Winter 2026: Bless this mess

This winter, I see little messes everywhere.

Each day, Jordan and I wake up before 6am to a quiet, peaceful, relatively clean path to the kitchen.

We complete a workout, brew the coffee, unload the dishwasher,  make breakfast, and enjoy the final moments of a clear countertop, empty sink, and crumb-less floor. 

But then Jack comes down.

And then Charlie.

And then Payson…

And that’s the final time we see a clean path to anything for the rest of the day.

Once breakfast begins, a landfill of cereal and scrambled eggs collects under Jack and Payson’s chairs. 

After breakfast, we scramble to wipe sticky fingers, brush hair, change diapers, and put on shoes & socks.

General Charlie directs her soldiers to raid the pantry to pack snacks for the day, leaving drawers open and Veggie Stick bags in their wake.

Once we finally get the kids buckled in the car, I usually run back inside to look for my keys, tripping over jackets and loose shoes scrambled all over the mudroom floor.

I locate the keys, take my coffee to go, and pull my car out of the garage to escape the mess.

But then I look around this mobile trashcan that we call a minivan, and I’m surrounded by a mountain of crumbs, coffee mugs, water bottles, backpacks, old art projects, snack wrappers, Starbucks napkins, and a few DVD cases of the Lion King, Parent Trap, and High School Musical.

And that’s right about when I hear Payson say “Ooopsiee” as she rips open a bag of Goldfish which spills all over the backseat.

And that’s how we start every day.

Well, every school day at least. And school days tend to be the cleanest because the mess making primarily happens somewhere else.  

On Winter Weekends, Holidays, and snow days, our house doesn’t stand a fighting chance.   

Since Christmas, the basement looks like a tornado struck the North Pole.

Stickers. Princess dresses. Gymnastics equipment. Card games. Puzzle pieces. Hot Wheels. Mini sticks. Toy trucks. Books. Train tracks. All spread everywhere in no particular pattern.

The kids’ bedrooms aren’t much better – showcasing a collection of stuffies they snuggle with, toys they love, and outfits they “picked out themselves.”

With all the snow this winter, the mudroom occasionally turns into an obstacle course of hats, gloves, jackets, and snow suits.  The garage is crowded with hockey skates, sleds, a snowblower, and boots.  

And despite how often Jordan and I pick up, do dishes, change laundry, organize the counter, take out trash, vacuum floors, or clean bathrooms, the kids persistently:

Use another dish. Spill something on their clothes. Take a new toy out. Leave toothpaste crust in the sink. Pee on the toilet seat. Or leave a trail of crumbs.

And with:

1 busy schedule

2 working parents

3 little kids

4 laundry baskets to fold

And 5+ things always on the to-do list

I’m feeling exhausted from running on this clutter treadmill amidst these cold, dark winter days.  

So during this moment of free time, instead cleaning up…

I’m just going to take a second to feel blessed for all the mess.

Because there is something truly special about it.

The rubble in the basement is simply evidence of all the fun we’ve had down there this winter.  We’ve set new Pop-A-Shot records and played epic mini sticks games. Charlie’s gotten so much better at gymnastics and has begun to even coach Payson.  

The mess of legos reminds me of all the Batmobiles, Dump Trucks, and other masterpieces that Jack has built since Christmas.

The scattered costumes are a result of many talent shows, dance parties, and fun play dates with friends.

The crumb filled kitchen floor and loaded dishwasher is a sign that we’ve shared many meals together as a family – laughing, telling stories, spilling drinks, and talking about our days.

All the books, magnatiles, yogurt pouches, and toys spilled out across the living room floor is the cost of getting to watch USA’s epic gold medal Hockey game with a bunch of our closest friends. Because you don’t get this… 

Without this… 

Mittens in the mudroom. Snow boots on the stairs. Sleds and skates crowding the path to outside are remnants of memories we made sledding, building snowmen, and teaching the kids how to ice skate on the pond. 

Scattered books. Toothpaste in the sink. Even pee on the seat. That’s just a sign of independent kids growing up fast. Wanting to do it all by themselves. Hopefully a winter or two away from actually picking up after themselves too.

And of course, that messy Minivan.  When I can look past the crumbs, clutter, and trash, I remember the 3 devilish dumplings giggling and singing in my rearview mirror.

Winter has felt kinda like the experience of building this snowman. Moments of joy and imagination leaving behind a mess of sticks, props, and carrots.  

The mess that has overtaken our lives is just overwhelming evidence that life is really happening and we’re in the thick of a unique chapter that we won’t get back.  

Because I’m sure things will eventually get cleaner and quieter here.  One day, we’ll have plenty of order and free time which on one hand, sounds amazing.  

But I know when that time comes, part of me will miss the crumbs. Corralling the kids and all our junk in the minivan. Bundling up those adorable little snow people.   Picking up the books we read and the legos we played with together.  

So until then, I’ll choose to enjoy the evidence.  Because I feel blessed to live in this mess.

But seriously, if you know a good cleaning crew – I’ll take recommendations.