Spring Cleaning: Not Just about Cleaning

Spring Cleaning Items in Basket with Spring Flowers

Jim and Jane: Spring Cleaning is also a time to reflect on You

Two local teens share their thoughts and ideas on being teens in the Dallas Ft Worth area. They share great parenting tips for teens in their monthly column. Have a teen question for Jim and Jane? Email it to info@northtexaskids.com.

Jim: We rushed through this winter here in North Texas (if there even was one with the mild temperatures!) and spring is closing in on us quickly. The grass is turning a little greener and leaves are starting to show up on the branches. With spring comes spring cleaning! Although most people seem to take cleaning literally to mean cleaning out their homes, Jane and I both agree that “spring cleaning” can also be taken as a way to reflect on you.

Jane: I take spring cleaning  literally every year: being who I am, I cherish the opportunity to cleanse my room and living area. Although it’s sometimes a bit overwhelming, being able to take some time out of every year just to clean and sort is something that I look forward to. It is great to be able to know exactly where everything is and know it’s in its proper place! My mom and I use spring cleaning as a major bonding opportunity, which is something I strongly encourage. Someone has to do it, so you might as well do it with the people you love!

Teens can set goals for finishing out the school year

Jim: For teens, you can focus on how you want to close out the school year. For Jane and I, we’ll be graduating in June and ‘senioritis’ is in full effect for most of our classmates. If you have a senior, make sure that they know they need to finish strong so they have some momentum going into college. For those not graduating in the summer, take the spring as a time to set goals for how you want to close out this year and prepare for the next one. TAKS tests are important to focus on; end-of-the-year exams are imperative, as are the tests and quizzes that come up along the way.

Jane: Just like Jim said, this spring is a big time in our lives. Our senior year is coming to a close, which is something that I still have a hard time saying. Of course, like every year, I will be taking some time to clean out the closets and under the bed, but more important: I will be relaxing and reflecting on what an incredible family life and home I have. I’ll be making sure that I carve out some solid time with my parents and the people I love – because before I know it, I won’t be here in Dallas any more to enjoy it every day.

Status check of New Year’s resolutions

Jim: As an adult, springtime can also be an important time to “clean out” some things in your life. It’s a good way to see how you’re doing with your New Year’s resolutions (if you made any), because by the end of this month 2012 will be a quarter of the way over!! Use it as an opportunity to “clean out” some bad habits – whatever they might be.

Jane: We all know that we keep up with our New Year’s Resolutions best during the first of the year. But just like Jim said – spring break is the perfect time check! Since most people are focused on dieting and looking good at this time of the year, the health factor probably isn’t something that needs to be harped on, but anything else can be stepped up a little bit.

It’s Spring — enjoy yourself

Jim: Along with doing some “spring cleaning” you need to be sure to enjoy yourself during the spring: whether it’s going to the park with the family or going out of town on Spring Break, March is the perfect month to have some fun!!

Jane: Exactly! Spring break is the right time to live it up and have a blast with your friends and family. Let your kids stay out a little bit later and spend time with their friends, but make sure you get to spend some time with them too! Enjoy the time you have together because as soon as school starts again, you will be just as busy as ever!

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