My three oldest boys are responsible for maintaining their Jack-and-Jill bathroom. I try to avoid it like the plague. Last night I went in there and was disgusted to see dirty clothes on the floor, left right where they undressed. There were army men scattered between the toilet and shower….who plays army men on the toilet anyway? And there wasn’t a shred of toilet paper in sight….I don’t even want to think about that one. My blood started to boil. How could they leave that room so messy? It shows a lack of respect for one another and for our home.
Later in the evening I was lying in my own bed, thinking about the day. I pushed a pile of laundry from my side over to my husband’s. I would get to it soon. More laundry spilled out of a basket in the corner. My dresser was piled high with toys waiting to be fixed, shirts needing buttons or ironing, dirty coffee cups and loose change. My bedside table was piled, too, with books, papers, index cards and more cups.
Why was I so angry about the boys’ bathroom? Wasn’t my domain just as bad?
I had judged their messiness as disrespect and laziness. But my messiness was only due to busyness and having more exalted priorities. The real reason for my anger began to dawn on me. I was angry because their mess pointed to my own shortcomings. I’m not setting a good example. I’m not training them as well as I should be in this area. Ouch! I plan to get to work, picking the sawdust out of their eyes….but the plank in mine comes out first.
Reading Notebooking News this morning had me visit your site. God must have needed to speak to me as the mess around the house is a big topic for me as well. I can blame it on business and the fact we are in temporary quarters with boxes surrounding us. But, I know that if *I* do not maintain things that my boys will not learn either.
Thankfully, the bathroom here gets attention at least once a week. My eldest son would rather scrub the bathrooms than to pick up the room he shares.
This post really convicted me. Our problem area is attitude and impatience. Thank you for your blog and God bless you.
Kristina
I found your blog when Debra of NotebookingPages.com sent her newsletter and mentioned how you ministered to her via your site. So, I tell you all that just so you know!!! But you hit the nail on this one. I also try to avoid the “boys bathroom” like the plague and actually refuse to clean it. Why, because they are boys and I haven’t trained them well. Unfortunately I can so understand everything you said!!! Thank you for sharing. Now on to explore more of your blog.
CheleLew
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/chelelew
Well put. Now, If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some cleaning to do.
Isn’t this why our parents use to say, ‘Do as I say, not as I do!’?
I feel you there! I have to make sure I do a quick sweep through my room before I tell the kids about theirs!
Thanks for the reminder.
Blessings –
Camille
Thanks Molly! This past month we have focused on MOM getting organized and getting her act together! As I have laid aside my “busyness” and “exalted priorities” in order to work on my own character traits, I have really struggled to not pick them back up again. Thanks for the confirmation. I’m pushing forward! 🙂
Ouch! That hit too close to home. Lately, I’ve been getting so upset with my daughter because we clean the “piles” in her room (like the pile on the rocking chair) only to see it reappear. Why doesn’t she just keep it clean? Then, I began to realize it is the same thing I struggle with – I clean my piles over & over and they just seem to reappear. I’ve taught her this!!! And, the same with leaving things in the car – it just seems to multiply and I get disgusted by it. But, again, I then look at my mess, which may not be as big, but I taught her this!!! I’ll start working on MY plank…