January 2005 Friend

more toys out, and his pajamas had joined the other
clothes on the floor.
Jamie walked slowly into the kitchen, dragging his
feet and sighing. Mom looked at him. “Jamie, is something
bothering you?”
“Mom, I can’t keep my New Year’s goal,” Jamie admitted.
“I can’t keep my room clean. I guess I am just too
little.”
“Do you mean that your toys are too heavy for you to
put away, or that your dresser drawers are too hard to
open?” Mom asked.
“No,” Jamie answered, “I’m just too young to keep
my room clean. I don’t know how Jill keeps hers clean.
She must not play in it very much.”
“I don’t think that’s it.” Mom thought for a minute.
“Jamie, I think you need to learn a little bit about how
goals work.” She got out a box of graham crackers and a
bunch of grapes, then sat down at the table next to him.
“Jamie, what things need to be done to have a clean
room?”
He thought for a minute. “Well, my toys need to be
put away, and my books should be on the bookshelf. My
bed should be made, and my clothes should be in the
closet.”
FRIEND JANUARY 2005 21