An Oncoming Storm - Cleaning

My tidying and cleaning habits have changed massively in the last 6 years.

When I was married the house would go from immaculate to a bomb site in minutes. The boys mum, after motivating me to help (occasionally I'll add otherwise she did it herself) would blitz the whole house and back to square one tidy. This pattern often repeated.

After separating, and finally settling into own place, I quickly realised how much of a blitz would often be needed. Once I finally got on top of it, I believe at least, I was organised, tidy and clean. Although it took me some time to get there.

I started to get into cleaning habits, especially when I was low, where I would obsessively clean. I remember after my mum passed away that people often caught me cleaning with undiluted bleach with a scrubber and a toothbrush. It focused me. In my mind a tidy house meant a tidy mind. Oh how it helped but probably wasn't true.

Shortly after my mum passed I moved in with my elderly father; who is 75 this year.

My cleaning routine changed.

Now some would say that "this is a house of men" and that would be true. Between my father, myself, my two boys and the dog, we are undoubtedly a house of men.  But here's where it's difficult:

My father is of the age where he 'collects' things because "you never know when you might need it" he is stuck in his ways and is a: use to having mum tidy up after him, and b: of a generation where 'men don't really do domestic work'.

So I am in a constant battle each week to declutter,  sneak things into rubbish bags and do subtle cleaning.

I also, as you guys know, have two small boys; aged 5 and 3. Now these boys are beautiful and truly amazing. I wouldn't change any time that I have with them but there's a but; they can instantly destroy a room within seconds of being in it. They are my oncoming storm.

I have no idea how they do it. But what appears to be a clean and tidy house is now looking like a hurricane has hit it and we're trying to dig out the remnants of our life.

And then there's me.
Although I got into a routine at my own place it was, ultimately, my place, my fortress of solitude. I became house proud. This however isn't my house! It is very difficult to become house proud. But I try. It doesn't help that being disabled; everything takes me twice as long to do things.

So every Sunday morning I take a few minutes before going to pick the boys up and sit and enjoy a coffee in a clean room. Fast forward 12 hours and im still roaming around trying to pick bits up, organise and tidy ( and I still haven't cleaned)

This on going storm will be on repeat until Wednesday. Wednesday is my day of relief. I can finally buckle down and clean. Now I know by this point the messy house has caused a messy mind. I know this because it was openly joked about on Instagram, within the #WIDN tag, that I was scrubbing with bleach and a toothbrush in areas. Especially with Ellen over at elandbabya.com
By late Wednesday afternoon the house is clean. But still cluttered because in that time of a few days my dad has started hoarding his 'what if pieces'; Truthfully it takes me until Friday to get everything back.

Saturday I work.

Does anyone else have weeks like this? I often see people's houses and think 'wow its perfect'. How on earth do you guys keep the house so tidy with kids around? Or should I finally come to the truth that between my two lovely boys and my father that I should expect this weekly weather forecast for an on coming storm?