The Toy Relocation Program
What is it with toddlers and their possessions? They pick up a toy and carry it with them religiously around the house. Balls, coloring book pages, legos, blocks, magnetic letters, stuffed animals….and inevitably, they end up placing their toys in every freaking room in the house!! 
Can you tell, I’m a wee bit stressed about getting the house cleaned? 
It’s a never-ending process. I pick up one room, go onto another, and while I’m cleaning, the kids relocate more toys to the once-clean room. It’s like an exodus of toys–moving them from one room into the next. :crazyjumping:
I personally think it’s a mark of ownership, like dogs peeing on a tree. The toddler claims every room as his territory by staking out toys and playthings there.
Thought I’d share this, for all you moms. You can probably relate.
The Toddler’s Creed: :blahblah:
If I want it, it is mine.
If I give it to you and change my mind later, it is mine.
If I can take it away from you, it is mine.
If it is mine, it will never belong to anyone else, no matter what.
If we are building something together, all the pieces are mine.
If it looks just like mine, it is mine.
(source unknown)
Michelle posted in Life and So On, Parenting @ 6:04 am | Viewed 2562 times
katie Says:
You’re so cute! You think its just toddlers??? Umm - no. elementary kids, teenagers - they mark territory too. Like Phyllis Dillar said - “Cleaning the house before the kids move out is like shoveling the sidewalk while its still snowing.” My motto. :coffee2:
Rene Says:
Katie’s right, they don’t improve much as they get older. I’ve also found that happy meal toys and legos spontaneously reproduce.
Michelle Says:
Rene and Kat–oh, no! Say it isn’t so!:help:
Amy K. Says:
Um, yeah, I can definitely relate. This very phenomenon has had me swearing that as soon as my revisions are out the door, I’m cutting down the toy volume in our house by 50% and putting it in a garage sale. I can’t wait! (Although it won’t solve the problem. lol)
Jaq Says:
Here’s another ditto with Kate. There’s some article of clothing, used utensil, CD, magazine, textbook, of my teenaged son’s in every room (except mine, lol) in this place. And when they move out, they still think of their room as *mine*.
kacey Says:
well I still bless the day I stepped on my last lego with my barefeet…
Though now it’s just different stuff. Empty soda can, shirt they were wearing when they decided they were hot, DVD cases (which never match the DVD in the player for some reason). Cups, dishes, wrapper from whatever they opened whereever they opened it.
And of course I don’t get the it’s mine, mine, mine anymore. When I ask who left out the XYZ I now get “It’s NOT mine”
Crystal* Says:
OMG
Um no. It’s children of EVERY age. I literally have to do a room clearing every day. “The living room is not YOUR room” speech. And it really doesn’t matter. Really. I’m astounded by the utter ignoring of “keep your crap in your own room” rule. It can be a tad bit annoying.
And my middle one? She sets up shop wherever she goes.
And the Toddler’s Creed? I think that goes for every child still living in the house. ACK!
Grins*
Tori Says:
I’d kinda like to take that creed for myself. Selfish only child that I am.
Suzanne Says:
IT’S ALL MINE.