Once Upon A time....

At some point during my college career, my mom actually sent me a Berenstain Bear book...The In Crowd.

No, I wasn't having issues fitting in. I wasn't needing a pep talk on how to make friends. Or how to avoid the wrong people. She was just doing something that she had done for the large majority of my life.


Add to my Berenstein Bear book collection.


I have dozens. And dozens. As a child, I read them over and over and over again. They became a part of me. As Sister Bear and Brother Bear learned life lessons, those lessons would stick with me.

A quote from the movie "You've Got Mail" says it best. "When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does."

My husband and I can both attest to this fact. I can think of countless of books that I read over and over during my elementary school years that became the backbone to my independent streak...or my love of XYZ...or my wanting to be a tom-boy as a little girl.

And yes, I can even trace my love of organization back to a book. Which so happens to be of the Berenstain Bear collection. A book called "And the messy room".

I read and reread that sucker. I ingested it. I would turn the pages back and forth to compare the once messy room to the now ultra-organized abode. They had "throw away piles" and "give away piles." They had peg boards and shelves lined with labeled boxes. Everything had it's place. Ahhh...the sweetness of it all. ;)

So yes, all that to say that when Brother and Sister Bear had to fix their messy room, the urge to clean and organize my own room was birthed. I remember it.

And it seems that we have another up and coming "I've been changed by the Berenstain family" groupie. My daughter, Charis (4).

She's been reading "Forget their manners." Remember when I so lovingly mentioned our bout with Charis's Crusade to Mannerize the World? Well, it continues. And I'm thinking I have Mama Bear to thank.

She that chart? Yeah well...the other day she was telling me how she was going to make a list of all the things that people can do when they come over for her birthday party.
"Oh really?" I ask.

"Yes. Like they can sweep the porch stairs and..." She went on.

"Uh, honey. I don't think people are going to want to do those things when they come over for a party." As crazy as that is.

So, being the obedient daughter that she is, she tweaked the idea. I vaguely remember her telling me that she was going to write out a list of rules. And I think I may have come across them as I was gathering paper junk the other night. I ALMOST threw it away in my quest for absolving my house of ALL the paper trash made through out the day...but then I decided to see what it said. And I'm so glad I did! My husband and I laughed and laughed....

Can you read that? Allow me.

People Manners

A. When you play with your toy, you put your toy away.

And I'm thinking you can crack that one. But just in case:

Chew with your mouth closed.

So there you have it. The Berenstain Bear family strikes again. At least thats my take on it. Though later in life, she may look and me and say, "Mom?! You think I got my love for lists from an illustrated bear? *phst* Whatever. I got it from YOU. You and all your lists..."

:) Oh. Yeah. Maybe I have a bit of influence in the girl's life as well. But my bet is still with Mama Bear on this obsession. Uh, I mean developing characteristic.

But either way...I'm heading straight to the library to check out ALL sort of books. Books on how to fix computers. how to build space crafts. how to speak in 20 languages. I'm going to see if I can't utilize this little window of opportunity.

...And they lived happily ever after. ;)