I don’t see my mum that often because of distance and I much prefer going to her but she’s coming and she has very high standards for housework and lives in what looks like a show home, even though she works full time and had 4 children she’s always kept her home immaculate, she spends her free time cleaning and tending to the garden.
I like to think my house is ok, I keep it tidy and wipe down the kitchen daily and things but it’s nothing like her impeccable standards.
Shes very vocal about our differences in cleanliness and will immediately gravitate to the garden on arrival to see what I’ve done in the garden, Dh mows the lawn and I keep the weeds at bay but apart from that it’s just a garden I don’t really sit out there so it’s used for drying washing and the children go out there to play sometimes.
I do worry when she comes because she’ll point out that I’ve let the garden go or not been on top of the housework even after I’ve cleaned and cleaned.
I focus more on hoovering, cleaning the kitchen sides, floor and keeping things tidy, she will point out dust behind the telly or on the skirting board behind the table etc which you’d never see in her house.
I love her very much and wish she was less judgy but it’s deep in her nature.
Should I just be myself and try to ignore her disapproval or make my house a show home every-time she visits which I get quite stressed about.
The children love to see her and apart from this we get on very well, I just hate feeling the pressure of trying to get the house spotless before she comes to judge, it spoils what would otherwise be a lovely time.
I find the pressure of her coming makes me procrastinate and feel less motivated than usual, I leave things to the last minute then get in a frazzle because she’s on her way.