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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Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:38pm

You buy your biscuits?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:39pm
Pork chops and appleshauce.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:40pm
The "dehydrated onions" had me shivering with repulsion.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:40pm
I shop 3 to 4 grocery store places and use coupons (store & manufacturer that incude for fresh produce and fresh meats). I save a good bit of money every week.

Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:42pm
And I am doing some "beering.".
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:46pm

This is all a big ploy to get me to admit I love wining, isn't it?

I just hope this conversation does not merge with turtlemom's (very good) question regarding whether polkadot's sweet tea is made from a mix or teabags. We could end up with an unintentionally vulgar discussion.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:46pm
Booking (my ds came up with that one).
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:47pm
I go to Costco (2 weeks worth of food) and then food delivery and then Costco....I have never run to more than one store per week for sales and coupons.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:47pm

Oh, never never never a mix for sweet tea, I wouldn't let that touch my lips!


I keep can biscuits so when my dh cooks supper it is quick and easy for him to prepare.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 8:48pm
Hey, I'm wining!

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