This is for Susan... we aren't perfect either!
Am I the only one who can't get their kids to keep their kids bedrooms clean?? I have about had it! I asked the boys to clean their room on Saturday and Tanner's reply was, "Why? No one is coming over!" Why would he think we only clean our rooms when we have company?? We argued for 10 minutes on why we should clean our rooms everyday. Yes, we clean a little deeper when we have company... but that doesn't mean it can be a mess the rest of the time. Ashley has WAY too much stuff... she can't fit all her clothes in her closet... time to throw stuff out! All 3 kids have been walking tornadoes lately... drop towels on the bathroom floor, leave clothes in the corner of the bathroom, backpacks all over the house, soccer shoes in the family room, dishes can't seem to make it to the sink, let alone the dishwasher! Does anyone have any good ideas on how to motivate them. I'm thinking of taking cell phones away or texting... that would hurt the 2 older ones bad! i don't think I should have to pay them to keep their rooms clean... isn't that a given for living in my house and getting fed?? I feel like I keep a pretty clean house, not as spotless as some of my friends, but not disastrous like some that I have seen... so wouldn't they learn from me a little? Have I failed or have they just become very lazy??
Please tell me I'm not alone and give me any advise you have....
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11 comments:
you are not alone! At this very moment Kelsie is in her room hanging up a mountain of clothes which were shoved on her closet floor. As far as punishment, if you have found what Ashley and Mitch value, use it, phones, text, computer,whatever. Tanner too. Kelsie doesn't know it yet but her DS is put up for awhile. I'm just waiting for her to finish cleaning her room to tell her. I'm up for suggestions too. Good Luck & hug Ash for me.
you have not failed! i think you will be surprised when they leave your home, that they can't function in a dirty environment. my kids rooms have always looked like a tornado went thru them! good luck at loving them inspite of the mess!
You are definitely not alone. I used to always pick Jake's clothes up from the bathroom floor (because it the downstairs, public one). He just thought they mysteriously got into his hamper on their own until one day I decided it was time for the "portal" to malfunction and they ended up on his pillow. I thought that might motivate him to put them in the hamper himself...now they just end up on the floor next to his bed. Oh well, at least I don't have to look at them everytime I use that bathroom.
I am in the same boat, too! I will tell Haley to clean her room. She will say okay. Ten hours later I walk by and not a thing has changed. Ugg! Sometimes if I say no TV, computer, or Wii until her room is clean, sometimes that works.... Amanda is like Ashley too many clothes and shoes, but she is learning that clutter creates stress, so she at least tries to maintain a little order. Good luck! :)
my kids have always been perfectly clean & tidy.
I say "choose your battles." You've got great kids. Why sweat the small (or large) dirty stuff!
Besides...if you take the phone or texting now...what are you going to do if they really do something bad?
Janae'
hmmmm don't I sound like a little Miss know-it-all:)
excuse me? sorry some people have to work for a living AND go to seminary AND go to school (and actually stay awake/participate during the whole 3 hours)AND go to the gym and dont exactly have all the time in the world to spend picking up clothes that will end up there a day later anyway. not everyone gets to stay home all day and do whatever they please like SOME people.... hahahhahaha
love, your favorite daughter
i agree with janae'... not the know it all part, but the rest.
Oh we're all in this together! I only have one child & the house is always a mess! Granted a lot of the mess is a joint effort. However the bedroom thing is annoying because that is all James really has to keep clean. There are clothes on the floor an inch away from his laundry basket! How does that happen? Ugh! I feel your pain.
I don't recall every punishing him for not keeping his room clean. But we have the dreaded "I'm disappointed in you" speech now & again. Promising a new Webkinz toy works too! (I confess I do bribe on occasion!)
I sure wish that there was a magical answer that would work for all kids and moms. I finally tried to learn with the last two to just shut the door...smile...and love 'em anyway! It didn't always work...I would freak out sometimes and then just clean it for them... but eventually they have grown into liking it clean and do it without me even asking.
Good luck...and hug those adorable, darling, sweet, fabulous, perfect kids (98% of the time) ...and tell them Sis. S. loves them!
Hey Alison - you are so above average it is not even funny. It's nice to know that you are normal too in all your wonderful-ness.
I've been fighting Andrew for about 16 years and one day about 1 month ago he just cleaned his room all on his own - rearranged furniture, hung stuff on the walls and shocked me! I even did a post on it. Tammy had a messy room growing up and now her house is spotless. So they might grow out of it. Who knows.
But - we just had FHE on "house of order" and set down some rules of our own so we are fighting the same battle. I do demand a bed made everyday and if clothes don't make it in the hamper, sometimes I take them away.
I save taking the cell phone away for bad grades.
I am in Seattle the weekend of Megan's party - Mike's Marine Corps ball (that I should lose 10 pounds for because I don't fit in any of my nice black dresses...) What time do you get in? I might be able to see you before we go. Thanks for your comments on my blog. I got so far behind and out of touch...
Love you,
deb
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