How on earth can I keep my house clean???!!!?

Question

I am currently a stay at home mom with 4 children, 6,4,2, and 1...sometimes I get so overwhelmed with the house that I don't know what to do! My children have plenty of toys, but yet when I start on a project in one room, they are in there right behind me undoing what I do get done. If I put up a gate, they're standing there crying and shocked that I have made a room off limits, so ofcourse I feel bad and let them in. I graduated from college, (RN: ), and while going through school I had to let some things go. My husband works afternoons, so he's not much help, mostly a hinderance lol. But now I'm taking some time off so I can get organized and I feel like I've haven't got anything accomplished. My 2 year old loves dumping popcorn, cereal, chips, etc in the floor, drinks are another favorite, my 1 year old is right there with him enjoying the fun! I love my children very much, but how do I combat this problem while still making them happy

WOW! I never thought my kids were that spoiled, but now I realize that they do have me wrapped around their chubby, sticky fingers! Thank you all so much for your suggestions, they all were very helpful...It is so time for me to start laying some ground rules down around here, and hopefully, be able to reinforce them! (I just can't look into their blue eyes: ) Any suggestions about discipline would also be helpful!

Answer 1

WOW!!! You really need to get your house in order. I have three children and one on the way and I will NEVER be in your situation because there has to be some kind of restrictions and guidelines. It doesn't sound like these children have any of those. This is more then you just keeping your house clean!!, this is you keeping your house and your children in order. These kids are out of control!!! I couldn't imagine these things happening in my home...everyone would be lined up for a major spanking. Like the bible says "spaire the rod spoil the child" and this IS SO TRUE!!!

My husband would be so disappointed in me if our children were like this. He would blame me for not being a good mother. I'm not saying you are not a good mother, I'm saying you have to begin to disipline these children cause this type of behavior will lead to other major problems in the future...and i'm not talking about a Messy HOUSE!!!

So what if they cry???? SO WHAT?? They need to confine their toys to their rooms and not all over the house!!! WHen they eat they need to eat AT THE TABLE and not ALL OVER THE HOUSE!!! Then at the end of the day they need to be responsible for cleaning their own rooms before they lay down for bed. You can help them but they need to help you too. Put up gates and set restrictions....its your house and you are in charge of them!! If your two year old is going to dump food then maybe he shouldn't have the privilage of having it when he wants it!!! These are privilages...roaming the house+PRIVILAGE, eating all over the house= PRIVILAGE, snacks=PRIVILAGE.. they earn this...they are not granted it because they were born. Let them earn their rewards and when you put that gate up let them know..."If you didn't mess mommy's house up you wouldn't be locked up, if you like a mess then mess in your own room!!"

Good luck Mommy!!!

Set some guildlines and set some restrictions...better now then to suffer worse later.

Answer 2

It's simple- I don't!.. Well, actually I try to but it's so difficult with my little ones. I have a 22 month old and a 9 week old and they both require so much attention. If Im not nursing my youngest daughter I'm spending time with my oldest girl or making a meal for us. I usually do my house work when my husband comes home. I'll tackle the playroom and my daughter's room and leave the rest for another day. I like to spend quality time with my family in the evening. My husband washes dishes every night that's his daily contribution. He's always said that he doesn't care if the house is a mess as long as there's a hot meal for dinner. I do try to keep the house clean by cleaning here and there throughout the day but sometimes I just can't get around to it. I'm lucky I have time to take a shower! That's how busy I am.

Answer 3

I would allow them to only eat and drink in the kitchen/dining room and if they bring food or drink into another room, it gets taken away and not given back until they are sitting down at the dining room table. As far as the toys, make some new rules. This is what I did with mine: If they have something out and want to play with something else, they have to clean the other up first or they don't get the new. Temper tantrums are sure to come, but it's easy to solve. Pick up all the toys and put them in an off limits room for a few hours. It may take a few days/weeks, but eventually they will realize if we want to play with our toys, we have to pick up first! Also, you could just let it go and at the end of the day, put up an egg timer set for 5 minutes and tell them it's a race. If they can get all the toys put away before the bell goes off, they get a treat to eat at the table!

Answer 4

It soudns to me like you need some disiplin...you shouldnt let your kids keep dumping things out and making more messes. You wont ever win if you cant get ORGANIZED first and have an easy system for where things go and make sure space is utilized as best as possible. My suggestion, have someone else babysit your kids for a day or do it while the two lil ones are napping...and have the 4 year old color or do his/her own project...they have to learn that no means NO at some point and for your sanity and making taking off work worthwhile and not a total loss.
Good luck to you.

