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: 01-05-2000
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:39am

The generic word "bean" here means pinto beans. Other kinds of beans have the adjective added to the word bean. I use kidney beans in my chili even though the original recipe calls for chili beans. I make a black bean chili that is served as over baked sweet potatoes. My baked beans have 4 kinds of beans: kidney, black, garbanzo (chickpeas), and northern. Refried beans are black beans. I don't like refried pinto beans. I have a vegetarian antipasto recipe that uses garbanzo beans.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:40am

I make the refried pinto beans for dh when I do mexican and I can't stand the smell of them (gag reflex) ugh


If you just say beans here it is immediately assumed brown soup beans and fried or baked cornbread will accompany that.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2005
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:43am

Hey, check it out:


Meal


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Not a meal


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Meal


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Not a Meal


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Meal


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Not a Meal


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This is fun. I could just go on and on. :-)













Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:45am

I think we have a balance also.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:45am
I think I want to have your babies.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:48am
Except for the part about having her babies, ITA ;)

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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
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:51am
I do too. Our kids are active, we are just active at home. We rarely eat out and hardly ever fast food. That was the first fast food we have had in a long time yesterday. We don't even eat fast food on vacation.

Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:55am
What do your kids do at home that is active?

Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:55am
LOL, you were born to be a teacher.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness.
– George Orwell
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:57am

Love it. Thanks.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

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