Cleaning versus art
23/08/2011
I do have to add that despite my antipathy towards cleaning, I can’t start writing until I’ve done all the dishes and put the washing on. I can do the immediate, procrastinating stuff – it’s just that Matha Stewart good housekeeping repertoire that sends me over the edge.
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LET ME BE FRANK 
I have to say that I look forward to the days that Robyn looks after Violet because I know there’s a good chance of getting a blog from you. Does this make me a disloyal friend to your conscientious mother?
People will remember your lovely books and beautiful design work. They won’t remember you for your spotless house. Love, fellow-slattern, Helen x
I like sayings about how people remember your creative work, not the state of your house, although recently I read about Iris Murdoch and found that she seems to have been remembered for her mess almost as much as her work. If people care how my house looks the expression that works best for me these days is ‘Stuff them’ – and other variants.
… Although I would never advocate saying it out loud to them …
Ha — know the dilemma well. Though part of the problem in our house is that I can’t do any dishes / tidying / cleaning until I’ve got some creative work done … and my wife can’t get any creative work done until the dishes / tidying / cleaning has been done … Philosophical clashes ensue.
I want to know when this dilemma started. Was it when Eve got kicked out of Eden and found the cave dusty and full of spiders??? Or is it an alien conspiracy to divert us from really reaching for the stars? It does seem to be a largely adult female malaise though. Great blog.
It’s the way that cleanliness and tidiness are so burned into our psyches as virtues – not just useful, practical, or attractive qualities. Messy = bad is the feeling that troubles me so much.
I love the tag “sisyphean tasks.”
It’s all your mothers fault
William’s right – it’s your mother’s fault – her fault that you are so incredibly creative and multi-talented. As long as there’ve been mothers there’s been guilt. I remember my relief when a lovely young plunket nurse came in to my house- two children under 14 months – total mess – and said ‘What a lovely child-centred house.’ Ignore the cobwebs Sarah – yours is the best blog ever.
Thanks, everyone, nice to know that I won’t be publicly flayed for having a grimy house! And I will try not to apologise to Gus’s playdate’s mother this afternoon when she comes over. After all, we are being child-centered and artistic!
I love it! My windows are super grimy. It doesn’t occur to me to clean them until I can’t see through them. Happy Anniversary too!
I keep thinking about this blog entry while trying to chip dried noodles off the carpet, clean hand prints off the window, scrape play dough off my boot heels, scrub cloth nappies, sponge runny-nose-trails off my shoulders, scoop and flannel fish-stinky-inlet mud off the hallway floor, door, wall and the eldest son’s shins … and the sense of humor here keeps me bouyant. And it helps me ignore all the other mess I haven’t mentioned…Thanks, Sarah! Lovely blog.
This is very Funny Hahahaha