A few months before my daughter was born, I sat down with my husband for the talk. Sorry to disappoint, but it had nothing to do with money, sex, or in-laws. “We need to start making the bed,” I insisted. If I was going to demand that my child make her bed one day, then I needed to do it too.
So we tested the widely held belief that it takes 21 days to make a habit. Now (Drumroll, please), almost two years later, I’m still climbing into a nice, neat bed every night. And every morning I take one minute to pull the sheets taut and to straighten the comforter. One minute. That’s all it takes.
You’re probably wondering: Why the big stink over the bed? Because it’s never just about making the bed. Even Michelle Obama, who has a 95-person residence staff, demands that her two daughters make their beds. In an interview with Oprah, the First Lady spoke of her daughters’ chores: “It can’t be foreign to them to be part of a working household.” I couldn’t agree more.
I spent a couple of years teaching first and second grade. During conference time, parents inevitably asked what they could do at home to help their children succeed. Without fail, I always answered, “Read. Read. Read.” If I had to do it all over again, I’d add, “And have little Suzie make her bed.”
Allison says:
I couldn’t agree more…Max makes his bed almost every day!
May 13, 2009 at 7:10 am
DinnerWithLove says:
I completely hear you on this one. It’s an easy way to still feel like I have control over my messy house.
May 13, 2009 at 8:02 am
Sarah Morris says:
how timely this post is!!! i am on day 6 of the 21 day training period for myself. i had finally had it- i can keep the kitchen clean-ish, put most of the laundry away, remember to close the shower curtain, but if the bed isn’t made, i feel like the house is messy….
May 13, 2009 at 8:12 am
Momo Fali says:
Yikes. I need to do this. I really, really do. I would love to climb into a neat bed every night. Unfortunately, my husband gets out of bed after me and there’s no way he’ll do it. I’ll have to make the bed at lunchtime, when I come home from my part time job. But, I’m in the bedroom changing anyway…so what the heck! I’ll make my bed!
May 13, 2009 at 1:29 pm
turnitupmom says:
Sarah,
Don’t think I’m not checking up on you on May 28th!
May 14, 2009 at 12:59 am