Living Like Allison

Allison is a messy person by nature and it drives us all crazy. I remember going to get her in her crib in the morning and she would have everything messed up in her bed. Kevin and I really feel sorry for Madison because she has to share a room with her. Our rule is that things have to be clean before you can play and Madison is constantly cleaning up after Allison so she isn't penalized. One night a few weeks ago Kevin came up with this crazy idea that we all start living like Allison. I did not like it at all and wasn't on board until this week since I had a sick Ashley. Ashley is our little girl that doesn't know how to relax so I had to sit and cuddle her and watch movies with her all week so she would sit and get better. Kevin would come home from work and look at things and I would just say "That we are living like Allison." He didn't say anything but boy it was driving us all crazy.

Finally last night Allison came to me and said she wanted to clean. I was surprised because I thought Kevin was crazy and this was not going to work. This morning we started getting our house back in order and Allison was on board 100%. That hasn't happened before. She loves to clean bathrooms but all the other stuff is like pulling teeth to get her to do. We first started by straitening things up and then did the deep cleaning and this is when it got fun. Madison is more then willing to straighten up and put things away but you ask her to clean and it is the end of the world. I set a plan on how we could get things done quickly if we all worked together. Each girl took a bathroom while I tackled the kitchen and then I would help them when I was done in the kitchen and living room. Madison was not happy at all. Cleaning a bathroom is torture to her. Kevin was working from home so he got to experience all the drama with me. We were laughing so hard. Last time they helped me with the bathrooms Madison got away with the easy stuff and didn't have to touch a toilet but this time Allison figured it out and Madison was out of luck. Yes Madison has a scarf around her nose so she doesn't smell anything.

Now that it is all done it is fun to watch them. They are very protective about keeping it all clean because they realize what hard work it is to get it clean. It was a fun day cleaning and working along side my girls. I am slowly trying to let go and let them help me. Kevin is trying to point out that I am doing them a disservice by not letting them work along side me. It is hard but I am learning that my way is not the only way to do things.