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 - 6:38pm

I use coupons all the time. Just this week I used coupons at Costco. I saved at least $10 as most of the coupons are $2 or more.


I use coupons for my food delivery service.


The majority of my savings lately has been with retail stores for summer clothes. I saved a TON of money.

Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:43pm

If you substitute the word protein in for meat in "meat, starch and veggie" you would see that if you are serving beans and rice with meat

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:45pm
Nothing for them if that is how they eat. Me, personally, there would be a meat included with that as rice is the starch and included was a vegetable.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2005
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:46pm

Hmm - spaghetti, bread and salad VS. rice, beans and veggies.

Dare I ask why you would find a meal of only starch and veggies to be worthy of being called "dinner", but not a meal of protein, starch and veggies?












iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:47pm
Yum. I would do the shrimp too. Unfortunately I am the only one in my house who eats shrimp so that would be something I would be eating outside of the house.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:49pm

Spaghetti and sauce, an Italian meal, not just spaghetti like a side. I sometimes make spaghetti without a red or cream sauce with cut up chicken and veggies.


Again for me...rice and beans is a side to a meal, not the meal.

Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:50pm
We eat 90% organic and it is way more expensive than going out.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:51pm

That makes no sense.


She asked you....

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:53pm

I think I explained it well enough, thanks.

Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 6:55pm

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/07/natural_food.html


The term natural has very little meaning on food.

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