MY “CountingToTen Moment” are those rare (or in my house, quite frequent) moments where someone (usually my kids or husband) does something SO outrageous that I have to STOP in my tracks….TAKE a deep breath….and COUNT TO TEN. IF I don’t do that…I will probably start using my OUTSIDE voice in the house, children will be grounded, husbands will find their pillows on the couch…(you get it).
SO…my MOMENT for the day is:
The laundry….and the hamper.
WHY do we have a laundry hamper, if the clothes can’t even find their way into the hamper. NOW…this is even MORE annoying because my teenage son’s bathroom is ALSO the guest bathroom downstairs. (I know…now you don’t want to visit…huh?)
How can you encourage your teenage son to actually USE the hamper? I have some thoughts:
- attach magnets to all his clothes and an EVEN larger magnetic device in the bottom of the hamper. THEN, when he throws clothes on the floor, they will be drawn into the hamper with no extra effort on his part.
- take all his clothes and only leave him with one outfit which must promptly be put in the washer if he wishes to have clothes for the next day.
- fine him for every piece of clothing that I have to pick up (although, that isn’t very realistic…he’s broke ALL the time)
- take off his bedroom door for punishment and that alone will encourage him to follow my simple house rules (nope…his door is currently sitting in our living room…and he doesn’t seem to mind)
- put MORE laundry hampers in his bathroom (even though one is currently in his room, his bathroom, and one on the washer)…he still can’t seem to make it into either basket.
- paint the baskets a neon color (maybe he’s having trouble seeing the basket!
OH…how I’d LOVE to hear how you handle your teenager’s lack of cleanliness, organization, neatness! I feel like I have told him for 17 years to pick up his clothes after he showers…and I’m STILL saying it. I’m STILL reminding him to NOT put his wet towel on the bedroom floor…and we could walk into his room right now and find five towels on the floor.
serenity now….serenity now!
Pin It
Right there with you! I don’t get but then again…that’s how it’s suppose to be right…lol
Every time I find anything on my kids floor I simply pick it up and tell them they owe me $1.00. The kids 5 and under owe me $.25 This has worked to keep my kiddo’s rooms clean and mess free. Just charge C hris $2.00 for ever item on the floor. He’ll get the message after $50. or so.
Get a clothes organizer and put it in the child or teen’s room, label the organizer’s bins or sections with where everything goes, socks, light clothes, dark clothes etc..
Your son needs to show some respect for himself and his clothes. It’s important that our kids show gratitude and appreciation for what they have and what we give them. Lay down the house rules and the consequences, post them, whatever you have to do, so there is no misunderstanding and if he doesn’t follow the rules of the house as requested and expected by you, his parent, then he will get consequences. Simple as that. He can choose to obey or he can choose not to and then he will reap the consequences, like no TV, no videogames, no going out with friends, doing more chores, take away his phone, take away the computer (except for homework and school), etc. Make sure there are positive rewards too when he follows the rules. Even a comment from you that you noticed the good deed is positive reinforcement.
I totally know what you mean! I have these moments quite frequently lately.. but i think i’m allowed since I’m a SAHM to two energetic kids, 6.5 months preggo, and my fiance works out of state so I’m a single mom for extended periods of time! lol Some of my Couting to 10 moments include: the cupboard doors being left open constantly (i thought it was natural to close a door after opening it??), sitting on the toilet to find the seat left up thanks to my 9 year old son, my daughter painting her baby dolls nails (without permission, and by nails i mean hands, feet, and my carpet), and the best of all.. the milk being left on the counter without even a cover! lol
But we get through, we still have our men, and the kids are healthy and happy, and that’s what counts… right?!?