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: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:37pm
I don't think anyone would "look down on me" for calling AAA for something I can do myself, but I do think it would puzzle anyone who knows me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:38pm
I do not associate the term "independent" with having to call someone else to do a simple tire change for you because you have never bothered to learn how to do it yourself.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:39pm
Yes. And I think this is why the food thing doesn't resonate with me. I love to cook. It's stress relief for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:39pm
Sigh.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:40pm
You may have intended it to be reflective of only your experience. Your words spoke otherwise.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:41pm

I could learn. But I choose not to learn.


Besides really I'm not out that much. LIke I said, I've put gas in the truck ONE time in over a month and I guess I may need to put gas in oh perhaps next week. or the next.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:47pm
LOL, nice recap. I do think that some considerable literary effort has gone into this thread ;).

*^*^*^*^*

To be is to do - Plato
To be or not to be - Hamlet
Do-be-do-be-do - Sinatra

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:48pm

Variety is the key.


I prefer to plan a meal of the following to take to someone:


Pot roast served w/a brown gravy


Meat loaf


Baked Chicken


Broc casserole, fresh green beans (no casserole), fresh corn (no casserole), salad (one traditional and one w/blue cheese, apples, bacon), fresh fruit selections, baked beans, mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, cooked carrots (again, not a casserole), dressed eggs, fried green tomatos. Selection of rolls, cornbread muffins. Selection of desserts (say a chocolate pie, a fruit dessert that is cool & refreshing, baked cookies) and then take tea, soft drinks in liters and their favorite coffee selection.


If it is a breakfast you are preparing to take the people:


bacon, sausage, country ham


hashbrown casserole, fried potatoes, fresh sliced tomatoes, pancakes, fresh fruit, a selection of muffins, biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs (they travel best), coffee, fresh orange juice and another selection of juice and in the south, grits are always a staple so those would be served.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:49pm

Yes, for neighbors. But in the email it gives personal preferences, specifics, allergy (aka peanut for example) information.


They don't just say if you want to bring food do it and look out what they get


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 12:50pm
Sorry I wasn't clear but no, I only speak for myself, my own personal experiences and what I see/hear in the world.

Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

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