Who do you clean for?

I am expecting company this weekend and have spent the week (yes, the entire week) cleaning like crazy. I have several lists (I get a little nutty with the lists) that I keep referring to, adding to, crossing items off of, etc. etc. This headless-chicken routine is something I do EVERY TIME I have guests. It's not that my house isn't pretty clean on its own, but that I have a weird idea that it must be white-glove clean for guests.


A few weeks ago, Barb at Cleaning up the Clutter wrote about "What Houseguests Secretly Think of Your Housekeeping Skills" and this post has been in my head all week. She is So. Right. On. Why does my house need to be sanitized for guests, when the rest of the time the "regular" clean is good enough for me? Will they notice that I lint-rollered the curtains (no, not joking)? Will they care that I polished the silver (my mom will; no one else)? Will they mind if I don't dust behind the television? Of course they won't -- and yet I find myself doing these things in a frantic rush before they arrive.

Ultimately, I want to think about priorities. What's more important: that some people that I love are all gathered together to share and have a good time, or that all of the glasses in the cupboard are facing the right way (don't worry, I don't do that....yet)? The answer is obvious and I know someday I'll get to a place where I can practice what I preach.

I'm getting there.