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: 06-24-2008
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:42pm
The only time I've heard sweet tea is from the country song. I forget the name, but good song.

Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.' -Kahlil Gibran



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"The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding."
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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:43pm
Yes, people have been killed changing a tire, because they thought it was safe to do it themselves when they really needed a tow off the highway first.

Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.' -Kahlil Gibran



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"The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding."
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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:46pm
Well, a basic life skill isn't an essential life skill; I am considering basic life skills to be things that you might need to know how to do to get through life. There are people who can't sew on a button or change a light bulb, or operate a washing machine, so they pay other people to perform these basic life skills for them. I would much rather have my kids be able to do these things for themselves than pay someone else to do them. They can take the money they save and use it to put my grandkids through college.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:47pm

and the taste of adding sugar to iced tea is different than the sweet tea we make. If you thought that was sweet you probably wouldn't like what you would find down this way honestly.


The restaurants do offer unsweetened tea, it is on the menu (not all restaurants) but you have to ask for it specifically. When your waiter comes over they will generally say their name, tonight's specials, and may I start you off with either a selection from the bar or maybe some sweet tea?


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:47pm
Well, my kids already came equiped with a modicum of common sense, especially the younger one, so I can build on that with basic life skills.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:47pm

Do you find shame in finding someone to help you or teaching yourself? Did your parents teach you everything that an adult *should* know how to do? If not, didn't you feel any pride in teaching yourself and learning it on your own?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:49pm

It's safe for the tow truck driver because the tow truck driver can tow the car to a safe location first.

I've driven all across the country, lived in many states, I drive a lot generally, my cars are always high mileage cars and I have had a lot of flats in my life. It really doesn't matter that I know how to do it. It's great to know how to do it. But knowledge doesn't always translate into ability. And since you can survive perfectly fine without the ability, I wouldn't call it a basic life skill.

Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.' -Kahlil Gibran



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Ten Rules for Being Human


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"The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding."
Malcolm Gladwell Blink

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:50pm
I would recommend that you get your car checked by a certified auto technician before you go on a roadtrip. Maybe that would cut down on the amount of flats you have get.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:52pm
I wonder why Mcdonald's wouldn't just call it *iced tea* if it wasn't something they were trying to sell to mimic one area of the country's popular drink.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Thu, 07-29-2010 - 6:53pm
I want my kids to be as competent, knowledgable, and independent as possible.



Me too. Which is why I wouldn't define "basic life skills" in a way that only healthy, strong, fully able bodied children would be able to attain them.

Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.' -Kahlil Gibran



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Ten Rules for Being Human


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"The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding."
Malcolm Gladwell Blink

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