Do You Ever Want To....

You are not alone at all! I've been fighting this for 9 years! You didn't ask for advice, so please ignore if you wish, but I found something that helps around here. It's called the Sunday box. I gave my kids a 2 day warning of "whatever isn't put away on Monday will go into the Sunday box, you won't get it back until then. The first week I had two mesh bins full and very sad kids, after that they've picked them up most of the time and I haven't had to nag at all. I wish I could take credit for it, but it's how one of my friends' moms handled 3 kids and a daycare in her home. I love not yelling anymore and not tripping over things. Good luck!

You are NOT alone. Want a set of triplets?

You are not alone. My children (almost 4 and 2.5) never want to pick up their toys and I actually have thrown toys away.

I tell them, pick up your toys. If they only pick up a few, I tell them that if they pick up the rest of their toys without being told again, they can stay up a half hour later than usual. IF that doesn't work, I tell them, if I have to pick up any of these toys, they are going in a trash bag and out to the dumpster. (We live in an apartment building and I won't dig back through to find their toys.)

Eventually, they'll learn.

My mother actually -did- this when I was younger. She would give me 2 days warning to clean my room/the basement where the bulk of the toys were kept, and if I didn't do it to her satisfaction, she went in with trashbags.

It didn't teach/help me be more organized, but it did stop me from being attached to random possessions.

Hi K.,

You are very much not alone. I have a 15yr old son, and 2 daughters one is 12 and the other 7. My 7yr old is the worst out of the 3. She is like a tornado in this house and NEVER wants to pick up anything. She has been grounded from the computer,tv, and playing Ds more than she hasn't been in the last couple of months. She just does not care. She would rather be grounded then pick up her toys. I have started collecting things in a bag. Once the bag is full I am giving it to them for one last chance to put their stuff away. If they dont I am throwing it out or donating it depending on what it is. I am like you, I a VERY tired of stuff ALL over the house. What makes things even worse is my 15yr is really not a whole lot better. So she sees his habits and thinks its ok because he is 15 and not picking up after himself. It is madding I know. Glad to hear it is not just me. T.