Every kid knows that house.

The one with no food in the fridge.

The one with parents screaming behind closed doors.

The one you run from instead of to.

And every neighborhood has the other house too.

The one where kids wander in without knocking.

Where the pantry magically stretches to feed whoever’s at the table.

Where it’s loud, messy, and never perfect,  but always safe.

Around here, that’s my house.

The Truth About the “S”

Some call it the Strict House.

Others, the Safe House.

Some kids whisper it’s the Sanctuary House.

On my worst days, I’ve called it the Screaming House (usually at the cat for stealing food).

And yes, it’s strict from the moment you walk in. We take off shoes at the door. (Partly because Harper is feral and thinks the floor is her personal playground, partly because shoes are gross.)

But this house also has rules my kids don’t always love. Curfews. Boundaries. Expectations.

And I’ll admit it: I mess up too. I get short. I get tired. I snap when I shouldn’t.

Accountability Lives Here

But here’s the part I hope they carry with them long after they’re grown: not the rules, not the chores, not the eye rolls, but that when I got it wrong, I owned it.

I came back. I apologized. I explained.

Because this house isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, even in the mess, and choosing love over pride.

My kids don’t see perfection here. They see accountability. And in a world that loves to hide mistakes, I hope that’s the lesson that lasts the longest.

Stable. Chaotic. Both.

This house is stable but never quiet.

It’s clean, but not spotless (don’t look under the couch unless you want to meet the dust-bunny family).

It’s structured, but it’s loud with laughter, video games, sibling drama, and the kind of chaos that means life is happening here.

Why It Matters

Other houses may look more fun.

Fewer rules. No boundaries. Parents checked out.

But fun doesn’t always mean safe.

And I’d rather my kids roll their eyes at me today and know they can breathe here tomorrow… than be the “fun mom” who wasn’t paying attention.

Because this is what the S House really is:

Safe. Stable. Strict. Sometimes sarcastic. Always stocked. Always open.

It’s not perfect. But it’s love.

And sometimes, that’s all a kid really needs