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: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 8:55am

5am for me other than weekends which tend to be later, esp Sat.


I do love the very early wee hours of the morning. Quiet, relaxing, my coffee, smell of bacon and the local news.......aaahhh!


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:08am

If you are going to McDonalds for lunch, what did you do with the food you bought and prepared for that day? Did you prepare it after you ate the McDonalds or before?


Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:10am

Perhaps if your children were out and about more, their immune systems woudl be stronger and then there would not be so many dr visits?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:11am

You can't pay me to do my bulk grocery shopping after work.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:13am

Prepared before & in refrigerator. That was an impromptu thing.

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:14am

<>


*snort* Amateur. My alarm goes off at 5:10 every morning.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:21am

I don't know. Studies say all kinds of different things. Some kids are not that sick until they begin preschool (or whatever entry level they begin). Others are sick more.


My allergies (nothing to do w/being on the go or not) often go into bronchitis and sinus infections.


We don't like to be on the go. We are a family who always will choose home first & foremost.


I've been in and out dr offices since I was a newborn. So have my kids. So I don't know if it would make a difference or not.


I have sah friends who they and the kids are on the go and they spend as much time as I in the peds office w/sick kids (one sah friend is a former nurse and she says it is sure a good thing she chose that profession ha) My woh friends are in the dr's office as much as I.

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:23am
I've been getting up and

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:28am

Wow, That much illness stuns me in otherwise healthy individuals.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 9:33am

Sometimes we girlfriends choose a 10pm movie to get out of the house because each of us with a house of kids sick need to get out have some popcorn, soda, and see a good chick flick before the 5am bell of the daily routine and medicine and perhaps more trips to the peds office.


I've asked a million questions but the peds say you know, some kids just get everything that comes along and apparently that is your kids in that group. I agree.


if any kid gets sick in their class you know that several kids (including mine) are going to be absent from school. For things like stomach virus (dh took care of me and all the kids during that week) that no need to see pediatrician it just has to run the course so glad we have plenty of "parent note" excusable days ha


It would affect us more if we were on the go more. But if I miss that 1 day out for groceries dh can do that. If I miss a late ngihit movie, big whoop. The only thing I have to think about is planned vacations and school (which as you know can be fun making up all of that and getting notes in to the office for excused absence, etc)


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

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