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By Meredith Ethington

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decorating Humor In the Motherhood Manic Mondays Motherhood Organization Parenting Perfection

5 Arguments Against Having a Perfectly Organized Playroom

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I spent way too much time dreaming this weekend. What was I dreaming of?

You might think I was dreaming of getaways to warm, sandy beaches, or of a date night out with my husband. Maybe I was dreaming of a trip to Paris…eating a big giant crepe full of Nutella bought from a street cart. Or perhaps, dreaming of bigger house?

Nope. I wasn’t. In fact, I was vacuuming my house and feeling grateful that it was just the right size to vacuum every room on the main floor via one plug. You see, I spent my weekend dreaming about organization.

The Virgo in me LOVES to be organized. I could look at pictures of brightly colored pencils all lined up in a row for hours, and I would prefer to look at a Container store catalog any day over Vogue. I don’t dream of vacations on the beach (although those would be nice) very often. Instead, I dream of trips into my kids’ rooms where I don’t trip, curse, or smell something weird.

My playroom board on Pinterest has become my new favorite board to pin to. You should totally follow it. It only has 23 pins for now, but trust me, it will grow. Because I don’t dream of vacations, beaches, and bigger homes. No, I dream of downsizing, purging, and organizing.

The problem is, I can’t seem to actually get organized. So, instead, I dream. Of a playroom that looks like this:

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The thought of having this room sounds so appealing, but the thought of creating it sounds downright terrifying. I want it like I want to pee alone without a knock on the door. I want a room that looks like this like I want to each chocolate after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I want this room like I want Nicholas Cage to die a sudden death so I never have to see him in a movie ever again.

But, here are the top 5 reasons why I will never have this room. And, why you shouldn’t stress about having it either.

1. Money. Life is all about choices you say? You’re right. But, I buy organic milk for my kids, so therefore, I can’t afford this room.

2. It would require measuring things. Measuring things requires math. Enough said.

3. It would require painting. I swear my husband and I almost got divorced over painting a room once. Not really, but I really did not like him very much after that experience. And that was when we only had one kid!! When we recently painted our floor, the baby ended up eating some. So you, know, there’s that.

4. It would require trips to Home Depot with my children. While in theory, this sounds like something my kids would love, it sounds like something that makes me nauseous. I walk into stores like this and immediately start to shut down. It’s like I see aisles and aisles blur together in a sea of do it yourself madness. Bolts and light switches and things that have to be measured before using them are things that I avoid like a friend that just told me her kids have been puking all week.

5. It would require trips to any store with my kids, period. You see, I can’t make it through a grocery store trip most days without feeling like I want to confront little old ladies who walk too slowly. Add a 2 year old to any shopping experience, and it immediately becomes an experience equivalent to reevaluating your life’s meaning: Why am I here? What is absolutely necessary? How quickly can this be over? If you look at this room, it would require a trip to several stores. A store for shelves, a different one for fabric, another one for that cute light, wall art, rugs, ottomans, baskets, furniture!!!!   MAKE IT STOP! Just shopping for the contents of this room with a 2 year old would probably take me 6 years. By then, my children will no longer need a playroom.

And, if you’re still not convinced that you should get over having the perfect playroom, here’s a bonus reason: Kids WILL play there. Do I need to explain myself further?

So, I will continue to dream, my friends. Because in my dreams…..those pretty pinterest dreams, I see organization and I escape into a world that looks beautiful. When, in reality, my boys’ room currently looks like a bomb went off. Don’t believe me?

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I think at this point, the best approach would be to burn it and start over. I have excuses for everything that is hideous about this room, but I’m too tired to explain myself. So, instead, I think I’ll pop on over to Pinterest for my escape from reality and just. keep. pinning.

And, if you want to another post about my messy kids room, you should really check out one of my favorites: Organization. It’s All About The Multi-Colored Baskets. Truly.


