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
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:47am
I had to repair 3 tires and replace 1 within a 6-7 month time span ... all with the same issue ... a nail or screw in the tire.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:47am
Yes, double ovens and several slow cookers

Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:47am

Same here.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:49am
My mother does it daily for she & my dad. Anytime the family gathers for a meal both my mother and motherinlaw do it. I remember both of my grandmothers doing the same thing.

Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:50am

<>


But you would be. You'd be preparing spaghetti and meatballs.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:51am

Ack! Ack! Ack! No. Slow. Cookers! ACK!


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:53am

Yes, standard here with warming drawers.


The high end and even professional grade appliances!


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:53am
shrug.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:54am

Daily & more than 1 time a day


Like the dishwasher get lots of use


So does my stand mixer


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 8:58am
i'm envisioning your kitchen more beautiful than mine.

 

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