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 - 4:38pm
That all depends on WHAT you are cooking though. Fruits, vegetables and good meat are more expensive than grabbing something pre-made.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:45pm
I'm not sure why you're telling me that...did anyone dispute that rice is plentiful/low cost?

Kevali


Kevali


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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:49pm
So, if you had sausage with a side of rice and beans, would you serve anything else with it?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:50pm
It's kind of ironic, considering I'm pretty sure I spend a good bit more each month on food than Cavalleygirl does and I have two preschoolers in the house.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:51pm
Yes, some type of veggie, maybe green beans or carrots.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:52pm
May I ask your food budget?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:54pm

You must not be couponing enough. If you coupon more, you would buy not-cheap food for low prices. That is better than buying cheap food. Cheap food is for poor people. Not-cheap food for low prices due to couponing is for the elite.

:)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 4:59pm
Well, we don't budget as strictly as you do, but we generally spend about $80-120 per week on groceries, lately closer to the $120. That doesn't include most paper products or toiletries, since we go to Target for those. Plus, we pay about $400 for our CSA (veggie and egg) share which works out to about $20 a week for the growing season.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 5:00pm
LOL. Apart from the Ben and Jerry's that seems to leap into my cart periodically, I don't use very many coupons.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 5:07pm
Are you of the opinion that every meal must contain meat?

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