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2 Bumps

Cleaning a teens desk

Im cleaning out my teen's desk. I told her I was going to do it while she was a way on vacation and she was ok with that. On the up side I know she has nothing to hide.

I chose to clean it instead of having her clean it because like many adults I know she has a hard time parting with things she feels have sentimental value. Though I think random peices of paper are ludicus to keep just because they remind her of something (shouldnt that memory be memory enough???) It is her peice of paper and so I will not throw it away. HOWEVER, house/room/furniture it resides in is something I paid/pay good money for and will not tollerate it being so dang messy. Thus I am boxing up all these radom items for her to go through, and have purchased nice clean, neat, clear storage boxes so that she can keep all her little trinkets.

So..... do I charge her for my time since she was unwilling/incapable of doing this her self to proper standards? Not money.... but I did something that she should, at 17, be capable of doing. So charging her by having her do things I do... laundry, meal prep, wash cars, ect.

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Asked by Anonymous at 3:47 PM on Jun. 28, 2012 in Teens (13-17)

Answers (18)

She is 17? At 17 I closed my kids bedroom door if it was messy and told them to leave it closed at all times if they did not have it clean. I made them wash their own cloths. They still had chores to do around the house. Tell they moved out of the house.

Answer by louise2 at 3:52 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 91824 Level 37 Teens (13-17) Minor

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Well, why not? She's your daughter, a minor, living under your roof, you can make her do whatever chores you want her to!

Answer by Ludvik_Smith at 3:53 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 17866 Level 23

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As teens- I let them be with thier room *within reason....They have to give me laundry once or twice a week-they cannot have piles of soda cans- or food in there-but then again, our rules are nothing but clear drinks and no food in there anyway. They say we should close the door and ignore the mess. That is their space, and when they feel the need to clean it they will...

Answer by charlotsomtimes at 3:56 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 146620 Level 42 Teens (13-17) Minor

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That would motivate her to do it on her own. Lol

Answer by Nikkijr at 3:57 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 560 Level 11

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Just because something is not important to you doesn't make it less important to her. Who are you to judge her for keeping her memories alive?? Charge her?? WHAT kind of a "mother" are you??

Answer by Crafty26 at 4:00 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 151290 Level 42 Teens (13-17) Minor

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Wow,can you say mean spirited?!

Answer by butterflyblue19 at 4:03 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 341603 Level 49 Teens (13-17) Minor

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Yes luv

Answer by m-avi at 4:04 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 257483 Level 47 Teens (13-17) Minor

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i guess you all have a different live view. I dont purchase things to have them trashed. I dont keep my house that I worked hard for looking crappy, I dont buy furniture to have the drawers stuffed to the point of ruining it. Perhaps you all are very rich and do not care about purchasing items over and over again. I do.

I will not just close a door and allow my children to keep their rooms messy to the point of ruining them.

As for the judging her items... yes, I do think it is simply ridiculus to keep every little scrap... HOWEVER, i didnt throw a thing away... that wasnt broken. So I did judge HERE, but did not say a word to her other than her "memories" need a home. Hence the boxes I bought... AGAIN, spending hard earened money.

Comment by Anonymous (original poster) at 4:16 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
not my anon post here

If her room was just cluttered with all the papers etc WHO CARES
if she had food adn trash all over then maybe

leave HER memories alone I amsure you ahve things that remind you of stuff, lt her go through ALL your stuff and tell you ahat she feels is not important

Answer by luvmygrandbaby at 4:19 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 102167 Level 38 Teens (13-17) 101

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If she breaks a drawer from shoving shit in it then you bought her shit furniture to begin with.
Let me tell ya- I ahve a dresser that is on its 3rd child and there are days I have to have Hercules strength to open them or shut them from the shit that is shoved in them BUT they dont break

Answer by luvmygrandbaby at 5:27 PM on Jun. 28, 2012
Credits: 102167 Level 38 Teens (13-17) 101

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