If DHR came to my house, they would take my kids away from me because of all the trashiness that is Thumbelina's room. She is a darling girl, but an absolute slob. If I don't go in her room periodically and take out dirty dishes and take out the trash, I'm sure she would have the bubonic plague. She is offered $7 a week to keep her room clean, and 5 weeks out of 6, she doesn't do it.
So, here I am trying to paint this room.I made her clean it before I would even begin, and, no lie, it took her SIX MONTHS to get it to the point where I could move furniture. Sure, I could have cleaned it in a day by busting my ass, but she makes her bed 3 days out of seven and feels like her room is clean. So, no, I wasn't going to clean it.
Now, though, since I'm painting it, I have to clean it. I vacuumed so much mouse shit from the top of her closet that it's a wonder we don't all have the plague! See, I have a Barbie collection. I haven't bought a Barbie in about 10 years, but I was once an avid collector. So, rather than hide the Barbies away, they have been on display shelves below Lina's ceiling line. She no longer wants them there. Honestly, I didn't really know what to do with them either, so I have cleared a space in the top of her closet to store them. Hence the discovery of the mouse shit. Keep in mind, we have lived here at Nestlewood for 10 years now, and really, who periodically vacuums the top shelf of a closet?
Anyhoo, I have 3 of four walls painted (above the chair rail, pale lavender, below the chair rail robin's egg blue), and have yet to paint any of the furniture. Since her furniture is mostly yard sale stuff, it can be painted. She wants the dresser, desk, and bookcase to be painted dark pink with girly green accents. And she wants none of the stuff that used to be hanging on her walls to hang there again. So, I don't know what to do with all this crap! Furthermore, all this crap is currently piled in front of the fourth wall, which would be why I haven't painted it.
Anybody want to buy some Barbies?
9 comments:
As for the stuff you want to get rid of. Put it on a table or in a box with a sign that says "Free". What ever is left goes to Salvation Army or the trash. Aslo, you could probably e-bay the barbies.
Garage sale time? (Or Goodwill time?)
I like to think my children will have tidiness habits like I do but then I remember it took finding a dead mouse in my bedroom for me to develop them in the first place...
Depending on their condition Husbandji might be interested!
I'm going to operate under the assumption that you might like a perspective on the Thumbelina bedroom crisis.--If not, then feel free not to read further.
I would recommend that you propose to Thumbelina that she participate in a one month experiment. During this experiment she will be given guidance on how to keep her room clean for the period of one month.
This will give her the opportunity to test out new waters--to see what it feels like to live in clean room.
I would market this idea to her in a number of creative ways (however you see fit), emphasizing the importance of trying new things. If the marketing doesn't work, you have to present the idea at least ten times, in different ways, over an entire week; then I would step in and play mean momma.--She will be Required to keep her room clean for an entire month. As an experiment in self-awareness and self-growth.
An untidy room is simply not acceptable...the words of a bitchy queen (and coach).
=)
When you're done with Thumbelina's bedroom can you come do mine? I'll send you the plane ticket!
Im glad Im not the only one who's kids are slobs!!
I am amazed at how much you were able to accomplish and I can honestly say that I have never vaccuumed the top shelf of my closets
Maybe I should
Mama Kelly
2witchesblog.wordpress.com
Peek into the Bitchiness that is PeaceGoddess and see that I would no way and no how allow eating in the bedrooms. That is an invitation for my biggest fear...bugs of any kind in the bedroom.
Bad enough we have ants in the kitchen during the warm months.
Eeewww!
Mouse crap would be a deal breaker for me. Mouse crap = mice in the house. I know you live in the country woods, but still. If there are mice in her room, it's because she's leaving food and stuff for the mice to come eat.
So, I would clean it OUT. Everything. She can have furniture and clothes. She can earn back the rest of her toys a few at a time by keeping the bare room clean, and by helping you clean other things, like the bathroom, etc.
If she can't keep the room clean in a designated amount of time, maybe 1 month, then the toys go away forever.
I would, however, be prepared to stand in her doorway for the first week and direct the cleaning. That's what I have to do with dds. "Em, put the horses in the horse bucket. El, pick up the barbies and put them in the barbie bucket, etc"
Or, you could tell her if she doesn't clean, you will, with a garbage bag.
One of those two options is likely to get her butt in gear.
sounds nice. I am a bit of a slob myself!
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