As I write this post, I am in the car driving from Texas to Maryland, and by the time you read this I will have moved my son into a dorm room for the first time. I bet you're thinking I should write up some post about how to have the best, most organized dorm room, but I'm not. At least not today.
Why? Because it's not MY dorm room. One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to let your son or daughter handle something entirely on his or her own, even when you know better. Yes, I am an organizing expert, but that does not mean that my son wants my help on this process. Indeed, he will learn far more by figuring it out himself.
I have made myself available and offered help many times, but he has done it his way so far. I am biting my tongue a lot. My parenting expert friend, Amy McCready, would be so proud of me!
This situation is yet another time when I am reminded that, just like weight loss, you can't make someone else get organized, any more than you can make someone lose weight. Getting organized in a lasting way is about personal change, new habits, and new beliefs about yourself and your stuff.
If we come up with some amazing storage solutions for the dorm room I will be sure and write them up for next week! Wish me luck!
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Too true Lorie. You just can’t make someone else get organized, especially family members and those close to you. In fact, it often creates resistance, and then you can be certain, they won’t be getting themselves organized anytime soon! Good luck with helping your son settle in to his new dorm room.
Thanks Pam! He is officially moved in and started classes this week.