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: 08-22-2009
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:33pm

I am a Sat morning regular at the grocery store. It never cut in to family time because the family is usually sleeping when I leave and just beginning to stir when I get home.

The store that I get most of my fruits and vegetables is between home and work so I will stop there to pick up a few items after work but find my main grocery store too crowded after work for my taste.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2005
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:33pm
Except for the coconut milk, that sounds similar to how I usually make my beans. I mostly make mine with EVOO, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cilantro and seasonings. So yummy, and my DH always wants extra sauce on his rice. The coconut milk sounds interesting. I'm going to have to look that up and give it a try!











iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2009
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:34pm

I hear you. I actually HATE the first day of school, because all the Moms who sent their kids off to Kindergarten apparently take that whole day off work, so after they send off the kiddies on the bus, they immediately swarm the grocery store and it's just as bad as a weekend in there! LOL And don't get me started on what it's like if the weather service is predicting snow...

My absolutely FAVORITE park about working nights is that when I run my errands after work (first thing in the morning), the stores are nicely uncrowded (most of the time :) And on those rare occasions when I have to go out during the evening rush hour, the roads are TERRIBLE! LOL, I'm not used to dealing with tons of traffic anymore :)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:35pm

We sleep in until around 9 or later on Sat so by the time we watch tv with our coffee & read the paper seems the stores are hustle bustle busy here.


I'm an early bird, I'm in the first store by (or before) 7:30am and it is great for manager's specials they just came through and put the tags on.


Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2009
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:35pm
If you can get there early, Saturday mornings *are* a good alternative time to shop.

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Kitty

Proud member of the Rainbow Poop Debate Squad

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Kitty

"If you can't annoy somebody with what you write, I think there's little point in writing."-- Kingsley Amis, British novelist, 1971 t .

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:38pm

I hear you! I walk the kids in, take pictures for the first day of school and I either go for coffee somewhere quiet with some girlfriends or I come straight back home! Too crowded everywhere, the mall, yikes! Not a good day to go there for coffee ha


I stop at my first store before and by 7:30 and I'm done with all of them by 11 so when it begins to get crowded I'm done with the shopping!


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:51pm
You're backtracking from

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:56pm
Yes your view is very limited on the idea dinner in that it should be the largest meal of the day. and that it should be a hot meal. And that it should contain meat starch vegetable.

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

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2010
Mon, 08-02-2010 - 11:57pm
Maybe it being a cheap meal is the problem?? Maybe if family & friends heard you were just serving your family beans & rice for dinner, it must mean that you are headed for bankruptcy or something?

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

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 12:10am
Nah some are. But the ones I know (my inlaws) have a problem with people thinking they are poor. That may not be an Italian thing in all places--maybe it's a regional thing. My inlaws live in NY, so maybe it's a ny thing

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

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