2006-11-15 10:42:42 · 20 answers · asked by redheadsmum 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
Don't think you're alone in this situtation. I have 5 kids (11, 10, 6, 3 and 1). I am a stay at home mom and it is really hard to keep the house clean and organized. I stay up late sometimes just to clean up. There is a fine balance between keeping a "clean" house and really being there for your kids. I sometimes feel guilty about spending too much time cleaning and not enough time playing with/teaching the kids. I guess you just have to know what your priorities are and put those first. Always remember that, as a mom, we tend to be really hard on ourselves. Be the best you can be and love and be there for your family.
2006-11-15 12:09:06 · answer #1 · answered by momof5 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clean, possible. Messy...don't sweat it. I am a stay at home mom and try to keep the house tidy at most times. It stays tidy okay...for like half an hour. My kids are 7 and 4, so older and I can now ask them to "localize" their mess to the "toy room" (or one of the bedrooms). When they were younger, I'm pretty sure I was a walking heart attack. After everything was tidied up and kiddie books put back into shelves, my daughter (then 2) found it a real pleasure to pull out the books one by one and throw them on the floor.
Now I try to have at least 2 or 3 "tidy" days of the week if I'm lucky, otherwise I let them enjoy their childhood. They make a "house" out of the sofa cusions with blankets on top; take out the "big people" guitars; there'll be books or toys all over the sofa and dining table. Oh, and the floor, too. But my son helps to tidy up now so it's not too bad. When they start playing with each other and sound really excited and are talking to each other nicely, I let it go...I want to cherish these times when I could hear my children having fun. The insurance lady really gave me a jolt the other day..."In ten years your son will be in university..." Oh my gosh! My baby?! Relax. Too often we measure up our houses against other people's. Clean is good. Mess is fine. Just don't let it get filthy.
2006-11-15 11:08:06 · answer #2 · answered by lovemyodyssey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible to have a clean house when children live in it but only for a few minutes (unless they are gone LOL) because if they are like mine they think a clean house is permission to mess it up. I feel like I am always on my kids to keep stuff picked up. They haven't mastered the pick stuff up although they've been made to since they were little. Good luck and I hear we are supposed to not worry about it so much but I hate having company because mine is so cluttered. But I have five kids. The oldest is dream, the others are at times. LOL
2006-11-15 14:02:53 · answer #3 · answered by Tisha R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well...when i was younger...my mom had 6 kids--she is a HS principal...and my dad also worked. our ages were 12, triplet 11 year olds, 3, 1....our house was clean as a whistle...then again, my mom would come home from work, make/eat dinner (dad worked 2 jobs), go to her meetings, and come home at 930 and work tirelessly on cleaning our home. i'm sure now that we're all practically grown that she is on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
clean is possible...not having clutter---impossible. kids will always have toys. but the 3 year old should be learning how to pick up as he/she goes. that will make it much easier when it's time for your child to learn the cleaning basics.
2006-11-15 11:04:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been both a work-outside-the-home mom and a stay at home. Frankly, once the house was cleaned well, it was easier for me to keep that way when I worked rather than when we were all home. If you're at home, so are they, and they are messing it up again. Don't stress it. Enjoy the kids and don't worry about the house. Kids from a slightly dirty house are healthier than those from a pristine one. They are continually getting immunized from the tiny bits of germs!
2006-11-15 14:08:05 · answer #5 · answered by Florence H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is. Have you ever or can you afford a cleaning person to come in even twice a month. Think of all the time and effort you could save, not to mention stress. I did not think of this option when I had small children, I realize now that I could have afforded it had I been ready to sacrifice a few other things. IE: take out food or one less outfit or toy that we did not really need anyways.
Think of all the "quality time" it would free up for you.
2006-11-15 10:53:19 · answer #6 · answered by mmacgriff 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Impossible, no. Inadvisable, yes.
Worrying about every little bit of disarray at this point is pointless. You have to learn to adjust to some clutter when there are little ones in the house.
However, the three year old is certainly old enough to begin to learn how to clean up messes. And it can make a pretty fun game if you use a little imagination with it.
WK
2006-11-15 10:48:52 · answer #7 · answered by olin1963 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
pretty much - unless you have help of course, but if you are by yourself - it is close to impossible to have an absolutey clean house from top to bottom if you have kids that age and a full time job - trust me I have kids that age...I will pray for you that the Lord will give you strength
2006-11-15 10:48:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No its a lot of work but it can be done, you can start by having them pick up there own toys before bedtime. Then they learn right from the start, make it fun the 1 yr old is pretty young for a lot yet, but your 3yr old is just the right age to begin. If you make a game out of it they will want to do it. I had 4 kids and it worked for me.
2006-11-15 10:56:16 · answer #9 · answered by Granny 1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think having a clean house is just plain impossible... :)
2006-11-15 10:45:31 · answer #10 · answered by designerista 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