Yes I am a bit of a clean freak, but..............

[fionas]

Well, to answer your question they could be compliments or they could be snide asides.

But it sounds like you're a great mum whose kids have fun so who cares if the compliment was a bit backhanded?

Personally, I think the tidiness/cleanliness of a house depends on a lot of things. Storage for one. How much you're home is another. How much mess your partner, not just your children, makes is another plus how much they're willing to pitch in.

I sold my house a couple of years ago and boy did I love living in a show home when we had to have it perfect for open for inspections. I know what it takes to get it that way and quite frankly, I can't keep up. I've promised myself that if and when DP gets a 9-5 job and is here in the evenings then everything will be much tidier because one person can tidy while the other gives the girls a bath.

[Nai]

Well, to answer your question they could be compliments or they could be snide asides.

But it sounds like you're a great mum whose kids have fun so who cares if the compliment was a bit backhanded?

Personally, I think the tidiness/cleanliness of a house depends on a lot of things. Storage for one. How much you're home is another. How much mess your partner, not just your children, makes is another plus how much they're willing to pitch in.

I sold my house a couple of years ago and boy did I love living in a show home when we had to have it perfect for open for inspections. I know what it takes to get it that way and quite frankly, I can't keep up. I've promised myself that if and when DP gets a 9-5 job and is here in the evenings then everything will be much tidier because one person can tidy while the other gives the girls a bath.

I agree, what your partner does has a huge impact. I live with a messy hoarder! If I leave the house for an hour to go to the gym, he and the kids can trash the house leaving any previous tidying a distant memory.

Also depends on how much to work and what your priorities are. If I was home then I might feel the need to clean but after working all day, then cooking dinner, doing homework, getting the kids bathed and to bed, I know I just want to spend quality time snuggling and chatting to dp when I get moment. Cleaning can wait.