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: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:27pm
Sometimes we'll throw a little bit of sausage or something in for flavor, but the primary nutrition comes from the rice and beans. It's an extremely healthy kind of meal. I would never eat rice and beans as a side dish to a primarily meat based meal. It would be way too much food (and calories).
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:30pm
Again, for me and my family, I consider rice and beans as a side dish, not a meal. My meals mostly consist of a meat, starch and veggie.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:31pm
How limiting!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:34pm
To each his own. I guess it makes a good cheap meal.
I have a friend who makes amazing rice and beans. When we get together with other friends, usually for someone's birthday, rice and beans is *part* of the meal, not THE meal.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:35pm
Why would you consider that *limiting*?
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:36pm
You believe in moderation in serving frozen or fast food chicken nuggets & fries. You apparently don't believe in moderation in serving yogurt & fruit.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2000
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:40pm
We often do.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:42pm

You apparently don't believe in moderation in serving yogurt & fruit.

?? Can you please explain.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:43pm
No meat in the rice and beans or on the side?
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 3:44pm
It's limiting because you have a very narrow view of what a meal should be.

“Clearly," said Arthur,"you're an idiot- but you're our kind of idiot. Come on.” 
― Markus ZusakThe Book Thief

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