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: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 3:41pm

Yes I have never (and I'm not about to try it) going to spend the time it takes to coordinate, prepare and load up for delivery a huge meal and take it to someone calling them on my mobile hey, I'm about 3 miles from your house and I've got a supper for you!


I know some people would fully appreciate that but not all.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 3:49pm

"I've put gas in the truck ONE time in over a month"

I don't know what this means. Gas consumption in vehicles varies widely and so does the size of the gas tank. DH's car only gets about 250 mile on a tank, mine gets over 400. Yet, DH's tank is several gallons bigger than mine.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 3:53pm
Hey! Don't be dissin' my Diet Pepsi!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 3:54pm
No.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 3:56pm

It means I really do not go very often ha


My friends are always teasing me if I've been to the gas pump recently (they are there at minimum twice a week and that would be a slow week ). My dh drives the same exact suv that I have and he uses more gas in his for sure.


We all drive big suvs. One girl drives a toyota mini van and is thinking about buying a suv to replace that now.


I flip the trip button everytime I fill up and I get about 300 miles on my tank.




Polkadots&FlipFlops



Edited 7/29/2010 3:58 pm ET by polkadotandflipflops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2000
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 3:57pm
I'm not dissin' YOUR Diet Pepsi.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 4:05pm

Everyone drives a big SUV? Is it part of the HOA rules or something? ;)

Personally, I don't like most SUVS or minivans- but that is me. As a result, we have never had one. We had a station wagon until it died. DH drives a two door convertible and I drive a four door hatchback that is big enough to take three of us plus ODS's upright bass Or all four of us on a two week vacation to Maine.




Edited 7/29/2010 4:05 pm ET by tryingtoquit
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 4:09pm

No, gee whiz! Personal choice! Besides none of my girlfriends live in

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 4:24pm

meh.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 4:25pm

Yeah, that's pretty much exactly what I said! LOL! I was curious about your usage of the term "sweet tea," when everywhere I go in the south, "tea" is all that's said. that was all. Calling it "sweet tea" is sorta redundant.


Kevali


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