Lets Play Cleanup

This article is for Grandboomers whose grandchildren are at least seven years of age.

Recently there was a horrific fire that killed a number of college students at a beachside cottage. That story generated a visit by news media to a college campus where they inspected the off-campus living quarters of a number of students. What they found was a universal disregard for cleanliness, neatness or concern for fire hazards. Clothes were strewn about, sometimes covering the entire floorspace. Food containers were piled high and in various stages of decay. Power boards plugged into each other accommodated computers, appliances and other electric items. All of these led back to a single plug into the wall wiring.

This lack of concern and knowledge about basic housekeeping probably started when the kids were growing up. Their parents picked up after them and provided safe homes without ever including the children in what was being done. If you see this happening with your children and grandchildren, it's time as a Grandboomer, that you speak up and help educate your grandchild or grandchildren about the value of picking up after themselves and keeping their living areas tidy. It takes only a few minutes to demonstrate the value of dropping dirty clothes into a hamper rather than wantonly on the floor.

In fairness to today's parents; in many cases both parents work. Home maintenance...even mowing the lawn...is done by hired help. So, parents don't teach their children how to do "things" the way our parents taught us. OK, so we've skipped a generation, but now that you're reaching retirement age, hopefully you'll have the opportunity to reforge the link and teach the young ones lessons for life about simple home maintenance, when to recognize danger signs, that an overloaded circuit can result in a fire and, yes, how to mow the lawn. Mowing is great exercise and provides instant gratification when you look back and see the nice trim lawn you've created. It's also a quiet time...the noise of the mower aside...when the person mowing can think about whatever.

These lessons will be carried for life by the children. If they go away to school, they'll know about picking up and such simple things as emptying the clothes dryer lint filter to avoid a fire.

When you set about cleaning the house, or if you do some of your own home maintenance, include the grandchildren. Tell them what you're doing and why. If they're old enough, let them pitch in. Outside they might paint, garden or do other chores. Inside, cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, washing dishes. It's time for Grandboomers to share their knowledge. The lessons the young ones learn will make them better parents in the future...and may save their lives when they set out on their own.