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: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:13pm

We used to live about 15 miles from a Costco. Saved a bundle every trip. Went probably once a month.


Now, the nearest one is 215 miles! lol

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:13pm
What were you able to get for 5 kids under $10? We usually get a pie and I think that is about $11 and then drinks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:20pm
I think it is the same thing with my coupon problem. I don't buy what they have. So it doesn't work for me.
Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:24pm
LOL, the SAH/WOH board - the creme de la creme in outrageous craziness!

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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: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:24pm
Do you get the coupons in the mail? I get them once a month and not all months do they have on sale what I use but I always tend to find at least 5 things that I do need with coupons available.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:28pm
I don't get coupons in the mail - aside from the pizza coupons. Again, I don't buy many things that have coupons anyway.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:35pm
If you don't get coupons, how do you know if there are any out there for things you do use?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:47pm
i signed up to get coupons in the mail from my local grocer, this is an extra step to just signing up for the regular savings card.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:54pm
That's great if your grocery stores offers that ... many don't.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 1:58pm
I get manufacturers coupons in my Sunday newspaper, coupons sent to me in the mail from the grocery store I used to go to on a regular basis, coupons included with my peapod order, coupons once a month for Costco, coupons for food places, home things (money off for siding, roofing, fencing, etc.), coupons for retail places either in the newspaper everyday or sent to me or in circulars in the mail.

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