If your parents made you keep your room clean

[Tiggeroo]

when you were a teen, how did it affect you?
I was reading the thread on teen rooms. I go back and forth, ignoring the mess and cracking down. My kids think I am obsessive about it. So, I am curious whether being tough is a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[KimR]

My mother was a fanatic about it. Once a month she made me take everything out of my drawers, throw away old junk, vacuum out the insides, then put everything back in. The top shelf of my closet had to be dusted regurlarly, nothing laying around on dressers except nick-nacks, nothing on the floor, bed made daily. And I am a slob today, although, I must admit, I think it's just part of who I am and has nothing to do with 'rebellion' against the way I was raised. I wish I could be neat and organized, but I could just as easily flap my arms and fly to WDW. I truly believe some people are inherently neatnicks and others, like me, inherently messy. I've been diagnosed as ADD, and I do think that has A LOT to do with it.

I go through the same struggle with my oldest DD. Her room is a disaster...she's just like me. She tries, but the stuff just piles up anyway. I do get on her to try to keep it clean (I have to try), but I'm not nearly as bad about it as my mother. I'd be happy with some semblance of organization. I do feel it's important to try to encourage her to learn to keep her room neat mainly because I know how awful it is being so messy and not being able to do anything about it. But, on the other hand, I don't want to drive her nuts like my mother did (actually, I'm sure I drove her as nuts with my messiness!)

Kim

 

[CyranoJones]

My mother taught me that there were more important things to do than cleaning. Like taking my brother and me out hiking in the woods, catching tadpoles, making mudpies, planting flowers, and all kind of good stuff like that. I did the same with my daughter. And the things that needed cleaning waited for me. My daughter grew up. Now I have plenty of time to clean. Unless someone asks me to go for a walk in the woods.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I voted that I wish my parents would have showed me how to be cleaner. My house is always neat but not always clean. I do not have the time or desire to maintain a large house the way I would like it. I like everything to have its place and to be sparkling clean and I never seem to have that.

As a kid, my parents made us clean our room at least once a week and especially before someone came over. However, my mom had a circular sofa sectional which allowed us to put the crap stuff back there. As we got older, we would put clothes at the bottom of the closet instead of where they needed to be.

As an adult, my closet is somewhat clean with some clothes on a bench.

I'm not upset though, I understand that I possess the more important things in life; good friends and much time to spend with my son and husband.....

 

[snoopy]

I was a weird little child, I loved to clean! Living in a house with 11 people made me crave organization and cleanliness. Also, I've always suffered from insomnia, and cleaning relaxes me. My mother would find me mopping the floor or washing the windows at 2 am, heh heh. I'm still obsessive about cleaning today, I like my surroundings to be very tidy and efficient, so I usually clean every day.

My kids are the same way, poor things.

 

[mtemm]

I was a total slob. Every once in a while I would clean up...huge deal. My carpet was finally visible! LOL! My parents never said anything much about it.

When my parents and I were at an interview regarding college apt. housing, one of the lines on the form asked if you were neat or sloppy, so they could pair you accordingly. I put down neat, and my mother was shocked and tried to tell the guy I wasn't. But honestly, I didn't want to deal with anybody else's mess. I am very neat today. Bed isn't always made, but you can always see carpet! I'm much more of a "everything has a place, everything in its place" type now.