HEY, CHERIE!
I admit that I am a slob. I am a 15-year-old guy and my room is a total mess. My clothes are on the floor, and I don't make my bed in the morning. I know that you probably receive letters from other kids whose parents are on their case about their rooms, but my room is probably the worst disaster you've ever seen. And you know what? I don't really care.
I study at the kitchen table and my computer is in the living room so I am not in the room that often. I do my own laundry, which means no one has to come in for a laundry basket. Since I keep the door closed during the day, no one has to look at the mess that bothers them. Are my parents right to be on my case about my room? I think it's completely unfair. They should worry about other things, such as when I can get my driver's permit.
– Room Messy, Don't Care!
HEY, ROOM!
That's a tough one because you make some good points. You're living in this federal disaster area, not your parents. You keep your door closed, so they don't have to look at the mess. And you do your own laundry, which is admirable – most kids don't get close to doing that until they go to college, if even then.
But I can see a couple of points from your parentals at the same time. First, messiness is the opposite of discipline, and discipline is something every teen needs to learn. Second, there's a matter of sanitation. Are you telling me about the pizza boxes under your bed? The half-eaten Pop-Tarts on your dresser? The empty cans of Dr Pepper in the corner? I don't think so. If those items are there and you're not telling me about them, you're skewing the story in order for me to give you a certain answer.
I'd do this: Clean your room once every 10 days or when company is coming over. Keep food out of it and try to aim your dirty clothes for a laundry basket. You won't trip and fall at night when you're heading to the bathroom.
HEY, CHERIE!
My school just held its basketball banquet last night. I was on the freshman team, but at the end of the year I was moved up to junior varsity.
At the banquet I sat with the junior varsity kids, not the freshman players, who were my teammates for most of the year.
They totally busted my chops. Do you think I was wrong or right?
– Hoops Player
HEY, HOOPS!
I hope you had a great season on both squads. That's a tough one, caught between two teams. Here's my advice for next time. Start at one table, then move to another partway through the dinner, or for dessert, or for the awards.
When the coaches start to talk, definitely sit with the teammates you played with the most.
Cherie Bennett writes books for teens and young adults. Send e-mail to: family@uniontrib.com or write to her c/o Family, The San Diego Union-Tribune, P. O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191 and send a self-addressed stamped envelope for a personal reply.
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