Nesting Syndrome

Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay
@DWDavis (25805)
United States
February 12, 2022 9:25am CST
When my missus was expecting each of our sons, she went into a frenzy of house cleaning and rearranging both her and my mother explained as the Nesting Syndrome. According to them, and others I've broached the subject with, Nesting Syndrome is common among expectant mothers. My missus and I are now well beyond having children. Yet, when one of our sons is coming for a visit, she slips into Nesting Mode and begins to clean the house from top to bottom, including steam cleaning the carpets to reduce the "dog" smell. It is important to note that both our boys grew up with dogs in the house and the dog smell probably smells like home to them. Son 2 is coming home today so that we can celebrate his 26th Birthday. My missus has been in nesting mode since waking up this morning. Of course, she insists I do my part. My part is the yucky part and the boring part. The yucky part is cleaning the bathrooms. The boring part is dusting the living room. She takes care of vacuuming and steam cleaning the carpets as well as sweeping and mopping the floors. On the plus side, the result is a house that is clean and smells fresh for a few hours. Remember, we have 2 dogs. It doesn't take them long to dirty things up again without even trying. Are you familiar with the Nesting Syndrome?
16 people like this
15 responses
@FourWalls (68000)
• United States
12 Feb 22
I don’t have kids, so no. My dear mother of blessed memory said that her one regret from raising us was that she felt she spent too much time cleaning the house. However, my brother and I both had pretty nasty allergies to things like dust, and she was trying to protect us. My approach to company is more or less this saying: If you want to come visit me, come anytime. If you’re coming to see the house, you give me at least a two-week notice!
4 people like this
@FourWalls (68000)
• United States
12 Feb 22
@DWDavis — I’m old, asthmatic, and my mom was right about spending too much time on housework.
3 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
12 Feb 22
I like your philosophy with respect to visitors. If only my missus could adopt it.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
12 Feb 22
I think it is about the same as just being a Mom. Once a Mom, always a Mom. Happy Birthday to your son. Enjoy your blessings.
3 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
12 Feb 22
I always enjoy a visit from one of my boys. They are at the age now where I've been able to transition from father to friend.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
12 Feb 22
@DWDavis You are so blessed. What I would give. Enjoy.
2 people like this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
12 Feb 22
I did have trhe Nesting Syndrome when I had my 2 sons,.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb 22
I can't say I suffered from it myself, I've always hated housework. I do it when it's necessary and that's it.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
13 Feb 22
Housework is one of those jobs that never goes away, is tedious, but must be done at some point. I always prefer to wait until some point.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
14 Feb 22
@DWDavis Me too!
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (19281)
• London, England
12 Feb 22
Never had young 'uns, so I have missed all this!
2 people like this
• Portugal
12 Feb 22
I've had it a lot during my pregnancies for sure, and the peak was right before birth on both occasions. Nowadays it's near impossible to obsessively clean to how I did with nesting syndrome involved, mainly because now I know it will take me 9 hours to clean what my kids can do in 5 minutes!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180678)
• United States
12 Feb 22
Sort of, I never suffered from it.. fortunately, or unfortunately. Happy Bday to your son.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
12 Feb 22
Thanks for the Happy Birthday wishes.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (49432)
• Mojave, California
12 Feb 22
Thats kind of cool and crazy. My nephew came to visit but none of us his mother but sister was lets atleast mop the floor. Yeah how we are, the dogs really do rule this place, no point in being overly clean. I think Brooklyn be like I know what you doing and I like it better this way as she drops her dirty slobbery ball on that new nice clean spot.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
13 Feb 22
The dogs always know how to make house cleaning seem like a waste of time.
1 person likes this
• Mojave, California
13 Feb 22
@DWDavis Indeed so funny. We actually have to lock them out when mop or else they be like this looks stupid. These paw prints sure look cool though.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Feb 22
I never had too much trouble with it. But I do get bored and move things around a lot. Some might call that it
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79844)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Feb 22
Happy Birthday to your son! I hope you all have a good time, Yes, I am familiar with this syndrome,
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
13 Feb 22
I have the Nesting Syndrome, too, not only when the kids come, but when we have guests. Hubs does the vacuuming and washes the floors. I do everything else, including putting fresh sheets on the beds and folding the toilet paper into pretty shapes. Enjoy your time together and birthday wishes to your son
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 22
Yes, I've heard of it. I can't remember if it affected me but luckily it doesn't strike here too often.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77061)
• Germany
13 Feb 22
I didn’t know that it is called a “Nesting Syndrome “ but I do the same with cleaning especially cooking. Happy birthday to your son.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
13 Feb 22
Nesting Syndrome may be a colloquial phrase I picked up from my mother and mother-in-law. Both were from New England.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77061)
• Germany
13 Feb 22
@DWDavis This is a new phrase for me. Thanks for sharing.
1 person likes this
@sammyy (527)
• India
13 Feb 22
Oh, so that's called Nesting syndrome! Now I know what we have been doing whenever we have visitors.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139697)
• Roseburg, Oregon
12 Feb 22
I clean real good when my children or grandchildren are coming to.
1 person likes this