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 rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 3:15am
LOL, that is what we used to do when we lived in the US (no 24-hour supermarkets here). We would go grocery shopping at 2AM. It used to be a lot of fun, actually.

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Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness.
– George Orwell
Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 3:20am
OTOH, spaghetti with ragu sauce can't be much more expensive. So perhaps it is because Mexicans eat rice and beans, it is "foreign" cheap food.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness.
– George Orwell
Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 4:54am
Yes, seriously, what could she have been thinking? "Cupcaking" was a clever euphemism, but surely she must know that people can see right through that little smoke screen.

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Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness.
– George Orwell
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 6:18am
I'm confused. I thought the biscuits were made from scratch.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 6:19am
Marsh, Marsha, Marsha!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 6:27am

"Because you're supposed to be all green with envy over her grocery delivery."

Hey, I get my milk, meat and other dairy delivered. It is green too. All pastured animals living uncaged. Grass fed and finished for those whose nature diet is grass. Plus, the delivery cost is $3.75, way cheaper than Peapod. Alas, no coupons.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 6:31am

In other posts you mentioned going to four grocery stores. It is amazing that you have so many grocery stores so close.

We have two major ones nearby - Giant and Safeway. But Safeway stinks- we call it the Soviet Safeway as they can't keep milk, bread or toilet paper on the shelves with regularity. To go the the H Mart it is a hike- 5-8 miles to the outside of the beltway (shudder).

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 6:33am
I agree on all fronts and will add NEVER go to our grocery store on Wednesday around 10:00am. That is when the local Assisted Living center bus drops people off.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 6:34am
One can always add an expensive Chilean wine with the rice and beans if one is concerned about the price of dinner.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 6:35am
I think it is a NYC thing.

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