It has been my m.o. (modus operandi…the way I operate) to want to clean like a crazy when a kid leaves home or when kids leave for any extended period of time, for example, Girl’s Camp, Scout Camp, etc. Somehow it’s a lot easier to clean the kids out when they are not there.
When they are there:
Me: Throw that away.
Them: But I use it ALL the time, it’s my favorite thing, I can’t live without it!
Me: I found it under your bed with an inch of dust on it.
Them: Huh. I’ve been wondering what happened to it.
Hours later, we have made zero progress, and the room is not clean.
When they are not there:
Me: I’m going to throw that away.
(item gets thrown away, room is clean in a short amount of time)
This last week, with Melinda gone, I’ve been cleaning out her room.
Side note: We’ve always referred to Melinda’s room as the “Bat Cave”, for several reasons:
Melinda likes to sleep in the total dark but there is a street lamp across the street that shines directly into her room. She had hung a blanket over her window to darken the room, and it really did the trick. That room was like a cave, even in the daytime. Add to that Melinda does not like anyone in her room. Not parents, not kids, not friends.
No. One.
But. Melinda is not here:) And so I went IN. Ha Ha!!!:)
And now it is clean, clean, clean. And it went so well, that I went ahead and did the boy’s room. Next, the front hall closet.
My only problem is the whole cliché thing…
Does this qualify as Spring Cleaning?
