Why It Takes Me 3 Hours Longer to Clean Than You

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A few months ago, Andrew made the mistake of asking what I did all day.  I really laid into him and I knew he felt bad after asking.  I honestly felt bad afterwards because I know I wasn’t very nice; however, the thought that he didn’t think I had done anything all day, really got under my skin. REALLY BAD.  Fast forward to this morning.

For once, I was up before anyone else in the house.  While I probably should have made a cup of hot chocolate and my breakfast and enjoyed the peace and quiet, I decided that I would clean.  I, myself, was amazed at how quickly I was getting everything done and then bam, Skibbles woke up.  The rest of the morning is clear why it takes me three times as long to clean as it does Andrew.

For starters, let’s just quickly look at what a Dad’s Cleaning List would look like…

Now, let’s look at Mom’s Cleaning List…

Now let’s take a look at this morning.

6:35am – Woke up.  Came downstairs. Started washing machine.  Got cleaning supplies.  Cleaned Wiped down the powder room sink and mirrors.  Cleaned toilet.  Swept and mopped powder room floor.  Swept and mopped bathroom hallway.  Cleaned all family room windows and window seals. Wiped down fire place and mantel.  Move couch and rug – sweep and mop.   All this 10 minutes.
6:45am–  Toddler wakes up.  Change diaper.
6:53am- Make Andrew and Skibbles breakfast.
6:57am- Grab the vacuum to clean the rug.
6:58am– Andrew asks for more to drink because Skibbles drank all his drink
7:00am- Move, sweep, and mop behind both chairs.
7:05am- Stop cleaning to make Andrew’s lunch for work
7:10am- Plug in the vacuum.
7:11am- Skibbles wants a drink
7:12am- Stop Skibbles from running outside while Andrew is trying to get out the door for work.
7:16am- Skibbles wants a banana.
7:18am- Turn on the vacuum. Vacuum Rug.
7:21am- Wrap up cord to put vacuum away.
7:23am- Skibbles spits out the last part of the banana all over the clean rug. Clean up banana.
7:26am- Finish sweeping the last part of the family room floor.
7:27am- Grab Skibbles from climbing.
7:28am- Finish sweeping the last part of the floor.
7:29am- Grab Skibbles from climbing.
7:30am- Start to mop the last part of the floor.
7:31am- Grab Skibbles from climbing.
7:32am- Finish mopping the last part of the floor.
7:33am- Grab Skibbles from climbing.

It took me approximately an hour to vacuum a rug, move two chairs, and sweep and mop an approximately 15 square foot area.  AN HOUR!  Now we will repeat this while I’m cleaning up the entryway, kitchen, and any other room I try to clean up this morning. And he wonders why it looks like I haven’t done anything.  And let’s not even talk about what happens when I attempt to clean up the toys.  It’s like a free for all clean slate for the toddler to think that every toy must be immediately be brought back out.  Oy vey.