DS15 just took the ACT for the 3rd time (not the same DS from the above story, BTW). He got a lower score on the reading portion, and I commented on it. He said there were some really interesting passages this time and he took time to savor them, so he had to rush on the less interesting ones. Of course, he doesn't usually read the passages at all, because you can go right to the questions and then just find the answer in the passage.

This was a "practice" ACT administered to the sophomores by the HS, scores are not submitted to College Board, so he took advantage of that to enjoy the test, and he still got 99%ile (even against juniors).

DD's desk at school is organized and neat. Almost to the point that you can tell she deals with OCD. But I have to help her clean her room because it is a complete disaster and she doesn't know where to start. And she panic's because she know it needs to be done but can't figure it out. Anyone else have this issue?

DS3 was splashing water out of the bathtub and onto the floor of the bathroom during last evening's bath. When asked to stop, he replied, "Mama, I'm just making a painting on the floor to look like a Jackson Pollock."

Have you been looking in my office and my house?

And mine just live in a constant state of moderate disorder...

I have noticed, though, that sometimes people who have organizational issues can only maintain extreme order. It's all or nothing. I think that's because it requires more executive function to create order than to maintain order, and the easiest form of order to maintain is the simplest, where there are very few moving parts. Her desk is a very small, limited, utilitarian field, where everything belongs to the same large category, and the subordinate categories are fairly simple (by subject, by class period, by stationery category, etc.). External sources of order are also being constantly imposed on it (i.e., teachers). Her room has many more variables and possible classifications, including lots of things without specific functions, but with emotional value, which makes them challenging to classify.

I know this is an anecdote thread, and not a question thread...but you might try giving her the same standard "bucket" categories, using a handful of consistent labels for them every time, either by function (clothes, toys, schoolwork), or by action you have to take (discard, do, store). Then just start with whatever is closest to you.

Did you point out that he might be making a Jackson Pollock on the ceiling of the level below you?

...also ours, but it bears repeating! We opted to Pollock (now a verb) the bath stall wall with shaving cream instead provided he wiped up the floor with a towel, which he did.

Me: (speaking with my mouth full)
DD4: "Mommy, I can't read your mind."

*****

Me: "What did you want Santa to bring you this year?"
DD4: "I don't understand why you insist on this Santa charade but if it means SO much to you, fine, I'll play along but really, I am too old to be playing with toys."

*****

DD4: "E is my secret boyfriend."
Me: "Oh really, why not S?"
DD4: "He whines and cries too much. I don't want to have to listen to that."
Me: "And you don't whine and cry too much?"
DD4: "At home, I do, but that's different."
Me: "How so?"
DD4: "You're my mommy and it's your job to listen to me whine and cry."

Love that! Has she been talking to my kids?

this was a few months ago... DD's teacher told us that DD was sitting on a friend and it was not clear to the teacher why DD sat on her.

DH: Who did you sit on?
DD2: I sat on S.
DH: why did you sit on S?
DD2: because I knocked her over
DH: Why did you knock her over?
DD2: S tell the teacher
DH: What did S tell the teacher?
DD2: I took her toy.

and same DD refuses to talk to my mother on the phone. She will only talk to my dad... we ask "do you want to visit grandma and grandpa?" and she would say "not grandma. Just grandpa". Luckily my mother just thinks it is hilarious (my father is very serious by nature, and DS4 even once commented "grandpa is kind of stern, isn't he?").

When my DD was in kindergarten, one of the other girls was chasing boys on the playground at recess to kiss them. DD knew she wasn't supposed to kiss the boys, so she just chased them and held them down for the other girl to kiss.