“Cleaning house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing”
“Cleaning house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “Cleaning a house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.—Refrigerator magnet” was printed in a 1996 newspaper.
American actress and stand-up comedienne Phyllis Diller (1917-2012) is often credited with the saying, but there is no evidence that she ever said it.
“Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos” is a related saying.
16 August 1996, The Signal (Santa Clarita, CA), Escape sec., pg. 2, col. 4:
I Came Upon A Rhapsody
Cleaning a house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.
—Refrigerator magnet
30 January 1999, Times Recorder (Zanesville, OH), “Down Memory Lane” by John Hoopes, pg. 7A, col. 3:
Thought for the week:
Cleaning house while the kids are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.
3 May 2000, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, “What to do when mother-in-law cleans your place” by Jane Miller, pg. N-12, col. 2:
It’s like the plaque my friend, Jenny, also the mother of a 2- year-old, has inside her front door: “Cleaning house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.”
Google Books
Follow & Find
By Carol Conner and Marvin Wengerd
Sugarcreek, OH: Carlisle Press
2000
Pg. 283:
Cleaning house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it is snowing.
Google Books
The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas:
500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12
By Linda Dobson
New York, NY: Three Rivers Press
2002
Pg. 295:
I always kept a little saying on my refrigerator to remind me: “Cleaning the house while kids are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.”
Google Groups: alt.wisdom
Thursday the 8th
donna
1/8/04
I have a sign that reads:
Cleaning the house
While the children are growing
Is like shoveling snow
When it’s still snowing.
Twitter
Michelle
@MotherTongues
Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing~Phyllis Diller. My sentiments exactly!
12:09 PM - 9 Feb 2009
Google Books
Wake Up Laughing
By Rachel St. John-Gilbert
Barbour Publishing
2013
Pg. ?:
Recently a friend gave me a magnet that reads, “Cleaning house while the kids are young is like shoveling snow while it’s snowing.”
Twitter
She Quotes
@SheQuotes
“Cleaning ur house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.” ~ @pearlwise #SheQuotes #quote
3:20 AM - 16 Jun 2017
Twitter
megan.
@mlangester
Replying to @Shanalee1982
My mom gave me a painting when I had Rosie that says, “cleaning the house while children are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing”
The truthhhh!
😂😂😂
5:32 PM - 18 Feb 2018