I did a home visit today to do therapy with an elderly man recovering from hip replacement surgery. His wife is dying of cancer and is receiving palliative care. She is a fanatical and obsessive housekeeper.
We all know she is going to die face down in the dish water.
During my visit she "hovered" to make sure neither her husband or I left a footprint or fingerprint in a disallowed place. He is not allowed to use a cane or walker upstairs lest he mark the rugs. He is relegated to a corner of the basement recreation room and uses a cane with a rag tied over the end. He cannot walk much as he may create dust.
They have three children who seldom visit (surprise!) and grandchildren who never darken the door. Nothing will change her skewed values now.
What a pity! Who will keep her house clean when she is gone?
My house keeping motto is "Clean enough to be healthy, dirty enough to be happy."
Heaven forbid that my obituary should read, "She kept a perfect house."