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: 04-16-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 11:35am
Ugh, Costco is NOT a family outting type of place, lol.
Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 11:36am
Oh, ok, I thought they couldn't go outdoors either because of allergies.

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Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 11:37am
lol!! The kids enjoy sampling all the food and drinks. I like that I get help pushing the cart and hauling all the stuff into the car-lol!! If I do it alone, I am usually exhausted by the time I get the things in the car, into the car, out of the car (even with help) and then put away (even with help). It is so worth it though for me as I have been shopping so long that I know what is and what is not a deal.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 11:39am
They shouldnt ha All on medications for allergies. My teenager's allergies were a mess last night after band.

Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 11:44am
I used to work with a guy (kinda ... we didn't work together, but for the same company) that made Costco his family's Saturday outings.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 11:50am
lol!! My dad would take my husband for "lunch" there-lol!! Usually after the kids pig out (especially my son-lol!!) and we are all done, we sit and get a pizza pie and have a "real" lunch-lol!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 11:59am

For those of you who like a neat and clean house, how do you keep it that way with children?


This is a great question.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 12:01pm

I

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 12:25pm
I avoid COSTCO period. It is a 45 minute trip there and a 45 minute trip back - not counting parking and shopping time. Totally not worth the little savings I got. I tried it for a year and never saved enough to cover the $45 annual fee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 12:32pm

The kids enjoy sampling all the food and drinks.


We have the upgraded membership, just so that I can avoid that.

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