Not because I went to the gym, which I did this morning. No friends, I am sweating because I have been working in my son’s hovel, I mean, room. The saddest thing is his grandmother (paternal) just picked it up Saturday.
I have tried to weed out as much stuff as possible but he still has a lot of books. He is Einstein’s protege, you know, so he is heavy in scientific reading matter, but he also enjoys a good novel. Dude has a lot of books. He and I combined have more than some public libraries. And he is just like me, in that at night he will pull about ten books off his shelf and heap them by his bed. Now no one would expect him to get out of bed to reshelve them before going to sleep, but most humans would hope that, upon rising, he would choose to return them to their proper place. Well, hope away folks. It doesn’t happen.
Today I decided a boy needs limits, especially any boy who shares my proclivities. I weeded out all books that are beneath his age, as well as most of the science and history books. I left him novels, books of stories, comic and joke books. There are still more books than most kids own, period, but it seems managable. I did a hard core vacuum, removed a bookshelf and only need to move his dresser before calling it good.
When we put our house up for sale I went through every room and removed as much as I possibly could. Every night, after getting the kids into bed I ran around the house and picked up things. My sister was visiting for a few days while Paul was overseas. After working fifteen minutes and realizing my house was immaculate, I stopped to marvel, “Is this how people keep things clean, they just don’t have a lot of stuff and pick up after themselves?” My sister nodded gently.
I was filled with wonder.
I need to keep remembering this when I forget it.
You seem like a really special lady and smart too.
Warmly,
Glenn