No More Tears
Ways to get the kids to clean house. Who am I kidding? Just picking up their own toys, throwing them on top of the pile and closing the door to their room can be a hassle. And this practice only leads to bulldozing a path from door to bed at bedtime. And there you have it. Have what? Today's helpful tip. Where? Right there. Which part the bulldozing? Yep, that part. No, I am not kidding.
My Sunday Suggestion is to learn to let it go a bit. It's summer, there are no assignments, school books or lunchboxes to get mysteriously lost in their rooms. I say as long as they can find their way to bed without getting hurt and the door closes so I don't have to see the mess, let it slide a bit. Now I'm not saying let them live like animals all summer, we aren't attracting rodents with the messes, yet. And this only applies to their rooms, the family room gets cleared out before bedtime. And once a week or so I go in and help pick up their rooms, otherwise I might lose a kid in the mess that accumulated.
To sum it up ... Learn to embrace the Lazy days of Summer!
I did this exact same thing the other day with the boys. I probably would have continued to let them live like pigs except I couldn't make it to their dressers to put their clothes away without certain injury. So I just made sure they cleared me a path. :)
Unknown said...
June 29, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Great advice. We actually take it a step further and have this attitude about bedrooms all through the year. It is their space and if they want it to look like a pig-pen - so be it. Of course, I draw the line at food/dirty dishes, but as long as I can close the door and not have to look at it? I don't care. You'd be amazed at how much quicker they get sick of it themselves when they have a choice. So many times the room becomes a power struggle. Personally? I have many other struggles and leave this one alone.
Angie said...
June 29, 2008 at 3:45 PM