Flushing Optional

We have two bathrooms in our house...ours and the boys'.  The boys' bathroom is actually the main bathroom for the whole house, but for all intents and purposes, it is the boys' bathroom. They mark this bathroom much in the same way a dog marks it's territory.  In addition to dribble marks on the floor in front of the stool, they also leave their mark with dried blue toothpaste in the sink (sometimes mixed with whiskers), dirty laundry draped over the tub, the daily newspaper scattered about and more often than not, an empty toilet roll sitting on the counter.  


For these reasons, I have often referred to this bathroom as the gas station bathroom and have refused to use it.  But just before Thanksgiving, my husband remodeled their bathroom and made it simply beautiful.  So today, I decided to give this not even two week old bathroom a try.  For the most part, it looked great.  But then I saw the tell-tell sign that it definitely is still the boys' bathroom.  The toilet had not been flushed.


I do not know why my sons consider flushing to be optional.  And in spite of their mantra, 'if it's yellow, leave it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down', I somehow doubt their actions have as much to do with water conservation as simple laziness.  


Unfortunately, that isn't the only thing my sons consider 'optional' around here.  My youngest often considers tooth brushing optional.  When it's to the point where his teeth and flesh are almost the same color, I feel compelled to inquire when he last brushed.  (Were I more gifted, I could probably answer that question by the hardness of the dried toothpaste in the sink.)  He will then, use the inside collar of his shirt to wipe off his teeth...as though that's a worthy substitute for actual brushing.


Putting sheets on their beds is also optional to the boys.  My mom often says it looks like an episode of 'Cops' around here because the mattresses are always exposed and their bedrooms look like they were ransacked.  I have no idea why they elect to sleep in the remains of their own sloughed off skin cells or why they feel at home in rooms that put the best frat houses to shame.  


Clothing is also optional around here much of the time.  I do not know why I cannot convince my boys that they are past the point where seeing them in their skivvies is cute.  One of them traipses through the house routinely in nothing but his undies, usually scratching himself as he goes.  But at least he refrains from letting it all hang out when we have company, unlike my youngest, who very recently made a trip through our dining room in just a sweatshirt and his underwear (why a sweatshirt with underwear, I haven't a clue) while I had several of my friends over.  Even when I shouted, "Hey, these ladies don't want to see that", he just shrugged and went on about his business.


Maybe these are just issues in our house.  Maybe they are just issues for mothers of sons.  Maybe they're the things that make for annoyances now but will make for funny memories somewhere down the road.  Who knows...I'm just glad I have my own bathroom.  :-)