A test of wills
Between Nikolas and myself. Who will win?
Two weeks ago, we did our annual clean out your drawers and closet. He's got it really cushy here. All he has to do it brig his laundry downstairs. I separate it, wash it, and then separate it into each child's pile. They are responsible for folding it and putting it away.
He had been complaining for quite a while that he had no socks and underwear. At first, I thought he had outgrown them, and put them into the box in his room for too small items. Foolish, foolish me. Then I thought maybe he had left them at summer camp. So, I bought new. Two or three times.
Nope. All of the unders and socks were stuck into various drawers, into the closet, into a suitcase in the closet, and in the bottom of his bookshelf. All told, we found 35 pairs of unders, 12 undershirts, and over 4 dozen socks. It's shameful. I also uncovered piles of clean, folded laundry stuffed into those places.
We folded, we organized, we tidied it all up. I told him that no longer would I remind him to bring down his basket, but he needed to remember it himself.
That was three weeks ago. I haven't seen the basket yet, except when I peek into his room to check how full it is. And, whoa, is it full. I'm not reminding him. He has to learn to be responsible.
But, man, is it bugging me not to remind him.
Oooh, that's a tough one. Maybe he should start having to do his own laundry? Nah, he probably doesn't really care. He thinks you'll buy him new clothes when he runs out of fresh stuff to wear.
Hang tight, you have to win--you're the mom:)
Posted by: Stephanie C. | August 09, 2005 at 05:49 PM
Ugh, I know that feeling! My 12 year old has decided to go 'commando.' I realized that when I stopped seeing his underwear come through the laundry at all.
He'd rather just not wear them than wash them. He'd rather not brush his teeth or his hair or use deodorant. He'd rather NOT aim at the water when peeing either.
I knew when growing up my brother's were stinky... but I thought they were mutants and my boys would never enjoy their own stentch. I was wrong!
Sheesh, good luck to you there!
~g
Posted by: Genevieve | August 09, 2005 at 05:55 PM
you're a stronger woman than me.
(man, my comments here say that a lot. You should just set it up to Remember Personal Info and Standard Comment of "You're a stronger woman than me")
You are so much better about requiring your children to carry their own weight. Obviously, with six kids, you have to. My Kid has it WAY too easy!
Posted by: kalisah | August 09, 2005 at 06:30 PM
Not a fun lesson to learn BUT his wife to be one day will LOVE YOU for it!
Posted by: Hula Doula | August 09, 2005 at 11:49 PM
Repeat after me:
There is no such thing as the laundry fairy.
I think it's time Nikolas learned how to do laundry. Let him wallow in it and when he comes running at the last minute with a basket full of dirty laundry, needing something clean to wear, point him towards the washing machine and tell him to wash it himself.
It's worth a shot, anyways.....
Posted by: lucy | August 10, 2005 at 03:36 AM
Hang in there, baby!
I alway cave in my battle with my daughter #2! She has the MESSIEST room on the planet!
that's it - I'm trying again starting today! You've given me the strength to try again!
Posted by: carolb | August 10, 2005 at 07:22 AM
Wow, you could be talking about one of my sons. So so messy. Drives me crazy.
Posted by: chris | August 10, 2005 at 01:57 PM
At least it wasn't dirty. My 13-year-old daughter has yet to give me any feasible explanation for why all her clothes except dirty underpants make it to the hamper. The underpants are apparently worn for several days, then put back in the clean clothes drawer!!!!!????
Posted by: Lisa C | August 15, 2005 at 05:48 PM