To a mom, the phrase "tidy up the family room" means things like: pick up your toys off the floor, put away the video-game controllers and CDs, and put books back into the bookcase.
To an eight-year-old boy, the same phrase means: get a big piece of clear package-sealing tape, stick it on the (finished-wood) toy box, and write on it, in silver Sharpie, "Basketball place." Then put the basketball on the floor in front of this label.
It doesn't matter to him that the rest of the family-room floor is still liberally coated in Legos, Bakugan cards, and empty boxes from Wii games. The basketball is in its proper place--with a label (a correctly-spelled label, at that.)
I guess I'll have to be more specific when I ask him to clean up his stuff.
Either that, or I'll have to label everything in the entire room. Where's that silver Sharpie?
COUPON TIME
TODAY ONLY!
Extra 10% off your order at Get Organized 
Use coupon code GETORGNZ at checkout. You will see the discount in your shopping cart.
Valid through: April 30, 2010
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20% off the highest-priced item in your order at Brylane Home 
Enter code BHOUTDOOR in the Promotional Code box in your shopping bag and click APPLY.
Valid through: May 2, 2010
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