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 - 10:13pm
Why not? There is no law preventing people from making phone calls.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:14pm
To each his own. I will continue to buy the batteries that will last longer so we can have family fun for a longer amount of time. Thanks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:14pm

<<I must be doing something wrong.>>


You said it, not me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:15pm
Yeah, sure.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:16pm

Adding your own ingredients to jarred sauce-a couple of minutes


Making my own quick sauce, 1/2 hour tops ... with a taste that is better than adding

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:17pm
Yeah, but if you had spent that $10 on the cheaper batteries, you'd get to play even longer!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:17pm
I guess the ones who try and put together their sauce in a half hour's time-lol!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:19pm

go ahead, add paste to that sauce, let me know what it tastes like.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:20pm

<<but I would never try and make homemade sauce in a 1/2 hour. >>


And maybe you shouldn't if 1) you can't do it successfully or 2) you think adding a few onions to Ragu is just as good.


< >>


Of course it is. And that of many friends/family who have tasted my sauce.


<<I have gotten complaints for over 17 years for my pasta dishes, made with, of all things, jarred sauce (even from REAL Italians who ONLY make homemade sauce-lol!!)>>


Um, yeah. Kinda supports my point.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Tue, 08-03-2010 - 10:22pm

lol!! O.kay.


I don't think you ever answered that question, do you have a wii system?

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