35 Comments

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Comments

  1. Kerry says

    February 17, 2014 at 5:04 am

    Aww, that first picture makes me nice and calm 😉 I’m a Virgo too and constantly looking for the perfect organization system that looks cute too! This was my latest inspired by Making Memories in the Chaos:
    I’m still loving it but the cuteness makes me want to constantly tidy it. Thats my only problem with these perfectly adorable and organized rooms…they’re too cute for kids! haha

    Reply
    • Kerry says

      February 17, 2014 at 5:04 am

      oops, here is the picture:
      http://klsullie78.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1454&action=edit

      Reply
      • Meredith says

        February 17, 2014 at 8:23 am

        I can’t see the picture either. 🙁

        Reply
  2. Donofalltrades says

    February 17, 2014 at 8:35 am

    Of all the borderline crazy moms I know, you’re my favorite.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 17, 2014 at 1:14 pm

      Awww. Don. That means so much. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Karen says

    February 17, 2014 at 8:47 am

    I feel better every time I read one of your posts. Thanks for keeping it real!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 17, 2014 at 1:14 pm

      My pleasure!! That’s my goal every time!! To make other feel better about themselves.

      Reply
  4. Seana Turner says

    February 17, 2014 at 9:41 am

    Well Meredith, I’m a lot like you. I love everything lined up, orderly, etc. In fact, I’ve made a profession of it. But I understand the frustrations of trying to keep a play space looking perfect. Remember, the pictures in the photos are largely staged — not for actual playing:) You might get a kick out of my post this week…

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 17, 2014 at 1:15 pm

      Oooh. I can’t wait to check it out! 🙂 Can you come make my playroom look like that?

      Reply
  5. Robin says

    February 17, 2014 at 9:52 am

    I’d love a beautiful playroom for the kids too… ours might actually be beautiful if the toys were ever put away properly. Sometimes it’s beautiful for a few hours, while the children are sleeping.

    Also, couldn’t agree more about Mr.Cage.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 17, 2014 at 1:16 pm

      I know. He’s so annoying!

      Reply
  6. Cass@frugalfamily says

    February 17, 2014 at 10:54 am

    I love your reasons – especially the one about Maths 😉

    Thanks for linking up with the parenting pin it party this week x x

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 17, 2014 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks for hosting!

      Reply
  7. Tarana says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:37 pm

    Your boys’ room actually looks comfy! I’d love to nice and neat playroom too, but with a toddler on my hands, I have to agree with all of your five points and stop dreaming 🙂

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 17, 2014 at 1:16 pm

      COMFY??? That’s a new one. It gives me hives going in there. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Kelly says

    February 17, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    This is priceless! And oh, so true. I don’t mind the painting or the trips to Home Depot. I usually eff up the math but my enginerd husband usually salvages my mistakes. However, it’s an awful lot of work for something my kids would destroy in a matter of weeks. It would never look like the picture perfect playroom after snapping the pic of it. So what’s the point? But like you, I will have visions of it dancing in my head forever 🙂

    Reply
  9. Mary Widdicks says

    February 17, 2014 at 9:37 pm

    I vow to organize my kids play area at least once a week. I have all kinds of plans to make cute little lables for colorful drawers that have words as well as pictures to help with their reading skills. Then, of course, I realize that it would require me to take both boys to Michaels. Inevitably this would end with one, or more, of us in tears and at least $20 worth of damaged goods that I’d have to buy. Suddenly the mess doesn’t look so bad 😉 But boy those pictures are pretty…

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 17, 2014 at 10:00 pm

      Haha! Yes! A trip to Michaels sounds pretty much awful.

      Reply
  10. Jessie says

    February 17, 2014 at 10:30 pm

    You make me laugh. and #2 – I can’t even begin to list the efforts I have gone through to avoid math always good to know it’s not just me! 🙂

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 18, 2014 at 7:54 am

      Oh my gosh. I’ve told my husband he can never die for that reason. Who would help my kids with math past the 4th grade?

      Reply
  11. The Waiting says

    February 18, 2014 at 11:00 am

    AMEN TO NUMBER TWO! (That really sounds like a potty training anthem, but I think you know what I mean.) Why would one willfully do anything that requires math? No really, I don’t know.

