In honor of us getting back to keeping up with our household responsibilities I pulled my all-time favorite book from the bookshelf. I read this book over and over as a child. It was my favorite Berenstain Bear book EVER. Looking back at it now I realize that my “virgo” personality was in full effect even as a child. The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room. I loved this book for the before and after chaos to organization. I had a need for things to be organized all the time as a child. My kitchen had to be in order, my markers in rainbow order, books, clothes, all of it. Yes, I had a teenage phase where clothes were on the floor, but certain things had to be in order or I would be agitated.
The boys like the book as well, not as much as me of course. I think they just see me as Mama Bear coming into the room in a fit of rage with a box…yes this happens in my house. I have surprised myself a time or two when I actually filled the box and took the toys away. As they say, it’s all about the follow through. I didn’t throw out their stuff of course, HELL that’s my money that paid for that stuff. However, they had to earn each and every toy back by doing good deeds. So we are back to a new start here, and they know this Mama means business. This book is a great teaching tool when you’re trying to get your point across to the kiddos about doing their chores and helping out without having to lecture them or shout.
One day in a fit of rage for not caring for his toys, I made my son pack up his ENTIRE room. Everything but clothes and bedding. As we were packing he kept saying things like, “Even my pillow in the box?” And I’d assure him not his pillow or blankie, etc. I let him keep out his ONE favorite stuffed animal that he needs to sleep, everything else in the box.. He had to leave it all in the box (the size of a fridge box) for 1 week. It worked for a while. But lately he’s slipped again. Might be time for a new lesson on caring for our things.
I am gonna have to order that one off Amazon… don’t know how I missed it! I have tons of Berenstein’s books… and we have some very messy rooms going on over here! Thanks for the tip!
I LOOOOOOOVE the Berenstein Bears!!! I grew up reading their books and now my little one enjoys them too! Not sure if you guys get the Sprout Tv channel, but they show the cartoon everyday (for me here in Colorado it’s at 4pm air time). Very good books and one of the very few FUN stories that teach a lesson when the kids don’t even realize it!!! =D
Ahhh the Berenstein Bears…what a fantastic childhood memory. Thank you for bringing that back!! I relate to your tales of descending on the messy room with a vengeance, the ranting, the bludgeoning, the crying. (me smiling here) earning each one back is a fantastic teaching tool. BRAVO MAMA BEAR!