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
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 7:54am
That was probably the biggest downside for in in returning to work. Not being able to do my errands in the middle of the work day when the stores were fairly empty.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 7:57am
I am up between 5:45 and 6:30 every day. DH is up at 6:00 for work during the week but sleeps in on the weekend.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2000
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:01am

One of the upsides to my post-menopausal insomnia problem (and to having a child who is old enough to be left alone) is that it gives me a lot of free time during the night so that I can grocery shop at 1 am. Joel thinks it's like having a grocery fairy.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:04am
Yeah, Saturday's as a whole are not bad here. But Sundays are terrible. Lately I have been doing my shopping at bit later (to take advantage of the "cool" morning to get my exercise in). Part of my routine is to also get gas since it is right there and usually at one of the best prices in the area. While the grocery store will no get too crowded in I go later the gas pumps will. If I get there after 9:00 it usually means waiting on a pump.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:10am
I want a grocery fairy! Wish we could all have our very own post-menopausal insomniac, that sounds nice.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:13am

The only thing I am doing at 1:00 am is sleeping.

But we did have a grocery fairy. As a teen when DD1 would go to sleep Friday night the frig/pantry would be empty. When she woke up they were full. Told her the grocery fairy visited while she was asleep.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:32am

No. Band JUST BEGAN and I had said before sometimes my dh cooks. I cook the majority and I cook the largest percentage of time. Even when I go out at 6 for supper I often cook (and I have noted this before) for dh & kids but sometimes (noted before again) he will say honey, you go on and I'll do it all tonight go have fun.


But 21 meals ARE purchased for and prepared.


Shared responsibility? Yes, I do over 95% though


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:34am

I think wardrobes are really personal thing. I enjoy clothes (and accessories probably even more) so I enjoy seeing dh and the kids with new things.


I've got to get out to get the school clothes because I only have a few things that will work and I like to do only do laundry one day a week so if I don't do that before classes begin I'll be spending more time in the laundry room ha


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:36am
Majority of time. I keep canned ones when perhaps dh cooks to make it easy on him (we have entered new phase BAND so we are trying to figure out what to do with suppers!) or when I take one of the kids to the pediatrician late in the afternoon and I come in late to start supper. School time is beginning so the start of frequent peds trips! And dr visits for me, Mommy always gets it ha

Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:38am

One of the many reasons we really do love (and would even consider remodeling & adding on to this house) where we live. I have 3 grocery stores in 1 to 1 1/2 miles (different directions) and another 3 miles (it is my favorite and the first on the list weekly) while 3 others are less than 10 min away at the most.


Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

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