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 - 1:10pm

<<Once again though, I doubt polkadot said or implied anyone else had to do it her way.>>


Did I state I thought she wanted me to do it her way????

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:12pm
Not really. She was cooking two main dishes, and more sides. Enough (in number) to make two separate meals. I don't do that.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:12pm

my crockpot has a "warming" feature so that when the time window is done, the light goes to yellow and it just keeps the food warm.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:13pm
The point here is not who teaches the child the skill, but that the child acquires the skill and is thus further along the road to becoming a competent, functional, and independent human being.



The point is that a narrow definition of what makes a competent, functional and independent human being doesn't work when you run into a child who has different abilities. I prefer a less narrow definition of competent, functional and independent, one that works for me too since I can't "acquire that skill" and yet feel I am all those things; and my children may not be able to "acquire that skill" but can be all those things too.

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: 04-22-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:13pm

shrug.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:14pm

Yes ma'am, I knew that & sorry you misunderstood because that is absolutely not what I was saying.


. I was just stating while it does work for you that would be no go in my house plus I find it unacceptable for me that I wouldn't provide every member in my house who sits around my table with their supper and not ask them to make a sandwich themself. That is for me and my house. My rule.


Baked potatoes take some time to "bake" (no microwave baked potatoes yuck) so that isn't something that can be decided last minute anyway.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2008
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:21pm
If I put a roasted chicken, potatoes, and glazed carrots on the table, and dh turned me - having known well in advance what was planned for dinner - and said "I don't like this. I won't eat it." you can bet your sweet bippy my response would be "You know where the pb and bread is."



And how did this scenario come about? Was it that growing up the man was told that if he didn't like was on the table he could just refuse it and get his own sandwich? Or did this couple somehow never discuss whether both liked roasted chicken, potatoes and glazed carrots? Maybe they could discuss the meal plan in advance, so they sit down to food they both like. This is not the kind of scenario or response from either husband or wife that I'd expect between adults who have a healthy relationship.



And we don't need counseling, tyvm.



I wasn't suggesting you did! Is the situation above a real one????? Because if that was really happening, some sort of intervention would be good. It's totally preventable and the man doesn't have to like that particular meal in order to avoid that particular outcome.

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



Photobucket

Photobucket


Photobucket
Photobucket



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: 05-10-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:22pm
It simply doesn't bring me the same level of satisfaction.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:23pm

I can't stand nuked taters either ... but The Girl doesn't seem to mind them. The best part, imo, of a baked potato is the crispy skin, which you can't get in the nuker.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 1:26pm

<<This is not the kind of scenario or response from either husband or wife that I'd expect between adults who have a healthy relationship.>>


Well, my husband would never react that way or say it to me, so I agree it's not indicative of a healthy relationship.

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