I’m a clean freak. It’s not that I mind dirt—I just mind it in my house. Before I had kids, I polished doorknobs, scrubbed grout with a toothbrush, and cleaned the inside of my oven with an S.O.S. pad.  My floors shined, my mirrors sparkled, and my toilets were always fresh and clean.

Fast-forward seven years. With three kids in the house, it was impossible to maintain my sterile standards. Crushed Cheerios embedded in the carpet, finger Jell-O spackled on the high chair, and grains of sand in little shoes were common sights in my less-than-perfect home. And the fingerprints were everywhere!

I eventually realized that messes and dirt are a part of raising kids. I still enjoyed a clean house, but I lowered my standards to “realistic.” I decided I would clean the house thoroughly when my kids went to college, and that day came sooner than I was ready.

Now that I am a grandma, I sometimes notice little fingerprints on my furniture and windows, but I don’t wash them off. I enjoy them and smile.

Fingerprints

There are fingerprints on the table,
there are fingerprints on the chair.
Doorknobs, walls, and bathroom sink—
there are fingerprints everywhere.

I wipe them off the windows,
I wipe them off the mirror.
No matter how I wipe and clean
they always reappear.

But sticky, grimy fingerprints
will someday go away,
as little ones grow up to find
another place to stay.

The windows will sparkle once again,
the doorknobs and mirrors will shine.
The walls and tables will look like new,
and all the chairs will be fine.

Someday I’ll reflect and remember
the days when my children were small,
and I’ll wish that I had some fingerprints
on the windows, tables, or wall.

Here’s to little fingerprints that make us smile!

Crystal