Image: Flickr/Lindsay Széchényi

“Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them. My mother cleans them.” (Rita Rudner)

Imagine your child in 25 years, sharing a cup of coffee with a friend as they reminisce about their childhood. What would you rather hear as a fly on the wall?

“My house was immaculate. You could eat off the floor and nothing was ever out of place.”

Or….

“My house was warm. I remember laughter, friends, and board games in the living room.”

Is there anyone who wouldn’t go for the second?

Of course, a “clean house” and a “warm house” aren’t mutually exclusive. Housework can be a family activity, too. But a house that is “lived in” rather than “slaved over” leads to a more relaxed atmosphere. So, give yourself permission to take a break every now and again. Enjoy your time together. It doesn’t last all that long. Put down that duster and break out the board games. You won’t regret it.