I have mentioned many times that I happen to be organizationally challenged. I fully admit this, and guard my piles ferociously. But such was not always the case. I went through different phases as a child. Some years my room stayed fairly neat. I made my bed and carefully lined up all 98 of my stuffed koalas in order. Then there were years when I recall just shutting my door and being fine with wading through flotsam to get to and from my bed.
I have memories of my brother’s room being much worse than mine. He has since grown up to be quite the neat nick.
I guess what I’m saying is, I’m not sure organization is something you either have or don’t have. I think it can morph. At least, if you are 10 years old, you are not forever destined to live the way your 10-year-old room currently exists.
Which brings me to the latest news about our house. We have decided (at least for now) (or for an long as I can hold out) (or until we actually loose a live being) that Maggie no longer has to clean her room. I’m taking a page from a book I read (<– It was an audio book because the real book was checked out, so I guess I’m taking a track from a CD) that pretty much says we, as parents, need to relax a little. We give them “their room” and then proceed to manage, micromanage, and bring down the wrath when it doesn’t fit our perception of what “their room” should be.
We’re about ten days into this little experiment (and we haven’t lost any people or animals.) A few things I know right now:
1. She is much happier not having to fend of our verbal attacks of “Go clean your room!”
2. I’m happier not having to be “in charge” of her keeping her room clean.
3. It’s blowing Nick’s mind that there is so much stuff on her floor.
4. Mike is NOT pleased with this arrangement, but is letting it ride for a bit.
5. I am starting to see clothes I haven’t seen in a while (read: enough laundry is on the floor that she is digging deeper into her closet.)
6. When I get angry about something totally unrelated, my first instinct is to tell her to go clean her room. <- which really just proves how much animosity we had over said room cleaning.
7. I certainly don’t set the example that I would like, but hope that I can get my own stuff in gear while on sabbatical from her stuff. (Though we’re ten days in and I still have great plans, but have yet to actually do. Story of my organizing life…)
My hope is that at some point, before everything is waist-high, preferably, she will figure out on her own that when things get put away, they are less likely to be broken. When laundry is put in the laundry basket, it is likely to be washed. When toys are put away, they are much less likely to become a puppy snack. But those are my hopes. She has hopes too. She hopes we will really quit hassling her about picking up her stuff.
So now, we wait to see how our experiment unfolds.
Did you have to clean your room as a child? Were you messy or clean then? And now? I’m really curious (and hoping for the possibility of an “I was a horribly messy 8YO, but when I turned 9, wow! Everything changed and I always put my stuff away right after I used it!”)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You know, I was just wondering today how many parents make their kids make the bed before school. I make everyone pick up every other week enough so our cleaning person can vacuum.
I know I go through phases. I recently started being better about making my own bed. I was definitely more organized before I was married. Now I do all I can before it’s time to head out of the door. I always say just 15 minutes a day, and then I forget. I want to institute a quick 10-minute pick-up time before bed, enlisting in everyone’s help for the main living areas. We have done it a few times and it has been successful. I’m hoping it just becomes part of the routine.