The Pickup Fairy

So, I'm browsing through the August, 2009 copy of Parents magazine, and I come across an article titled The Pickup Fairy. The author of the article describes how she invented the Pickup Fairy. She comes after the kids have gone to bed and takes away all the toys that are left out. Now, according to the author, her intent was to let the toys be hidden for about a week in hopes that her child would pick up. However, the child asked a few questions about the Pickup Fairy and then started picking up his toys each night, so the hiding wasn't necessary.

So, I thought I'd give it a try.

I told the kids, "I was talking to a friend of mine, and she told me that she has a Pickup Fairy that comes and takes toys that are left out at night and she said that she could give the Pickup Fairy our address. So, the Pickup Fairy is going to come tonight unless things are picked up."

My kids asked me a few questions. I don't remember exactly what they asked, but even Zane - my Spirited child that needs much more direction and coaxing than my other children - began to pick up. They were done faster than I had ever seen them pick up before, and they weren't even speeding through it all. I was amazed! I think the Pickup Fairy is going to be a regular visitor (or a reminder that she will be visiting) until they learn that she is not real.

After picking up, we went upstairs and had a snack. Then the kids brushed their teeth, and now that we have our nice new bed frame, the kids want to be in our room a little more, so we went into our room. We have started reading the third Harry Potter book and tonight I read chapter 2. I brought in some notebooks and pencils and crayons so that the kids could write and color while they listened to me read. I only read one chapter. Ryan started writing numbers where he had left off last time, but he only wrote from 72 to 81. He was entranced in listening to what I was reading. I could tell that he couldn't concentrate on anything else. Instead, he came and snuggled next to me while I continued to read.

Then we pushed all the kids towards their rooms to get ready for bed. As soon as we got into Delaney's room, she got all worried and started crying that the Pickup Fairy was going to take away her toys if she didn't pick up. I told her that her stuff would be okay where it is, but she insisted that she had to pick it up or the Pickup Fairy would take it away. So, I turned on the light, and we took 2 minutes to pick up her dress up clothes she was playing with earlier that day.

I really like this Pickup Fairy. Let's hope she sticks around for a while!!!