<p>Saw son's room a week after he started freshman year- the bookshelves were empty, the books on his chair, clothes on floor... his roommate was gone for the weekend, leaving an unmade bed. This year haven't seen his room (a nice perk of not being allowed is not helping cart stuff to and from car) but do remember how most guys' rooms were not neat last year (how do you know which are the male/female rooms/wings- look at the decor, pretty equals girls, mess ...). At home his floor works, empty dresser, closet shelves- currently the advantage is in that he'll know what needs to go back to school after break (just clear the floor). Asked him if future apartment mates knew of his messiness- he replied that he confines it to his personal space and won't leave messes in the public areas. It will be their problem, not mine.</p>
<p>My D and I are both pack rats. Every several months I pay my daughter by the pound or large garbage bag for everything she can "throw away" from her room. We both feel better if we give it away rather than put it in the garbage.</p>
<p>When S1 returned from college after freshman year, I asked "where are your sheets?" He said " I threw them away. Since I never washed them them whole year, I thought you wouldn't want them back."</p>
<p>Bought a new pair. of jeans for him at Fall Break.<br>
At Christmas...Me...Were the new jeans OK?
S1...Yes, I wear them all the time.
Me....Did they shrink up when you washed them?
S1....Don't know. I haven't washed them yet.</p>
<p>Apparantly forcing himself to wash clothes is an even greater burden that cleaning up his room.</p>
<p>Stand aside everyone - I'm claiming the messiest kid on CC. My D's clothes pile on her floor is currently above knee-level. OK, she's short, but this pile stretches 8' to 10' on a side. I installed the hooks on the doors years ago - no use. When the trash basket in her bathroom reaches the top, she doesn't empty it, but continues dropping things on top until they fall off the mound that stretches above the basket like a sno-cone. On the plus side, she's wonderful, kind, intelligent and beautiful, but I'm afraid her roommate(s) will never learn that side of her. They'll have already put in for a room change. Those of you with orderly kids, please chime in. We're almost done with the venting stage; now we need advice!</p>
<p>Got a better sheet story, son says he doesn't use them, just sleeps between 2 blankets. Sometimes I think I can smell him when we're talking on the phone.....</p>
<p>I'm feeling so good about my kids. I thought they were slobs, but apparently not!</p>
<p>GADAD:</p>
<p>You asked for advice!!</p>
<p>Single mom here, 5 kiddos. 4 all in college/grad school school now. It was just a short while ago I had 4 in high school, 5 teenagers! 3 boys (defensive/offensive lineman), 2 girls.</p>
<p>Our home has always been small (finances), think "the shoe" and I am the little ole' lady!</p>
<p>Space at a premium meant rooms and spaces needed to be kept neat.</p>
<p>My house, my rules. If clothes, shoes, backpacks, STUFF was on the floor then they must not be wanted. So, in MY bag it went. They would get it back ONCE, maybe. Didn't take long. And that was when I was being NICE.</p>
<p>With all of them being varsity athletes they always managed to have a lot of stinky stuff as well. That needed to be kept organized and clean as well. They lost or misplaced it, their responsibility.</p>
<p>Unlike many of their high school counter parts they did not have cell phones, computers, driver's licenses', or their own rooms! Now that they are in college they have obtained these items on their own and have been responsible.</p>
<p>We were a 1 car family and she has 275,000 miles and the boys work on her regularly to keep her running. </p>
<p>It has been interesting now that they are all in college with some roommates. Son is in a suite and his room is clean and he nags his suite mates to keep up with theirs. He has to be one of the "neatest" football players on the team! His brother is at a SA so he has no problem fitting into the more austere lifestyle. Fits him perfectly. He knew ahead of time how to clean with a toothbrush! Daughters at first had singles, but later met up with others that shared their need for cleanliness!!! </p>
<p>One daughter has a best friend at school that has THE messiest room she has ever seen! Friend was written-up by the fire-hazard inspection people several times already. She calls daughter when she has to deal with the mess!</p>
<p>Tight ship at my house. Kids can't say "what" if I call their name. </p>
<p>Oh yeah, send your wayward, messy offspring this way......we'll fix that clothing pile issue................</p>
<p>Kat
meanest mommy on the PLANET!
