5 reasons why there're no point in tidying up - and 1 time when you should

"A messy house is a loving house" I tell myself. And "Nobody notices but me"(which can't possibly be true).

I constantly struggle with the guilt of not tidying up. You'd think it would be easier to just tidy than to suffer so. But here are 5 reasons why not tidying up is the right thing to do. And then there is one time when even I get to work...

Don't tidy up because:

1. The kids will be home in seven hours, and they'll only mess things up again... - So really, what's the point?

2. How will the children ever learn responsibility if you always pick up after them? - It's a moral imperative that you leave the toys on the floor.

3. The cleaner will be here on Wednesday - I know that contradicts number 3, but life is about contradictions (and hypocrisy comes with the territory). 

4. You've got errands to run - tidying can be done by anyone, but only you can choose the perfect shade of white for the bathroom walls.

5. It covers the stains on the carpet - Since the kids put the stains in the carpet, it's only fair that you should use their toys to disguise the damage. If you want to get across the room, though, you may have to learn to fly.

Do tidy up because:

Your mother is coming to visit - if it wasn't for the threat of my mother's disdain, I'd never find out where everything goes.

To tidy or not to tidy - that is the question... What do you think?