This story originally appeared on Babble and is reprinted with permission.
A mom can only rage clean for so long before she eventually snaps.
When son, Nick, tried to walk into his living room this week, he was met with strict orders to stay out. "CLOSED" his mother's handwritten note read in all caps, taped at eye level so he daren't miss it. He took to Twitter for sympathy, posting a picture of his mom's note with the caption, "Okay how my mom just gonna close down the living room for a month??"
How Nick? Because she's your mom. And she said so.
Nick Denbow, the 17-year-old from Ohio, has received quite a bit of attention since posting the note to social media on November 5th. Though I believe it is his mom, Michele Keylor, who really deserves the attention.
IMAGE SOURCE: NICK DENBOW
Every mother knows how maddening it is picking up after your kids. Cleaning is a thankless job. A minutia of continuously tidying up dirt, toys, and food particles that seem to multiply like gremlins as your child casually strolls by; blissfully unaware of the havoc they create. And when you are trying to get ready for any sort of family gathering or event requiring people to enter your home? Forget it. Kids can sense things like this. They smell fear.
So Michele did what any mother in her right mind should do. She took matters into her own hands and closed the living room until after Thanksgiving.
"This room has been cleaned for the holidays and is officially CLOSED until Thanksgiving," her note read. "Special permission will be considered for you to sit on my clean furniture and/or walk on my clean carpet only after the following conditions have been met:
1) You have showered and are dirt- and odor-free from top to toe.
2) You are wearing freshly laundered clothing.
*If permission is granted ... NO food or drinks are permitted at this time!"
IMAGE SOURCE: NICK DENBOW
Hilariously enough, Nick told Buzzfeed since the note went up, no one has tried to get in the living room, not even the dogs. "There's no barricade or anything to keep them out," he says. "It's just like they know to stay out." Even the dogs know she means business. And that right there is how you do it, folks.
IMAGE SOURCE: NICK DENBOW
Michele signed the letter:
"Thank you, You may choose one of many titles:
- Mom
- Payer of the bills
- Chauffeur
- Queen of the castle
- Person ruining your life
- Bossy bitch in charge
Whatever works for you!"
I'd say more like, whatever works for you, Michele. Keep it up, lady friend. I'd say you've got this whole parenting thing figured out.
h/t: Netmums
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