite challenging.
Past and Present
To be honest, these days my home is far from immaculate but then everyone has their weaknesses. I am OCD about certain things. For example, I have a habit to clean the entire house before I go off to sleep. This includes doing the dishes, sweeping, and mopping the floor, folding the laundry, in short everything that you can imagine in a normal household. You land in my house at 12 midnight and I’ll be happy to welcome you with open arms. It really never mattered earlier whether I worked or stayed at home – my cleaning game was always on. My house walls speak to each other about perfection during nighttime. But, these days my well-arranged cushions are seen packed in cupboards speaking to each other about the beautiful arrangements of the past.
Now as a stay-at-home mom, the entire day all my energy goes into playing with my little monkey. The moment he starts playing with Legos and throws them here and there, my heart sinks, and my smile becomes artificial. Remembering the old days brings good memories but the present with this cutie in my arms feels more precious.
My OCD and Mental Peace are Linked
In my case, disorganization is one factor that contributes to high-stress levels. But as moms, we know how much exhausting the process of keeping the house in order can be. I remember the initial postpartum days. Tough time teaches you a lot — the art of overlooking things that do not give joy and prioritizing mental and physical health over everything has been my mantra for survival as a new mom. Initially, with all the chaos everything was overwhelming. But as time passed by the happiness of managing everything on my own gave me more confidence.
Achieving Peace
Hence, waking up to a neat and clean house actually is helpful in aligning my chakras for the entire day. The morning yoga in a peaceful aura gives me positive vibes. I know I am not alone. A few months back, in a conversation with a friend whom I met over one of the Facebook communities I learned that many of us feel happier and lighter when the home is clean. Some of us feel more energetic too; thus increasing the productivity level. It’s just that some like to do that early in the morning and some are night owlers like me.
Find Your Pack
Unfortunately, this state of bliss comes in a mother’s life with a lot of work and dejection at times. And there is also a thing called limited time. So what do I do in such a case of sadness when the right balance seems difficult to achieve. I just go to my rescue team where I can talk about my OCD freely. I think of my Mumma friends who are just like me in some sort. They don’t judge me for the mess, instead, when a woman supports another woman, wonders happen. In current times, I am grateful to social media platforms that have mended broken crooked moms like me and have helped me unfold the impractical theory that all moms are perfect. We are not. And that is okay!
As a new mother perfection is very hard to achieve. And for me, I have learned to be alright just as long as my little one is happy and healthy. Cleaning the home after the baby is asleep is basically my little me time. And there is no said rule of happiness. Right?
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Previously published on medium
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Photo credit:by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash