Clean Queen Marie Kondo has given parents across the world a good chuckle of relief.
In an interview with The Washington Post this week, Kondo conceded she had “kind of given up” on tidying since the birth of her third child, saying that with three children to look after, her family home was now “messy” and tidying a low priority.
“My home is messy, but the way I am spending my time is the right way for me at this time at this stage of my life,” she said.
Globally recognised for her cult cleaning methodology ‘KonMari’, the Japanese guru said that while she had built her name and fortune from being a professional tidier she had now “kind of given up on that, in a good way for me”.
“Now I realise what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.”
As a third child myself, I get it. I was the straw that broke my poor mum’s back. She reminds me frequently. And as the parent of a baby and a toddler, I’m grateful for Kondo’s candour. Because, you know what? Shit is HARD when you’re a working parent.
Prior to kids I was a bit like Marie Kondo too. Okay, maybe not to the same bonkers standard of upkeep, but I was clean and tidy and pedantically organised. I had themed, colour-coordinated post-its in my office and a religious to-do list that was kept relatively under control.
I had a kitchen which was nearly always squeaky clean and a pantry expertly jenga’d with Tupperware.
When I had my first baby in 2020, I attempted to keep up the process. So desperately out of control did I feel in all other facets of my life, that holding it together through post-it notes seemed my only solace.
But, the truth is it wasn’t really all that comforting.
It sent me into a bigger spiral of anxiety and made me feel like I was failing when I couldn’t organise things as expertly as I once had. It contributed to a year-long battle with chronic insomnia.
Thankfully, my second baby brought things into sharper focus. Like Kondo, I suddenly recognised that holding it all together was actually causing my undoing. I wouldn’t exactly say I’ve regressed into total unadulterated sloppiness, but I’m far less bothered about those marks on my windows and the messiness of my sock drawer.
I am however bothered with the work I do–within my business and at home as a parent and partner. I don’t get the balance right all the time, but I’m at peace with my attempts.
And I’m holding out for Marie Kondo’s new book: The Art of Being a Normal (Often Messy) Human.