The Messages of Messes

When we lived in a small apartment with five children it meant that there was always messes during waking hours. Eventually I came to accept this. We cleaned up at certain times and while things crept under – and stayed under – the couch, almost everything was put away at bedtime (and after lunch on a good day). 

The messes that occurred with the raising of my children had hidden messages about my children if I stoped to read them. 

The colored pencils that were always on the floor reminded me how the six year old loved to color – and the four or two year olds loved to dump them out. 

The train tracks entertained the growing two year old who tried to build a track with them and loved to pull the train along. 

The animals everywhere was because of my four year old who developed a great interest in animals. 

The dress up things laid neatly on display told me that my six year old was no longer into Disney princesses anymore, but still loved to dress up. I can also see that while she seemed to be free-spirited, she was beginning to have a desire for order and neatness. 

The many notebooks tucked away reminded me of my quiet almost 12 year old who loved to write and yet was so private about it (and most things). 

The piles of books on the always disorganized bookshelves reminded me that my almost 10 year old was an avid reader, when less than two years before, he struggled to read. 

Loud and clear, these messes articulated the growth that was happening in our sweet little home. Stopping to read the messages reminded me that my children were growing up. It helped me appreciate my children and their stages — and even the messes themselves. 

As I journey through the phases of motherhood, I hope to take the time to stop and read the messages of messes.