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
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 5:12pm
AAA was founded in 1902.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 5:43pm
There is a lot to learn as an adult, so if they enter adulthood knowing these things, they are a little ahead of the game.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 5:45pm
I doubt anyone here went to school before AAA, since it was founded over a century ago.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 5:49pm

If it's dangerous for you is it not dangerous for someone else? I don't understand.

I travel in many areas of the country were cell phone service is spotty or non-existent. I don't wish to be stranded someplace waiting for somebody to come by to either help me or go get help. If I am unlucky enough to get a flat tire, I would like to take care of it as soon as possible and be on my way.

I never thought I would hear a teacher flaunting the benefits of ignorance, but whatever.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 5:53pm
If one of my children lacked the knowledge and ability to change a tire, I would consider that he lacked something I consider a basic life skill in the modern world. Which is why it's on the list of things I don't want to forget to teach my kids before they leave my home.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 5:54pm
You may be luckier than me, or drive less. I have had at least a half dozen flat tires in my day, twice when I was in areas where there was no cell phone service.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 5:58pm

I've said this over & over, I can only speak of people I know, my own experiences and experiences of those I know. That should be real clear by now ha


But if I was simply asked if I wanted tea I'd do a double take because I never hear that. It is always sweet tea.


Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:01pm
can you stretch that "truth" any farther?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:04pm

Bright idea would be when the board asks if the person in the neighborhood wants anything done for them and they don't want the inrusion then they should decline rather than say yes and ok an email going out to the neighbors about the need and what is needed. If they don't want ALL the people who receive the neighborhood emails to be invited in to do these things then they should request that not ALL are on the list and the board can work w/that family to see who should receive the info and then I wouldn't get the email, duh.


I decline always. It really is easy and a polite thanks, but no thanks is accepted graciously.


I'm quiet and a private lady. I want my family. I want my friends. I don't mind the neighbors on both sides checking on us but I know them well enough to sit down over a glass of tea and chat a bit. That is different from the couple I see walking their 2 dogs but other than a hi and how are you I don't know anything about them.


And I've stated this so here it goes again.......


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:15pm

OK, so your life is more valuable than that of the tow truck driver? I mean, if it's dangerous for you, isn't it dangerous for him, too? And wouldn't you be at risk just sitting in your car waiting for the driver to come?

I used to take my kids down to a camp in the southern part of my state every year and there is no service there. For awhile, my husband lived in the midwest and I lived in California and I drove back and forth several times a year. There are huge stretches of western Kansas, eastern Colorado, and Nevada and Utah where service is spotty at best. One of my kids now goes to a music camp every year up by the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and our service is spotty there. I am taking one of the kids up to camp in northern Minnesota next week and I wouldn't be surprised if there is no service for parts of that trip. My older one is at a camp now in the northern part of my state and guess what....no cell phone service.

Yeah, you are promoting not knowing how to do something pretty basic, and "to not know" is what ignorance is.

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