How many times have I told my daughter to tidy up her room this week? This month? I lost count and I decided that is was nonsense. I am the mother and what I say goes! Amen! I marched in with garbage bags...bagged up all her toys, dolls and clothing. I left her 2 outfits and her books. She also has 3 dolls that I couldn't bare to see in bags and then stuffed into our storage shed in the back yard. She will have the opportunity to earn back her clothing and maybe some of her toys...we will see about the toys. If she can take care of her few items now and demonstrate a bit of responsibility towards those items I will consider a return of some things. But the rest are going to the Women and Children Shelter in town.
The boys were amazingly well behaved during my rampage...telling me they loved my dress and how lovely I looked (bug eyed and red-faced with my nostrils flared in fury...probably not so pretty, but I appreciate where they were coming from) asking me if they could get me a glass of water or maybe a piece of chocolate?I do admit that maybe my BP was a little elevated and I am feeling the stress of having my husband out of town...but her room is now clean and no one was beaten.
13 comments:
An experience for me to look forward to!!!
Mum power!!
I am laughing so hard reading this post. (I popped in via julochka BTW) I have often threatened the black garbage bag and on occasion taken one out and started to use it, but my kids kick into action and start cleaning. It amazes me that it STILL works every time! Thank you for the morning humor, for standing up as a mom and for the lesson you are teaching your daughter!
I like the basket in the corner - cool!
good for you! and it is good for her too! your post had me laughing this morning. thanks. : )
I've totally done this before. I think it's great parenting! The best part is how nicely it accomplishes a number of goals - to include whipping the other kids in shape without whipping, getting the room clean, AND finding out that your child has too much junk to begin with anyway.
Think of this as the pre-move cleanout.
Good job.
I'd keep an eye on those boys -- offering chocolate to suck up to you is probably a sign of needing to borrow the car keys or some money soon... ;-)
No kiding, Kristin! I am going to do the boys room today, but they did offer me chocolate, so maybe I will be nicer to them ;o)
Thanks for the support ladies. Emma had entirely too much junk in her room, I don't even know how she collected all the rubbish. But it looks good now. And yes indeed about the pre move out clean up. The date is going to be very fast approaching. I am not going to say anything else until we have orders in out hot little hands!
XO,
Tia
Good for you! And really it's good for her, too. I think the lack of stuff is good for kids. They have the ability to be so creative and imaginative, and "stuff" gets in the way of that. Also, this will help her learn about boundaries and consequences. Sorry it required your BP to be elevated, but stick to your guns!
I use the bag it up and put it in the basement technique a lot ...on myself. I take the clutter *cough* out of my room and then forget about it, when I come across it later I can more easily take it to the homeless shelter, or decide I really do want to keep it.
I like the earn back part too.I think that is important, also will help the kids see what they really want to keep...
You know, I did this recently to Ninny. She loves to change her clothes 6 times a day. When she changes she just throws the other clothes all over the floor. So I bagged up everything but a handful of outfits. They are now torn, stained and nasty bc she wears them all the time! When I was packing for holiday I pulled out one of the garbage bags and had nice, new and clean outfits to pack for her!
Oh Tia, I feel your pain. I have an ongoing struggle with my 9 year old and how she takes care of her belongings and her room. Many a blog entry!
i periodically do a variation to my 6 year old. usually, when he's not home so i can go through the papers (he is a packrat!!) and all the stupid tiny "happy meal" toys he keeps. i trash the papers, keeping some of his drawings for keepsakes and then donate the silly little toys.
he's good at going through his toys every few months and finding the ones he no longer wants and we give them to a shelter as well. but i have no idea where all his clutter comes from.
You so did the right thing!! as a mother whose children are grown, I have come to the belief that we must stringently teach our children neatness habits. My mother was very strong in that because we moved around a lot, but I was too lax with my children and regret it every day of my life now when i see how my grandchildren are living. You did the right thing.
Clapping my hands! Yayyy! for you. You are teaching her RESPONSIBILITY and that is so lacking in some children and young people. Why on earth people have the idea they don't have the right to expect that their children are capable or are supposed to be responsible for themselves is beyond me!
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