The kids’ common writing table is constantly stacked with toys, books, stationeries, food and anything that my family members are lazy to keep into the cupboard or return after use. In other word, it has become a dumping ground for everyone at home. This means every time they need space for writing on that desk, there is simply not enough space and I will usually be the one to keep those items eventually. Probably, some will be wondering why the fuss. To me, it can get really frustrating when the kids and adults at home get so dependent on others to keep their stuff or also take the convenient way out instead of finding the correct storage for their stuff.

I decide to teach my kids and domestic helper some “keeping and organizing things” disciplines. Hence, I pasted a piece of written instruction on the table which reads “Don’t Put Things On This Table!”

A couple of hours ago, I was in the midst of my work and did not realize that toy flag, pamphlets and even a dustban were again piling up on that writing table.  Darren is a classic innocent case because knowing that I will reprimand  him for not tidying and organizing his stuff, he came up to me and in a way to invite scolding from me.

Darren:  “The paper reads “Don’t Put Things On This Table.”

Mummy (the messy things on the table caught my immediate attention) : “ Yes. You are right in your reading and so then why do you put this dustban on the table then?”

Darren: “OK. I keep.” (and he dashed off promptly to keep his stuff that were on the table).

Darren (was very sharp to make observations) : “ Mummy, why Papa and your cups can put here then?”

Mummy: “Errr……Because we drink quickly and will clear the cups soon.”

Darren: “Then why you have camera on the table also?”

Papa Ed : “OK! OK!” (and Papa Ed immediately rushed off to keep the camera).

Darren: “You say cannot mess up that table and why you have a piece of tissue paper on the table too?”

Mummy: “Oh!Oh! OK! OK!” (Mummy removed the piece of small tissue from the study table.)

The table became spick and span and that was when the conversation stopped.

Oops, as much as parents observe our kids’ mistakes and behaviours, our kids certainly are observant enough to question us too when we don’t practise what we teach or insist. Many times, parents might get dumbfounded and go “Err…”, “Oops” and “Oh!Oh!”