While cleaning up my son's bedroom, I bumped onto a plethora of seemingly trivia, non-sense and 'why do you need to keep these' kinda stuff. Weeding them out altogether was not in the least of my intentions this time! His cribbing and nonstop whining lasted for hours when I tossed a torn up picture of a superhero into the dustbin during one of those cleaning missions last time:-) In his own verbiage, I was ruthless, mercilessly rude and callous; to say the least. His vehemence and unflinching opinions on my insensitivity made me ponder a bit, going beyond those mundane house hold chores.
If you see a bunny eared notebook, with half the pages torn up with those crayon arts scattered all over, that could most possibly be their travel journal. You probably did not notice the name tag and the subject written on the very first page in a wavy cursive (and sometimes in mixed print!). Well, it's their journal, and that's how they document their memoirs. Way different from ours and our perceptions! And it is available right their when they have the best of creative mindset to jot down something! And the book shelf would not be a wise choice since you need to hunt the book down when you feel to write something. A spoil sport indeed!
A long folded piece of double ruled notebook sheets, with red pointy edges could well be their weaponry. You will mostly fail to notice the faded out letters on the sides, saying 'World War II re-enacted'. Again, stay off and be safe! Art rules in those little minds.
A semi-dried leaf, with an wooden piece wrapped up in a butter paper could well be their priced possession from a national park. Be safe than sorry in ignoring those during your cleansing mission.
An almost used up eraser and a broken pencil sharpener under their bed could be the one their teacher presented for helping her in the Computer Class. You could probably pack off their pencil boxes with new ones from Staples, but again, stay off from those priced possessions:-) You cannot replace them!
The manifolded square sheet of wide ruled paper almost finds its place in the bin. But then, you notice the messy handwriting with their name and a happy birthday note just below. Their best friend's greeting card on their birthdays could not be more sweet.
A small Hershey's in a foil wrap could well be the return gift from another friend's birthday party last week:-)
The half read Laura Ingall would be under the bed; and another Wimpy Kid Diary could be under the pillow. Convenience matters, and tidiness doesn't. If you keep them neatly arranged in a Library like display, they may not find it when they need:-)
The tea cup with their name tag could be the prize won in school for a musical chair. And that could just find a place on the bedside. So, they could look at it everyday, and be proud of their achievement.
A holiday picture with Dad, Mom and sis could well be stuck on the wall, just above their bed, with unevenly cut cello tape and coloured corners. So, they could look at it every time and Thank God for giving a happy family. If you frame it up and mount it on the wall, it's just another family photograph.
My cleaning missions are well informed ever since, with that sensitivity factor attached. I would rather wait for them to trash them up. Until then, let them enjoy their priced possessions; closer to their hearts, down and under their beds and pillows and right on top of their bedspreads!
Cheers
Roy
If you see a bunny eared notebook, with half the pages torn up with those crayon arts scattered all over, that could most possibly be their travel journal. You probably did not notice the name tag and the subject written on the very first page in a wavy cursive (and sometimes in mixed print!). Well, it's their journal, and that's how they document their memoirs. Way different from ours and our perceptions! And it is available right their when they have the best of creative mindset to jot down something! And the book shelf would not be a wise choice since you need to hunt the book down when you feel to write something. A spoil sport indeed!
A long folded piece of double ruled notebook sheets, with red pointy edges could well be their weaponry. You will mostly fail to notice the faded out letters on the sides, saying 'World War II re-enacted'. Again, stay off and be safe! Art rules in those little minds.
A semi-dried leaf, with an wooden piece wrapped up in a butter paper could well be their priced possession from a national park. Be safe than sorry in ignoring those during your cleansing mission.
An almost used up eraser and a broken pencil sharpener under their bed could be the one their teacher presented for helping her in the Computer Class. You could probably pack off their pencil boxes with new ones from Staples, but again, stay off from those priced possessions:-) You cannot replace them!
The manifolded square sheet of wide ruled paper almost finds its place in the bin. But then, you notice the messy handwriting with their name and a happy birthday note just below. Their best friend's greeting card on their birthdays could not be more sweet.
A small Hershey's in a foil wrap could well be the return gift from another friend's birthday party last week:-)
The half read Laura Ingall would be under the bed; and another Wimpy Kid Diary could be under the pillow. Convenience matters, and tidiness doesn't. If you keep them neatly arranged in a Library like display, they may not find it when they need:-)
The tea cup with their name tag could be the prize won in school for a musical chair. And that could just find a place on the bedside. So, they could look at it everyday, and be proud of their achievement.
A holiday picture with Dad, Mom and sis could well be stuck on the wall, just above their bed, with unevenly cut cello tape and coloured corners. So, they could look at it every time and Thank God for giving a happy family. If you frame it up and mount it on the wall, it's just another family photograph.
My cleaning missions are well informed ever since, with that sensitivity factor attached. I would rather wait for them to trash them up. Until then, let them enjoy their priced possessions; closer to their hearts, down and under their beds and pillows and right on top of their bedspreads!
Cheers
Roy