A Neat and Clean House vs Children

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
A Neat and Clean House vs Children
2597
Tue, 07-27-2010 - 8:35am

For those of you who like a neat and clean house, how do you keep it that way with children?

I find that if I am tied to goal of having a neat and clean house, I become a raging shrew against my children as they proceed to undo all the neatness I have worked so hard to attain. If I made a "neat and clean house" my goal, my children would not have their messy projects that take days/weeks to complete. My children would not pick up a book (casually left out)as they walk through the family room and browse through- discovering once again the mother actually knows about a few good books. I would let them watch more tv/computer time, as they don't make things as messy when they do. I would squash their ideas if I thought it would make too much of a mess. I wouldn't let them cook/experiment in the kitchen- as it is usually more work for me to clean up after they have "cleaned up". So, how do you inspire creativity and imagination in a neat and clean house? Are you on top of them to put things away as soon as they are done even if it is temporary? Where do you put the legos?....... Have you ever allowed them to take over the living room with all of their toys arranged in a city complex (thomas the train things were the Metro, legos and blocks were the buildings....)? How long would it stay up? Would let it be up for the summer so they could add to and change tings around as they got new ideas? Or allowed them to take over half of the family room for a month+ while they build and live in a beaver lodge (using all the empty shoe and other boxes and some that weren't empty)? Even if you have to walk around it everyday to get to the kitchen? Or do you require that all toys be put away everyday?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:01pm
For lunch, yes. For dinner, for me, no. To me that is a side for my dinner with some type of meat and veggie.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:02pm
Of all of the foods that we eat, rice and beans is one of the few things I often can't finish because it is so incredibly filling.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:08pm
Do you eat rice and beans, alone, for dinner with nothing else?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:14pm

Actually it is (or a variation) what the majority of the human population eats for dinner. Do you have a problem with it?

We usually have a green salad and a fruit salad to go with it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:16pm

Why would I have a problem with it? I am stating what is best for me and my appetite and my family's.

Do you have a link to provide information that Rice and Beans is what the majority of the human population eats for dinner?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:18pm
Generally, with some kind of vegetable like a salad or green beans.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:20pm
Rice and beans, when eaten together, form complete protein. It's one of the ways vegetarians (or people who don't eat much meat) can be sure to get enough protein, especially if they aren't interested in eating soy products. Eggs are another good protein source for non-meat eaters.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:21pm
But no meat?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:23pm
Oh, I am very aware of that. I consider rice and beans a side dish to my meal. I have known many people through the years whose heritage ate rice and beans all the time and they still had some type of pork and veggies and other sides included with that meal.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:25pm
No. Not usually. Why would we need meat in addition to rice and beans?

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