Some people asked, “What happened?”
Natalie happened.
She decided it would be appropriate to pull out every toy she owned. Even the ones in the closet.
Anyway, I made her clean. And her version of cleaning is pushing everything into the corner and then jumping on the pile.
I helped her clean. I know some people were all, “Go in there with trash bags and don’t let her have her toys back for awhile!” But that sounded like more work for me. I mean, going in and filling bags with toys? And then lugging said toys downstairs into the garage? No. It’s too hot.
I did explain that we don’t pull out everything we own just because we can.
I did make her put the toys she didn’t play with anymore in a box so we could drop it off at Goodwill.
“Some kids,” I explained as she placed some books in the box, “don’t have toys.”
“Not even Rapunzel stuff?” Natalie asked, eyes wide.
“Not even Rapunzel stuff.”
When it was all done, her room looked like this:
Mind you, it won’t stay this way for long.
But it’s nice to be able to walk in and not feel like I’m in an episode of Hoarders.
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LOL - my upstairs is looking like I'm in an episode of Hoarders. I'm in the middle of moving the rooms around.
ReplyDeleteJeez these kids know how to hoard stuff. They are going to be in for quite the surprise when they get back from South Africa. I'm filling bags for goodwill and the dump at an alarming rate :)
YAY! It looks wonderful. And kids need to be taught how to clean so you going in with her and helping is a great idea. As she learns and gets older, you won't have to help as much. At least that's the theory. lol
ReplyDeletehahaha we are going through the same thing with my oldest! except we did the trash bags of toys to the garage and she was able to earn them back. she got them all back and now her room looks like that again :/
ReplyDeleteWow, it looks great! It amazes me how quickly kids can make a mess. Well, mine anyways.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's room looks like the before photo right now. We're working on the after photo now.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! That is quite the turn around! If you want to come help my three boys clean their rooms that would be great ;)
ReplyDeleteMy kids have a big toy closet. It looks much like Natalie's room did. The awesome thing is I can just shut the door and they don't have to sleep there! I should make them clean it but, like you said, it's just more work for me! :-)
ReplyDeleteHer room looks great!
Fantastic job! It looks beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteWell she sure can make a giant pile o' stuff. Ha. Happy to see all is back to normal.
ReplyDeleteGlad it got all put back together. I liked how you handled the situation.
ReplyDeleteNatalie is so cute! Haha, love that she pushes everything into a corner then jumps. My boys rooms never look like that last photo!
ReplyDeleteYAY! Looks great! That little Natalie is such a character. :)
ReplyDeleteI've just stopped going into my son's room. It will never look like the after photo. :(
ReplyDeleteGood job mom! :)
My girls usually keep their rooms pretty clean. But that is only because they only use them to sleep in. Now, my basement - that is a whole 'nother story. My youngest has even put things under the throw rugs. AS if I wouldn't notice the lumps. Under the sofas is also a breeding ground for little pieces. Every once in a while I'll go through and have a melt down of my own about it's disastrous state - and then it will return to it's regular bit of chaos.
ReplyDeleteWow it looks great! Fingers crossed it lasts longer than usual.
ReplyDeleteMy children do that to our basement and I too make them clean it but which in their minds is worse then having baboon shoots under their fingernails.
ReplyDeleteI've completely given up on Dracen's room ever having any sort of order to it. It's just too overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteOMG! My 18 year old stepdaughter's room is so bad that I think the health department would condemn the house if it was seen. I told my DH to tell her to clean it to my standards (very important detail) in the next 24 hours or she won't like it when I tell her! Simply no excuse for this. It is different with your little one though. You have years to work with her on this!
ReplyDeleteNatalie cracks me up! But I'm glad she's not my kid... lol
ReplyDeleteNatalie has such a cute room!
ReplyDeleteWow looks good and you got rid of a few things plus she probably rediscovered a few toys she forgot about! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteLOL...I am laughing right now. Because my 20 year who still lives at home...his room looked similar. Only his toys were snow gear (not in use) clothing (I am pretty sure every piece he owns), candy, gaming stuff all covered his floor. I have not been brave enough to post about it yet.
ReplyDeleteOH, she has a rug in there - nice to see it sometimes
ReplyDeleteWow, she has a floor?? Cool! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy kids' room generally looks like (picture A + picture B)/2. I think.
That high school and college math is really working out for me.
Who am I kidding? I didn't take math in college!