With or without the kids

 
I saw this on Pinterest and it made me laugh. So true. So painfully true.

I am constantly trying to figure out when I should include my kids in cleaning and when I should just let them do their thing so that I can listen to my latest podcast or something uplifting while I clean. I want them to know HOW to clean and I want them to feel a sense of responsibility, but I also want to keep my sanity. You know? Some days I have the time and patience to guide them through the process of cleaning up the living room (yes, it is a process with two almost 4-year-olds) and other days I just think, "Nope, I'm not going to call them in from playing outside so they can clean up this messy room--I'm just going to listen to this talk/podcast/book on tape--and I am going to do it myself."

I think the parental term for this might be "trade off." Is a mother's sanity the price for responsible children? No, I don't think so. (Except for some days, then yes, yes it is.)