so says my niece and nephew!</p>
<p>S is particularly interested in one college that provides housekeeping - they dust, vacuum, and wash/change the bedsheets.</p>
<p>^^LOL, PackMom, LOL^^</p>
<p>Lately I've found myself wondering how my DD will be neatness-wise next year in college. I've also wondered how she will manage to put away all of the clothes and "stuff" she seems to need in the small space she will have allotted to her in a double room. She's also never done a lick of laundry (my fault, shameful, I know). Have a strong feeling she'll be bringing laundry home every so often if she winds up at State U, which is about a 2 hour drive from home.</p>
<p>no one here read about the college dorm where the cleaning staff went on strike because the men, yes adult men, were so disgusting it was a true health hazard</p>
<p>we do our children no service by not expecting them to keep communal areas tidy, this oh, they are just boys and such is hogwash...what girl wants to date a guy who smells like an old shoe?</p>
<p>messy is one thing, filthy is something else</p>
<p>anyone watch the BBC show, How Clean is Your House?</p>
<p>We are thinking that my daughter's room is messy because of the clutter - there is just too much stuff in it. It looks like she will be going to a "fly to college" rather than a "drive to college" so that should mean bringing less stuff there. Less stuff should make it easier for her to keep things organized in her dorm room, don't you think?</p>
<p>For those of you who were not on the "old" cc forum, this thread, called the urban moundbuilders, is a classic College</a> Confidential Discussion It is a MUST READ. It has been referenced many times, and has had a few updates. This thread appears to be one of these as well. Rejoice the urban moundbuilders. I have 1 for sure. My older s has improved with age, but younger s is still a slob (and that is being kind).</p>
<p>Here is another of the follow-ups on the original, classic urban moundbuilders thread. <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/237065-moundbuilders-redux.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/237065-moundbuilders-redux.html</a> These belong on the "linking the old with the new" thread as well.</p>
<p>I could not get the classic cc discussion to open. I did read Moundbuilders Redux though, and it gave me a much needed belly laugh!</p>
<p>Since our youngest attends school cross-country, we told him to take clothing for campus and leave older clothing in place for home visits. I love not seeing a duffel bag full of laundry when he lands by plane. The older 2 used to wait for laundry at breaks and I wanted to charge them in quarters or card swipes, but we just laughed about it. As long as they handled their own goods when home, they could use my machines but they understood it was their task.</p>
<p>When I picked up the California freshman and saw his backpack (only), I wanted to weep for joy. I have no idea how the college room looks, but I do know that all 3 guys have had no problems all year. My S describes the room as "pretty neat" so that means he improved since arriving on campus.</p>
<p>timely-
That link worked earlier, but it isnt working now. Here's another link </p>
<p><a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/d.../70/25523.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeconfidential.com/d.../70/25523.html</a> which may or may not work. Don't know if the server upgrades might be affecting the access to the old CC archives. Anyone know?</p>
<p>Hmmmmm....the new link doesn't work either. It takes you to an "Oops!" page.</p>
<p>Sorry, timely, but the links to the old "classic" cc forums don't seem to be working. Maybe you can try?? Go to the bottom of any page and click onthe "CC classic forum" link and see if it works. If you can get it to work, please post your success, as I don't know if this is an isolated or universal problem. Then do a search on the "urban moundbuilders". I am able to find that someone cut/pasted part of the htread intot he new forum, so I'll post that link (which will hopefully work). Ya gotta read the thread. It really belongs in the CC hall of fame</p>
<p>Timely-
Read this thread <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/107406-helicopter-moms-take-v-abc-news-20-20-a.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/107406-helicopter-moms-take-v-abc-news-20-20-a.html</a> towards the bottom it has a great discussion of the "moundbuilders" and "platers" thread, with several large quotes. Its not quite as good as the real thing, but close! (start with post # 16)</p>
<p>Give him 5 lashes for every item left on the floor. That'll fix him up.</p>
<p>timely-
The first link in post # 32 to the "urban moundbuilders" thread seems to now be working. I believe they have addressed the recent bugs they've been having with the transition to the new cc servers, but if I were you, I'd try the link sooner rather than later!</p>