Messy Room Defender Gifts

Playing The Youth Card

"Until you clean you room, I'm confiscating your iPod, your Xbox and your jester!"

College kid rakes up his clothes on the floor in messy dorm room

"There, all neat and tidy!"

"Never mind rehearsing for your first year at Uni. Get up now!"

Newborn Chaos

"I finally got myself organized and unsubscribed from all those-e-mails."

"But mom, I can't clean my room now. I just won the Kids Bedroom Seal of Approval!"

Two bored males hanging out on a tatty sofa.

'Now, you'd better pick up your toys or no bath!'

'I'd like to come over, but Mom cleaned my room and it's going to take me all day to put it right again.'

"Bird of paradise, my ass."

Ask Sadie. Actual questions from actual readers! Send your questions to asksadie@rudypark.com. Dear Ask Sadie, My mom is always nagging me to clean my room. I don't see why I should have to. I like it the way it is. I don't nag at her for having a clean room, because I know that's how she likes it. How can I get her to just let me be me? - Unhappy at Home. Excellent question. The thing is, it's your mother's job to shape you into a respectable person. If you think "being you" includes being dirt

'How can he remember 37 passwords but always forget to pick his clothes up off the floor?'

'You should apply for government relief. Your room is a disaster area!'

"Dear Ask Sadie, My mom is always nagging me to clean my room. I don't see why I should have to. I like it the way it is. I don't nag at her for having a clean room, because I know that's how she likes it. How can I get her to just let me be?" "Excellent question. The thing is, it's your mother's job to shape you into a respectable person." "If you think 'being you' includes being dirty, that means you're a dirty, slovenly filth-beast..." "...who will end up alone and miserable because no liv

"Mum, I can't find my camouflage jacket."

'I've gotta go to the john. Have you seen my travel mug?'

Pardon me! My being born was your idea, not mine!

A 'Life is Sweet!' Moment

"Inspiration"

Antisocial distancing

"Your room isn't a rubbish tip! go and mess it up now!!"

"When I told you to change your socks... I didn't mean from one foot to another!"

'It's hard to believe her biggest passion is for a cleaner environment.'

"Ralphie sold me his car alarm."

"A banana Grace left in my room four weeks ago."

'Yes your room needs cleaning, the dust bunnies have become full grown rabbits!'

I thought I told you to straighten your room. (Originally published on 2008-01-08).

"I don't know what he's protesting, but he's been on a cleaning strike ever since I married him."

"Nice try, but you can't blame a messy room on standardized testing."

Thank you for not Feng Shuing.

'We gave you ample opportunity to clean your room, Billy. Now its been sealed off.'

'Assault on Mount Stinky...now that's a big adventure.'

"Both of you are rotten and hateful—from a kid's perspective."