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: 01-05-2000
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:13pm

So? What does the cost of the meal have to do with anything?

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:14pm

It is our go-to-station.

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:18pm
Veggies
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:19pm

B/c you support the beans and rice as a meal, you must be looking for a cheap meal.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:26pm

Nope, not according to my grocery bill. While a fast food meal would cost me close to $20 (depending on where we eat, it could be over $20) for the 3 of us (Dylan eats like an adult, no kids' meal for him), the same meal at home is cheaper. 1 pound of hamburger @ $3.00 a pound makes 4 hamburgers as $.75 per patty; 8 buns under $4 = $.50 per bun; 10 pound bag of potatoes under $3.00, I'll use 3 for the oven baked fries; and water is free. Even adding in a couple of dollars for the condiments, pickles, etc to put on the hamburges, it still comes out cheaper to eat at home. Especially since we will use the extra buns for sandwiches through out the week, serve potatoes for several meals, romaine lettuce and onion are staples for sandwiches and ketchup, mustard, and pickles keep for future use.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:27pm
I love Guy Fieri-lol!! I met him on a book tour. He is JUST like he is on TV.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:31pm

Yes.


Cooking is cheaper than fast food. I know what I spent at McDoanld's today and what food I could have bought & served here in the place of that cost.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:33pm

Thanks, besides being healthy for you, like I am well aware of:

http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/rice-based-diets
It is the staple food for over 3 billion people (most of them poor) constituting over half of the world's population.

http://learn.uvm.edu/foodsystem/rice.html
Rice is a very affordable crop throughout the world, and is used to feed countries in need.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:33pm
Starch AND Veggies are a side, in my opinion.

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