To Buy Or Not To Buy

As a Mom I have always wanted so much for my 3 children.  Nice clothes, cool toys, more books than we have shelves for, the latest baby things, and on and on the list could go.  This doesn't mean they get those things, just that I want it for them.  The majority of the years we have had kids we have not been able to afford the "wants", only the "needs".  Even that has been a struggle at times.

Since selling our home in October and moving into a house better suited for our growing family we have been able to buy more "wants" for our entire family.  Some of the things we have given the kids are well appreciated and others are, well...not.  Mostly it's a struggle with one particular child.  This child just does NOT appreciate or take care of belongings.  Things get destroyed, ripped, broken, stuffed animals get lotioned (yes, and I still am not sure how to fix it without the washing machine).  It has been really hard lately to try and stop buying this child things I want for them.  Also, how do I buy stuff for the other 2 kids and not this one?

I think I'm going to start with a major room clean out to get rid of outgrown toys, books, games, stuffed animals, and clothes.  I already had to go in a few weeks ago and throw everything on the floor into 2 trash bags since they refused to pick it up and put it away.  Also, this child's clothes stay folded in a basket in my room and I hand out the day's clothes every morning.  Annoying...sure.  Easier and less stressful...you betcha!  Light actually really likes to sleep in that room since it is the only bed (or furniture in general) he is allowed on.  We are using this to help keep the room clean.  You see, Light will eat anything he can, so if the room is covered in toys, books, and clothes we will not allow him to sleep in there.  It has worked for a few nights now!

They are several things I can do to try to keep this child's room cleaned up.  What I really want to know though is how I convince the CHILD to keep the room clean in the long run.  Thoughts?  Ideas?  What works, or doesn't, for you?

This post was inspired by the novel Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement.  Ladydi grew up in rural Mexico, where being a girl is a dangerous thing. She and other girls were “made ugly” to protect them from drug traffickers and criminal groups. Join From Left to Write on February 18 we discuss Prayers for the Stolen. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

Thankful For Siblings

Growing up with 2 siblings you would think there would always be someone to play with.  Nope.  I guess when we were all in elementary school it might have worked that way.  As we got older I was more and more on my own.  I am the youngest, maybe that had somethings to do with it? We are all incredibly close in age though, only 18 months between my step-sister and I and 14 months between my brother and I, so I tend to discount that theory.  Towards middle school and especially high school I was always left behind.  I suppose a lot of that had to do with being so much less mature than them.  I was never into parties or the normal "hip" teenager things.  I preferred to sit at home and read.  It is hard to remember times as teenagers when we enjoyed each others company, but I can remember many an occasion when they tortured me or simply ignored me.  There is the time they worked together to duct-tape me to a workout bench in the hot tub room or the countless times when our parents would go out of time and leave them in charge.  They would both leave ASAP after our parents were gone, leaving me all alone at home.

When my brother and sister graduated high school they eventually left the state to pursue their own lives.  My brother joined the Navy and my sister went off to college.  I was left at home and really felt like I lost touch with them.  This is especially true for my brother who was gone for so many of the years I was becoming an adult.

As adults now we are much closer than we ever were as children.  We lean on each other, ask/offer advice, and generally enjoy each others company.  There are so many events affecting our lives right now.  An ill Mother, divorce, raising kids, and holding down jobs.  Although it may be hard to find the time to get together, I know they love and care about me and my family and I hope they both know how much I love and care for them as well.

I love you Merle and Stefanie!  Thank you for being a part of my life!

This post was inspired by the novel A Well-Tempered Heart by Jan-Philipp Sendker.  Feeling lost and burned out, Julia drops her well paying job at a NYC law firm. After hearing a stranger’s voice in her head, she travels to Burma to find the voice’s story and hopefully herself as well. Join From Left to Write on February 4 we discuss A Well-Tempered Heart. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.