02 May 2011

On The Bedposts of A Dilemma

It's Goon Squad Sarah's fault that I'm telling you this and it's probably in the category of "no one cares what you had for lunch", but I don't make my bed.

Really. It's just going to get messed up again, day in and day out. We long ago gave up on blankets and top sheets and bedspreads; we just use a down comforter and a fitted bottom sheet. And lots of pillows, most for me. You could argue that there's not much to do to shake out the duvet, but I just can't be bothered.

But I hear my mother's voice in the back of my head - did you make your bed? She always made her bed, she always nagged us children to do so, and I wonder - should I be teaching my child to make her bed? Encouraging her? Nagging her?

It's the tiniest of dilemmas.

19 comments:

FreshHell said...

My kids don't do top sheets either so it's fitted sheet and duvet. I pull the covers up on my bed in the morning (is that making it?) but mainly because the cat likes to sleep there and I'd rather not have cat hair in my bed at night. I don't expect my kids to make their beds. Exercise in futility.

painted maypole said...

i pretty much only make mine if company is coming over, but I've been trying to make it more often, in that whole "if your world is neater you feel more in control" thing, and since I feel REALLY out of control in regards to just about everything, I will confess a neat bed is nice.

I don't make MQ make her bed regularly, either.

Life in Eden said...

No bed making in our house ... by anyone. My mom does her's but never made too big a deal for us. I too think it is pointless, and only do it when I put new sheets on or if company will even be in my room.

I can't get the boy to keep the room clean, so the bed is beyond him.

leanne said...

And yet I think about this dilemma, too (more so lately as I've been changing the sheets more often with sick children and all). I haven't ever taught my children to make the bed. Probably because I don't make it very often either.

Though it would be helpful on the nights when my husband goes to bed first. As I usually have to tug for my fair share of the sheet and blankets. (And I usually end up in bed before he does. Otherwise, I might find my motivation here.)

Amira said...

I like the look of a made up bed, but geez, if I'm the one who has to do it, then forget it. It's something that I don't care about and won't bother my kids about either.

Heide Estes said...

The real question: Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

trudie said...

I have a wonderful duvet, but I use duvet covers. That way I only need to wash the duvet twice a year and it'll last that much longer since it cost me $300... Well worth it!

Anjali said...

Don't ever make the bed, don't ever make the kids' beds: don't ever see the point either!

mayberry said...

I am right there with you on this one. My daughter likes to sleep under a big stack of blankets and in the morning, every single one is on the floor.

The Library Lady said...

Every two weeks or so my wonderful cleaning woman comes in and makes the beds just so and they look great. Fabulous.

But the rest of the time?

SC sleeps in a loft bed, which is a bitch to make up--takes two of us to do it. JR sometimes makes her own bed.
And since everyone regards my bed as public property (there's a sick girl in it this moment), I seldom bother to make it up...

Bibliomama said...

I make my bed, but only because of my OCD. Even if I'm late and I could really use those extra 45 seconds I have to make my bed. We use a top sheet but I don't have them on the kids' beds and they never make them. I make them every now and then if I clean up their rooms. I haven't taught my kids most of the skills my mother would probably say I should. I'll get right on that. Maybe.

Rima said...

As you may know, I feel pretty strongly about this subject (http://www.rimarama.com/2011/01/did-you-make-your-bed-this-morning.html)

I have to make my bed for the sake of my sanity. But I will continue to be your blog friend, nevertheless.

julochka said...

making the bed is overrated. but pillows are not. and you can never have too many.

YourFireAnt said...

Gosh. That could be me. The no top sheets, lots of pillows, down comforter. And I haven't made the bed since I left home at 21.

;-)

p.s. What did you have for lunch?

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

It will not surprise that the thought of this gives me hives. :-)

Kyla said...

I don't make the bed until it is time to climb into it at night. Can't sleep in an unmade bed!

BubTar constantly kicks his top sheet to the bottom of the bed...don't know why I keep putting it on there!

heidi said...

I only make the bed before I get in it. Or hopefully before Hubs gets in it, or I'm stuck with the lumps.

heidi said...

P.S... If I can't sleep with the flat sheet tucked in at the foot of the bed. I don't know how anyone does.

abby said...

I didn't understand the point in making your bed until I moved to China - it gets dirty. With all the soot and exhaust and everything else in the air here, leaving your bed unmade means changing the sheets everyday. I chose to shake out the duvet every morning instead.

But how I will love to come home to the factory-free air of the States, and again, get to leave my bed squishy from the our night's sleep.