My Daughter's Room

I used to think I would never allow my
children’s room to ever get so messy that you fear losing one of your pets in
them but somehow my bar, my standard has lessened. My son is away at university, so his space for me doesn't pose a problem at all. Because of the distance, it's completely out of sight and out of mind. But my daughter's room, hmmm. So far the cat hasn’t gone missing, but we’re
definitely en route. I try to be a patient
and understanding Mom – good thing there’s a door that can be shut, so I don’t
even have to see the reality behind it, but my parenting instincts keep tugging
at my heart, inclining me to “do” or a “say” something to at least get some
kind of “Operation Clean-Up” or have a “Bring back the Order to my Room” Day
with a celebratory lunch or breakfast, or maybe ticket to Cineplex as an
incentive.. Sometimes I do a blitz with
the only goal being that some carpet can be seen, that I still remember we have
carpet in her room. Sometimes I am not so sure.
I realize that this is the norm
not the exception. One could have some concerns if the child wasn’t a “messy” – could the child have some kind
OCD issues if she happens to be anal and host an immaculate, spotless space,
are they hiding something, trying to gain brownie points with the parents for
good behaviour, is there some kind of emotional reward system for being clean
etc. Well, I don’t have that worry –
Emma’s room is definitely a classic case for sure! So far it’s liveable. Sometimes I jest about how in “style” her
room is and how great a job she’s done decorating without even trying.. It’s just, “drop and go, kick obstacles out of the way,
will find it in the morning” kind of deal, sort of like an episode of Art
Attack with no “theme”. Again, no
missing pets, no unaccounted for dishes, no need for 15 bottles of Febreeze to
cover up a peculiar unidentifiable odour, no need to have the room “ozoned”, no
strange strain of bacteria growing from inconspicuous places, no weird
vegetation or unknown plant life to be seen, no heavy layer of dust that you
think the furniture came with fur. Other
than the occasional missing sock or favourite sweater, due to the Mount Everest of clothes heaped in her closet, there are no
real issues, just a typical North American teenage girl’s room and a Mom who sort
of understands the mindset of a 14 year old girl. Let’s face it things could be worse, and I
know for some parents this would be true, but for me, I can live with it. My
daughter is healthy and happy and if her room is her only real fault, then
lucky me.