Moms Talk: Teen Bedroom Tornadoes

Question: My teenage son's room looks like a tornado ripped through; I'm surprised he hasn't gotten buried in there yet. I braved it last week and found a severely overdue library book and several old candy wrappers accompanied by a trail of ants. My friends say I should just close the door and leave it alone, that he'll eventually tire of the mess. But I'm tired of it and afraid it's becoming a health hazard!

Answer: I was the world's messiest teenager. When my parents finally ripped out the old green shag carpet in my bedroom, well, let's just say what they found buried in there wasn't pretty. My mother feared I'd never become a tidy adult, but I did (for the most part). I like to believe there's a teenage "gene" to blame for messiness, but I really don't know. Closing the door is one option, but it doesn't solve bigger problems like ant infestations. Your teen's bedroom is part of your house, so they do have a resopnsibility to clean it once in a blue moon. A recent Redbook magazine article suggests helping your teen stay organized with containers, trash cans, laundry baskets, an organized homework space, etc., so they don't get overwhelmed. Go in and give them specific directions; just yelling at them to "Clean your room!" won't work very well. The article points out that making a no-eating policy in the room is fair, or at least have your teen take their trash and dishes downstairs before bed every night. One mother tells her teenage son "Either you clean it or I will, and you won't like the way I clean it! (She throws half his stuff away or donates it) Now there's an idea.