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# Good Night, Mess
- URL: https://dianaludwick.com/good-night-mess/
- Published: 2026-03-18T21:27:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:10:36.000Z
- Description: “Good Night, Mess,” written March 18, an observation of predictable chaos. Poem 077 in a series of 365 poems written by Diana Ludwick in 2026. "School Day Paraphernalia," Photo by Diana Ludwick (c) 2026.
- Author: Diana Ludwick
- Tags: 2026 Poetry Challenge, Humor, Poems, Clutter, Habits, Kids, March, Mess, Mother-Daughter dynamics, parenting, Patterns, Predictable Chaos, relationships, School, #Migrated-1792872215677, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-24 20:03

Every day:  
She comes home from school  
and plops her heavy backpack  
and enormous Stanley   
and her sweaty ankle socks  
and several precarious Sharpies  
and her questionably damp   
yet on-trend and so chic  
reusable lunch bag  
onto our living room couch.  
  
And every day I say:  
“Can you take your things   
off the couch?  
And could you place them   
in the landing zone  
that we built for your use.  
And please, will you   
disarticulate your Stanley?  
And pop it into the dishwasher.  
And then please empty out  
your lunch bag, why don’t you.  
So maybe, just possibly,  
tomorrow morning will  
go smoother?”  
  
And every day she   
S I G H S !  
And retorts:  
MOMIKNOW!   
MOMIMNOTABABY  
MOMIKNOWHOWTODOTHINGS  
CANYOULEAVEMEALONE!  
  
And every night   
as I turn the corner  
to ascend the stairs  
to attempt some sleep,  
I see from my peripheral:  
Her heavy backpack  
Her leaking Stanley  
Her discarded socks  
An uncapped Sharpie  
and her drooping lunch bag.  
  
All her detritus is   
nestled in   
for a long night's rest  
on our custom sofa.  
  
*ThisIsWhy* 
*WeCan’tHave* 
*GoodThings.*  
Good Night, Mess.