    Our entire apartment is the playroom. I tried to sequester the toys but at night when I’m sleeping they come out and thwart me.

    Reply
  12. Ana Lynn says

    February 18, 2014 at 11:32 am

    You just made me feel better about having an unorganized playroom. I tried. Believe me I tried. Then I followed the principle of: “If you can’t beat them, join them.” And the world didn’t end, the Earth is still spinning around. In a way it’s freeing.

    Reply
  13. KalleyC says

    February 18, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    I am so with you on point #4! I went into HomeDepot with two kids, and it wasn’t pretty. I was ready to leave the moment I stepped in there. I so want an organized play room, but I have toys in every room in the house….EVERY ROOM (think bout that for a moment). I love this post!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 18, 2014 at 2:23 pm

      I’m with you my friend. Every room here as well. And, sometimes, I find them in my bed!!!

      Reply
  14. Rachel says

    February 19, 2014 at 8:25 pm

    I agree with you on all 5 accounts. I would love to have a playroom that is neat and organized, but then I just could never bring myself to allow anyone to play in it:) Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 19, 2014 at 9:23 pm

      Thank you for the pin and for stopping by!

      Reply
  15. Mandee says

    February 22, 2014 at 11:04 am

    Love this post. I think we all struggle with having to have the “perfect” something. Totally agree with you on the whole math thing. YUCK!!! That is what my hubby is for, all that measuring and figuring isn’t for me. Ha!

    Reply
  16. Masha says

    February 24, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Maybe your kids’ room is a disaster… My entire house is full of toys, books, crafts and an assortment of *favorite and special things* (i.e. rocks, sparkles, leaves and assorted other miscellanea that must be kept, lest my growing little person gets upset were I to *disappear* them…*sigh*…). I’ve organized & put away. More keeps arriving. The room she has is pretty much a fire trap, and needs to be excavated since it’s little and there’s not really any space to actually WALK through it at this point. That’s ok though: she doesn’t sleep in the bunk beds I set up for her there a few years back: they actually serve as a fort. Still sleeping with me: so *our* room is crammed full of stuffies, books, clothes (mostly hers & some of mine), and occasional art & craft projects. It’s all made me occasionally *Kaaaraaayzeee!*. Because I’m more about the zen and surfaces. But.It’s.SO.Hard. To keep up with it all. Because you can spend hours and days putting away, and it takes all of ten minutes for her and a friend to waltz in and scramble any semblance of order. So, sometimes — when there’s some free time — though I know how much better I feel when there’s more space and less clutter — I just can’t bring myself to actually spend that time on something that seems both overwhelming and thankless. What’s that quote about cleaning while your children are growing? *Cleaning up with small children around is like shoveling during a blizzard.* Anyways. Thanks for this. Reassuring. Our homes may not be perfect — this post definitely was! 🙂

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 24, 2014 at 12:45 pm

      Thanks Masha! You’re so nice. 🙂 My whole house feels like this too, but I DO straighten the main rooms all day long and just throw stuff in the boys’ room in the hopes that no one will see it.

      Reply
  17. Kristi Campbell says

    November 12, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    We bought at the worst time ever for some bad reasons (another story) but are in a town home (which is not as weird in DC as it is in other areas). All the time, I want to convert the lowest level to a nicer play area. But um yeah. Pretty much what you said in all of your points. Painting? Gross. Been there done that and please no more trips to Home Depot!!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 13, 2014 at 5:35 pm

      Ha. I love how you said painting? Gross. So FREAKING true.

      Reply

Trackbacks

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Welcome! I’m Meredith.

Mom. Writer. Diet Coke connoisseur. Born and raised Texan. Lover of real talk and laughter with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

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Meredith Ethington

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The state of our economy. Social media. People being unemployed. People being racist and homophobic. The debate over politics. People judging people. ALLLLLL of it. 

Everything is crap right now. We joke about it a lot. We have to in order to survive. 

It’s the one millionth day of January but Spring feels so far away. 

I’m over these four damn walls that we call home. 

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But, my guess is you’re reading this right now and realizing you’re over it too. Whatever “it” is in your life.

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