OFF LIMITS
repost from 2010
I do a fair amount of work from my home office. It’s pretty nice, I have it set up specifically for work and writing.
I’ve had the same rule for the kids their whole life regarding my office: Don’t touch anything in my office! A few times over the years I went as far as telling them, “Don’t even step foot in my office”! –“I don’t even want you to breathe in there”!
This was usually followed by one of the kids borrowing something from my office without asking. I never knew the exact moment they were breaking the rule. I only found out something was missing when I desperately needed it.
It’s a game I thought I could win! I’ve tried everything. When I went shopping for some of my basic office needs, I’d go out of my way to make sure everyone else in the house had their essentials as well. Not so much because I’m a good guy, I just didn’t want any juvenile hands pilfering through my organized things.
Can you say Jumbo Pack? If I needed paper I’d buy the 40 lb. box. When it was time for a new stapler I’d buy three. The count on mechanical pencils must be up to around 1 million. There was a time when I had several calculators, more than five retractable erasers, and at least three architectural scales.
Yesterday? I had nothing…Zero, zilch, nada. I was a regular “Old Mother Hubbard.” It’s funny (not ha ha, more like peculiar) how no one is ever at home when I discover that my office has been raided. I talk to myself… I know I’m all alone, but I ask the question anyway, “ARE YOU KIDDIN’ ME”?!!!
Apparently no one’s keeping the house rules when it comes to my office. Everything was gone except two empty staplers. My office was like Whoville after the Grinch’s raid.
Instead of getting work done, I rifle through the house on my personal “Treasure Hunt.” My list is always the same and I never ever find everything on my list. When the kleptomaniacs get home they never seem to remember taking anything. I’m not sure Sherlock Holmes could solve these seemingly obvious mysteries. Although I haven’t gone as far as dusting for finger prints just yet.
I look up from my frustration and am surrounded by pictures of the perpetrators. They look kind and innocent in the pictures. I spot the picture over the fireplace of all of my girls taken about ten years ago. My wife was taller than all of them back then. Oh, don’t think that I’m not aware that she too does her share of pilfering!
I study the picture of all four of them at the lake on a oversize inner tube. They don’t really look like criminals. I see the sketch of the three sisters done about seven years ago at Lego-Land. They didn’t want to get it done. I made them stand in line to get that done. Sure glad I did.
I see the team sports pictures spanning the big girls High School years. I spy the pictures from children to current day. I’m remembering all the times of frustration spent trying to prevent my office supplies from disappearing. I also recall all of the time spent recovering some of the lost articles.
I have to laugh… I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything. Whatever taken from “The Forbidden Room” was used on school projects. They figured out how to succeed. None of them were going to let a simple house rule interfere with what they knew was important to me as much as them.
I spot a picture of my wife at about two years old. There I am about the same age with a plastic phone in my hand. Right above us is a photograph of my wife’s parents on their wedding day. Over to the left is a picture of my mom and dad taken around 1969. That’s my favorite picture of them.
This off limits room I call my office, I cherish. I don’t blame my family for breaking a few rules every now and then.
I guess they already figured that out…
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 3:13 am
Fortunately for me my office was never at the house. Whew! However, my wife is the biggest culprit of pilfered things. My girls? Since no office was at home what need do they have to go into dad’s dresser unless they want to be a cross-dresser? So, for the most part, I was free of that. Now…if I can just find those toe nail clippers she “borrowed.”
Jackie
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 6:05 am
I always love your blogs Floyd! Ain’t this the truth except I have hit the age now where the culprit is myself and I can’t remember where I put that darn thingamajiggy!!!
Floyd
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 11:02 am
Thank you much Jackie. You’re right, it’s becoming a family joke when I ask any of them, “Have you seen my water”? I can’t keep up with my water bottle to save my life… Think I’ll quit asking so they don’t have me committed…
Floyd
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 11:00 am
Thanks Bill, it’s comforting to know that you at least suffered a little of my frustrations!
TC Avey
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 7:57 am
A smile tugs at my lips as I read this. Thanks
Floyd
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 11:03 am
Thanks TC. A smile is good…
Lisa notes
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 4:27 pm
So you’re a softie at heart. 🙂 I should have figured that out. Glad you have such sweet memories with your family.
I’m quite an office supply junkie myself. Could spend hours in an Office Depot or Staples.
Floyd
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 5:00 pm
Thanks Lisa, yeah, I guess I am a softie sometimes. I’m with you, I could spend hours in those stores too! I shouldn’t be surprised!
Lenna Wyatt
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 6:43 pm
I had an office when my kids were small with an old Smith Corona typewriter, plenty of paper, drawing tools, etc. I had a door that would lock, too, but I didn’t with 5 of them pretty small then, I had to keep an ear out for any crashes or screams.
But I wish someone could tell me who keeps taking my scissors, my black Sharpies that I use by the pack, my graph paper, my last few special Rose Art pencils which were discontinued and had the perfect erasers on them, my Scotch tape, my bulging notebook full of craft designs, my 18″ ruler, my art gum eraser and my index cards…. I live alone.
Floyd
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 9:13 pm
Are you accusing me of losing my mind? I could be, but I’m tellin’ ya, I found 12 pairs of scissors in my little ones pig st- I mean room, last time my wife made her clean it out! Hope all is well and you’re healing quickly. Thanks for taking the time during your recuperation process…
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 10:21 pm
This post is sweet and Hilarious all at the same time. Disappearing needed treasures, but gone for another good cause. You are a good dad to purchase extra, and why things disappear is always a mystery, especially when they have one (or two) of their own. Call it sharing if you will.
Floyd
Thursday, March 22, 2012 @ 6:57 am
Thanks Hazel. This is something that we can all relate to for sure. It’s almost like a magic show… “Now you see it, now you don’t”!
Nancy
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 @ 11:01 pm
You rough-tuff cream puff, you! I snickered the whole way through. My “office” is also at home. It had been tough becasue there is no way to completely close people out. I finally stuck a few of the extra’s under my bed upstairs so when I really needed something, I’d have it. Scissors got lost the most.
Not only did my office suffer, but becasue I have 4 daughters, so did my jewelry box. I still have one gold hoop with no mate, one gold butterfly with no match and a several of my favorite silver pieces that stare at me from the “I-don’t-want-to-throw-it-away” part of my treasure box…
It seems that “nobody” resides in both our homes and offices! LOL!
Good share! Thanks!
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 7:01 pm
It’s nice to know I’m not alone! Misery loves company!
Floyd
Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 5:38 pm
Cream puff? You’re too funny! They definitely my kryptonite! I’ll bet you’re not so different!
Pat Bowling
Thursday, March 22, 2012 @ 11:44 am
As mothers, we learn to lay idols like this down VERY EARLY! It comes with the title. In fact, I’ve always said if there’s anything in my house that hasn’t been glued, let’s just go ahead and break it now and get it over with!
Enjoyed this!
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 9:08 am
Well… I knew I had something to learn here! That’s one way to not lose your mind I guess! Thanks Pat.
Audra Krell
Thursday, March 22, 2012 @ 4:10 pm
Wait, that’s the same look you had at Starbucks the other day….just kidding!
Love your recollection of very cherished memories of precious family.
Floyd
Friday, March 23, 2012 @ 9:09 am
Thanks Audra, yeah, that’s the same look at church too I’m afraid… Just kidding! We all have the frustrations from kids, but some how it transforms into cherished memories…