A Neat and Clean House vs Children

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
A Neat and Clean House vs Children
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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: 02-04-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:01am
BTW, until this thread, I had no idea you had a disability.

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Kitty

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"If you can't annoy somebody with what you write, I think there's little point in writing."-- Kingsley Amis, British novelist, 1971 t .

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:04am
Part of driving responsibly is being able to to basic maintenance/emergency repairs on your car, imo.



Like oil changes, replacing the brakes, or switching out the transmission? IMO driving responsibly involves how you drive. Being a responsible car owner entails taking care of your car, which you can do yourself if you are qualified or you can have done for you by a skilled professional at a cost. BOTH are responsible, any way I can think to slice it.

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



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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:13am
Depends on how you define a disability. It's a disease, which sometimes limits my abilities. Most days I can do everything I need to do. On a bad day I can't open my medication bottles. On my worst day, I can barely walk. But even before all that I couldn't change my own tire. I manage complete independence without it though. I don't see much difference between me and someone who only prefers not to change their own tire, as long as they have the ability to get someone else to do it (AAA, husband, etc).

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
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:20am
You are probably notgoing to need an emergency roadside brake job or engine overhaul, but being able to deal with the kinds of minor problems that do come up such as flat tires and dead batteries witut relying on professionals or kindly strangers has helped me meny times in my years of drivng.
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Registered: 01-05-2000
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:28am

Apology has been given and accepted.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

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Registered: 02-04-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:32am

Like oil changes, replacing the brakes, or switching out the transmission?

No, I said *basic* maintenance and *emergency* repairs. Basic Maintenance: Like checking the oil, topping off fluids, changing the windshield wiper blades, tire pressure, checking the treads on your tires for depth and even wear. Emergency repairs: enough to get your car to a safe place (like changing a tire, since so few cars have a full sized spare any more, so driving on a donut is really an emergency driving situation and the very next stop from doing so would be to the closest garage or tire store.

and for the billionth time this is my opinion. So if you don't want to share it, don't feel like you have to. I don't care if you don't. And it's not like I'm trying to legislate it to be that way. But I did raise my kid with that in mind. Yeah, he had to show me he could change a tire and perform basic maintenance. That was before I paid one dime towards formal driving school.

For all your objections to my opinion, it seems to me that given your own stated disability you ought to be glad SOMEONE knows how to do these things.

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Kitty

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Kitty

"If you can't annoy somebody with what you write, I think there's little point in writing."-- Kingsley Amis, British novelist, 1971 t .

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:35am

Depends on how you define a disability.

How I define it? I didn't even know about it until today. I'm classifying it however you want it classified for the purposes of this discussion. And I guarantee you, on the unforeseen occasion that it ever becomes relevant on the boards again, you're probably going to at least have to remind me. I have the memory of a colander. (Well, maybe that's giving me more credit than I'm due ;)

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Kitty

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"If you can't annoy somebody with what you write, I think there's little point in writing."-- Kingsley Amis, British novelist, 1971 t .

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:43am
I'm glad for all the people who know these things and who are willing. I'm not against children being taught, no doubt my dh will teach his sons and do his best with my dd and his. I actually doubt my oldest stepson even needs to be taught. There's a tire, it has bolts, there's a spare and a jack, get that tire off and this one on in it's place. Easy if you can manage it physically. I only object to the idea it's necessary we all do it. Whatever the word, not responsible, or not independent, I don't think applies to those of us who don't do it. If a disabled person can be a responsible and independent driver without the ability to change tires, then someone who is merely puny or just is uninterested in changing tires can be equally responsible and independent.

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: 06-24-2008
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 12:46am
I said it like that because I don't classify myself as "having a disability" nor as disabled. Someone else might, I don't. At least not at the present time.

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

Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 2:31am
No, you don't really have to do that at all. The kid who won't eat the meal you prepared for the family can eat salad or a peanutbutter sandwich.

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

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