Clean House in 30

All it takes is the mention of cleaning and everyone leaves my house faster than designer bridal gowns would sell for $20. It does not matter if you are even willing to pay them. They will be out the door before you have the sentence out of your mouth. Most of the time that is, but I have a plan. Yes, I do know it is illegal in most states to lock kids into the home. Don’t call the authorities, it isn’t that drastic of a plan.

I’m giving them an option. They have the choice. They can either clean their rooms or I’ll clean them for them. If they clean them, then things get organized according to how they prefer. There are a few rules.

Everything must have a place. All the furniture and even the walls and ceiling must be dusted. The ceiling fan or light fixture must be cleaned. Books must be in the bookcases unless they are in use. The beds must be cleaned out from under and all bedclothing must be cleaned. Curtains have to be taken down, cleaned and put back up. Floors must be swept and mopped. What, you think I have too many rules? They will agree. The alternative is that I go in.

Oh, you think that will be what they choose? I doubt it. When I go in, all video games will be placed in storage. All guitars will be shelved. Computers will be subject to being stored temporarily. Hey, I have to find the time to clean them all and get them spiffy to be added back to their nice clean room, don’t I? So what if it takes me a couple of months? They can do without their own computers for that long. Without the video games, they may even decide to help me clean the missing items to get them back sooner.

Okay, so I’m joking. I’m not really going to pull the plug on their use of electronic equipment. I would never get anything done for having to run out of the house to get away from the sound of screaming teenagers if I did. What I am doing is putting a time limit on their free time. They will be allowed a total of an hour of all combined electronic equipment, including but not limited to cell phone, video game, computer, television, and guitar. Once that hour is used up, they will have to earn the priviledge of additional time.

Hey, it is all about motivation. I have to find the motivation to do my part of the cleaning. If they are to do their part, then they have to be motivated. Fortunately, I know two secrets. One, they are addicted to their electronic equipment. Two, they hate for mom to come into the room with them, especially when they are instant messaging, text messaging on the phone, or worse having a telephone conversation.

Since the challenge is mine, sure I will do the work! I just get to pick my time to do it. My time to clean my son’s room is about now. He just got on the phone with his girl friend. That could prove to be a very short conversation or a very productive one, depending on how he reacts to his mom coming into the room and cleaning while he talks. Shall we find out?

Find what motivates others and you too shall find a way of recruiting needed help.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS