The Cleaning String: lessons we can learn from our kids

I believe the old adage “necessity is the mother of invention”. That certainly holds true with The Cleaning String. It all took place on a random Saturday afternoon in the summer of 2008. My family was set to visit us that Sunday for fun and frolicking on the lake. We were expecting over 30 guests. What can I say?  I have a big family. Predictably, my list of chores was ominous.

 I can neither confirm nor deny that the night before I was out late with coworkers.  Adult beverages were potentially consumed. Consequently, I was in need of a nap and barely halfway through my list. The nap was an absolute necessity to regain energy and to empower me to push through my laborious tasks. Additionally, my then 5-year old daughter’s room was in serious need of some attention. 

Being a clever fellow, I set out to kill two birds with one stone.  I took my daughter to her room- you could barely see the carpet- and gave her specific instructions to put all her dirty clothes in the hamper, and then she was to put all her toys away.

Satisfied, I retreated to the comfort of the couch, Tiger baseball, and possibly to “rest my eyes”. However, as soon as my eyes were closed, I was confronted by a little girl in total anguish. My poor daughter was overwhelmed and literally crying for help. I was defenseless.

With Herculean effort, I raised my weary self from the couch, took her hand, and we made our way to her bedroom. Then inspiration struck!  My bleary eyes cleared as I beheld my saving grace in the inconspicuous form of a 6-foot length of string.

Immediately, I sprung forward, snatching up the string from the doorway and strategically placing the string in the far corner of my daughter’s room, squaring off a 3-foot section. “Sweetheart, don’t worry about your room, just focus on this little area inside the string. I want you to pick up these toys only. Then, when you are done you come get me and we will move the string to a new area.”

Seizing my opportunity, I casually sauntered back to the Tiger game and the couch. As you may have predicted, after five or six cycles of The Cleaning String I was confronted again by my little angel. However this time, her demeanor was completely transformed. She was beaming from ear to ear and bursting with pride:  “Daddy! Daddy, I cleaned my whole room, all by myself!”

 I took the string, wrapped it up, and gave it back to my daughter-directing her to put it in her drawer. The Cleaning String became a weekly ritual.

To this day, when I am faced with a task that seems overwhelming, I recall The Cleaning String. I simply break off a manageable portion of the entire job and simply get to work, smiling as I remember my little princess.