Answer 5

Catherine L makes a good suggestion. I have a 2 year old and a 2 1/2 month old and I have a laundry basket in the living room and in the kitchen for toys, (my kitchen is HUGE *bigger than living room* so he plays with alot of toys in there) Its easier to keep it clean. I pick up a little troughout the day but he just pulls it right back out so I wait till he goes to bed, im tired yes but i just tell myself "if you dont do it now, it will be double wotk tomorrow". I often do dishes after bed as well because if I try during the day I never get them done.

Answer 6

Most of them are old enough to help you. Get plastic containers or event shoe boxes and label them. That way the kids know where everything goes. Even the 1 year old can understand that. No playing until the place gets cleaned up. Make them help clean up every night before bedtime. No eating anywhere except the kitchen. This is a hard one I haven't been able to enforce because my husband and I like to snack in front of the tv. I have a 6 year old and 19 month old. My house is never perfectly clean. It is impossible. Teaching them to help you will make a big difference.

Answer 7

You need to sit your kids down and lay down a few ground rules about where eating is allowed and you can get your children to help you clean up. Your oldest ones should know how to help and they should help you instead of making you do everything. Make a few simple chores for them and reinforce them. If they don't follow the rules, then take a privilage away...like a game, toy..etc. You can also make a game out of clean-up and have a contest..like for example..whoever can put away the most books wins something..or something like that. You don't have to do it like I am suggesting...it is just a few ideas to get you started.

Your husband can do a couple small things in the morning before he leaves for work too.

If you are trying to get more organized, go to www.flylady.com and take a look. They got suggestions for organization and stuff.

Thats all I can suggest for you. :)

Answer 8

Try www.flylady.net

It's wonderful and will help. Think of it as an on-going project rather than something that need to be 100% done.

We do allow food in our living room, but they know that any mess they make, they have to clean up. Show them where to put dishes. Show them where to put trash. You have to invest a week to get the point across and stay on them...but think of the time you'll save not doing it yourself after that.

For 5 minutes every night, my children pick up their rooms. That way, it's always clean. I think Saturday nights are their "night off". It also helps to have a laundry basket in each room so that you can chunk their things in there at any given time...just tell them that every night (or 2 nights or week, whatever works for you), it has to be emptied.

They know at bedtime they spend literally 2 minute cleaning the living room. Everyone can have a small job.

And with my kids, they have rotating chores. Clean sink (after brushing teeth in the morning/night), set/clear table and sweep kitchen. You'd be amazed at what they CAN do when asked and given that responsibility. It's not perfect all the time, but it's better than undone and it's showing them to take responsibility with THEIR home.

Buy a dustbuster and have then clean up their own spills.

And another thing: diaper wipes. Buy cheap ones and let your children clean, clean, clean! They LOVE it.

Think of how they keep order in classrooms with kids as young as 4/5. They expect the best and get it. The baby that you were babying last week is now carrying a FULL lunch tray. The baby that you were BEGGING to clean their room now hears the first few bars of the clean up song and starts tidying up their desk right away. They also have responsibilities. Line leader, caboose, teacher helper, door holder, lunchbox organizer. You name it, THEY do it!

Good luck!

Amy

Answer 9

First make a rule that NO food is allowed out of the dining room. They are only allowed to eat at the table. Drinks the same. At 2 I am sure the child knows how to take lids off sippy cups. Only allow food and drinks in the dining room. That will take care of a lot of stress for you.

Also, DONT GIVE IN. If you block the room off that means stay out for whatever reason. Go comfort them and say "mom needs to get things done" work for about 5-10 minutes and then go spend some time with them. You will be amazed how taking shifts will work out. They will be less aggitated and more likely to let you work.

Answer 10

i deal with what i can, when i can. try to make a game out of cleaning and let them help - a small laundry basket becomes a net for toy basket ball - and have them fill it up. also naps are a great time to get some cleaning done, if they'll take one and you don't need one. (if you are wiped - take a nap w/ the kids, the housework can wait.) other than that i just hung a decorative plaque in the kitchen that says, "my house was clean last week...sorry you missed it!" the house will be plenty clean when they grow up. enjoy them while they're little. and never underrated the power of cartoons, it's ok to let them watch so you can do the dishes or a load of laundry.