On most days you can walk through my house and it’s in order, neat and clean. But then open the door to any one of my three children’s bedrooms and you will see a drastic difference.
Last weekend my 12-year-old son had a friend sleep over. We had him from Friday through Sunday. When he first saw the state of my son’s bedroom he said, “Wow, my mom would never allow my room to look like this.” Well, at one time I wouldn’t have either but I have since changed my ways…or perhaps I have just raised the red flag in defeat.
Do I hate the fact that sometimes my children’s rooms look like a bomb has gone off, or that a science experiment could be performed right there in the middle of their bedroom? Most definitely.
Sometimes I cringe. Sometimes I plug my nose. But what I don’t do any longer is tell my children how to keep their rooms.
I used to, though. I used to get after them when they were younger and as they began to enter their teen years. But then I finally decided that if they want to live in that kind of mess, go for it.
It has had some repercussions, such as not being able to find something or discovering because they left something on the ground, the dog chewed it up. I keep hoping they will learn but I think it’s going to take a few circles around the mountain.
I guess I figure that eventually my children will catch onto my housekeeping views. It may not be while they are teenagers. It may not be until they have their own place. But this mom refuses to engage in struggles that really aren’t worth it.
At the same time, I do believe in teaching my children respect for property. So there are some things I absolutely won’t allow. It’s just that for the most part, I let them deal with not being able to find their homework paper or discovering they have no jeans to wear because they are all over the floor.
How do you feel about the way your child keeps their room?
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Photo by ejhogbin in Flickr