Mothering and Housekeeping

I think I know why mothering and housekeeping can be so incredibly overwhelming--

It is because when the mother looks around everything is in disarray even though she hasn't sat down since she got up that morning-- there is no evidence that she has done anything at all all day long.

Here are some important but invisible jobs:

Cooking involves making a mess and then eating up all that work- not to
be seen except as evidenced by a bunch of dirty dishes
Cleaning-- it sure doesn't last very long
Laundry-- same as above and I like it hidden in the laundry closet
Changing diapers-- those changed diapers just get thrown out
Feeding children
Finding things for children like socks, shoes and coats- they wind up
in the most mysterious places like under the couch
Helping children with schoolwork-- this takes time and patience and
there is nothing to see from the effort
Reading to the children-- this I love to do, but the result is not
tangible

These are all important but not visible. It's all worth it for those happy, cute, smiling kids.