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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Avatar for turtleemom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2007
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 2:21pm
Earlier you said that your cooking so much food results in leftovers.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 2:24pm

I have also been thinking about that more myself lately just never had a label for it.

Our DDs have no luggage of their own and always borrow ours when they need some. A couple of years ago I thought about buying DD1 a set for Christmas.

I changed my mind because:

She lived in a small place so it seemed silly to use priceless storage space for something she may use once a year.

DH and I have plenty of luggage so borrowing it is never an issue. Even if two people needed luggage at the same time it would not be an issue.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 2:27pm

My dh doesn't eat leftovers unless it is chilli or pizza. I use the leftovers for my lunch and to pack my teenagers lunch. So yes, I cook 3 meals a day, 7 days a week because those who are not having leftovers for lunch gets a meal.


Today I did a quick breakfast. Biscuits, sausage, juice, coffee. But for lunch I did shrimp, calamari, cheese sticks, yogurt. Then we will have our supper.


Polkadots&FlipFlops

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 2:40pm

"I don't want them to think that in the real world, they'll always get exactly what they want for dinner. "

Actually most adults do get exactly what they want for dinner. When I make a meal myself I make what I want. When I go to a restaurant I order what I want. When I am a guest at someone's house I can eat what I want and not eat what I do not want.

I never made multiple meals for my kids but at they we allowed to make something themselves if they did not like what was made. When guests at someone's house they of course were not able to make what they wanted but they did have the same choice that I as to eat what they wanted and not eat what they did not want.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 2:44pm

Polkadotandflipflops

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2000
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 2:58pm

I just don't have that many good crockpot recipes that I can make that many different things every week or every two weeks w/o getting tired of the same things. I have probably five recipes, if that, that are tried and true, the rest are okay and not really worth it since I can make something similar and just as easy on the stove. We simply don't eat that many things that do well with slow cooking I guess. Believe me, I've tried but most of the recipes were either too fattening w/creamy sauces, or they just didn't come out right. We eat a lot of fish/seafood, pasta, chicken and veggie meals. In the summer, we have a lot of salads, grilled meats and sandwiches. I'm not suggesting that my way is any better, just that I've tried using a crockpot and have never understood the convenience b/c it has never worked out for me to be less time consuming or easier than just cooking a meal outright.

What other things do you do in the crockpot besides your pot roast tacos?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 3:07pm

I will do the crockpot mostly on days where the kids have music lessons or performances or after school sports, or where I have a late meeting or something.

I agree about the quality of many recipes. I refuse to cook anything that has "cream of anything" soup as an ingredient.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 3:12pm
Why wouldn't they be able as adults being able to get exactly what they want for dinner no matter if they were cooking at home or eating out?
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2009
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 3:13pm
I have a recipe for 40-clove garlic chicken and also short ribs in beer. However, I mostly use it for the pot-roast tacos every two weeks:)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2010
Fri, 07-30-2010 - 3:13pm
No turkey or ham or any type of cold cuts?

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