home not a house
Kate Green
The other day my colleague who also lives across the hall from me was
talking about her apartment and how she has organized things. She has 3
kids and has kept one of the bedrooms as a television/playroom in which the
whole family spends lots of time. She was thrilled to describe how she
could now keep her living room completely tidy with NO kids toys or clutter
in it. This way when friends came over things were neat and no one had to
be bothered with the children as they would all be out of sight. Her kids
also got a cat recently but they only kept it for 2 weeks as she couldn't
stand the mess it was probably making it. Now keep in mind this family also
has a fulltime live-in maid as do most people here so my colleague doesn't
actually have to do any cleaning or cooking herself.
After the conversation I didn't think much of it until this morning as I
was in the shower. I remembered when we moved in here being very excited as
the place has 5 bathrooms and so I was thrilled at the idea of having my
own (our last place had 1 bathroom so I was coming off that:) But today I
looked around at all the extra "stuff" that seems to have gravitated in
with me. The rubber ducks and baby shampoo for the newest little one. The
foam letters with all the kids' names that were plastered on the walls from
my 8-year-old. Bubbles, plastic ball, water balloon, funnel, teen face
wash....
When I hit the living room I saw the mini trampoline, the big Arabic
cushions that the boys use for tumbling, baby playmat, dog and cat toys,
pictures all over the walls, book shelf full of kid and adult books and
stuff. Boxes of legos and playmobile, and a skateboard in one corner.
Someone has placed a cowboy hat on my 5 foot Malaysian Goddess statue and
there seems to be a bouncy ball in the mouth of one of my African masks.
The Zen garden has small plastic animals in it as well as an umbrella from
a fancy drink. Along the window there are 2 statues of Buddhas as well as 6
orangina bottles with different colored water in them (they catch the light
and look cool according to 3rd son). My computer desk is piled with cds of
various things, rocks and shells to look at in the microscope, and two
pencil holders made out of clay (they don't actually hold pencils and are
enormous but were made with love). This is in addition to various lego
sculptures placed around the furniture.
But you know I look at all this and I just think how beautiful. This to me
is topnotch interior design. I couldn't imagine living my life without
being surrounded by all these things that represent my family. I may
sometimes snap a little when I stand barefoot on lego or can't find a free
chair as they are all part of a huge tent. But I couldn't imagine living in
a house in which my children didn't feel welcome to be in every room.
It just seems to me that if you can't share the rooms of your home with
your children then how can you share their lives. I really feel sorry for
my colleague as she cannot see past the "mess" to the beauty of her children.
Kate
talking about her apartment and how she has organized things. She has 3
kids and has kept one of the bedrooms as a television/playroom in which the
whole family spends lots of time. She was thrilled to describe how she
could now keep her living room completely tidy with NO kids toys or clutter
in it. This way when friends came over things were neat and no one had to
be bothered with the children as they would all be out of sight. Her kids
also got a cat recently but they only kept it for 2 weeks as she couldn't
stand the mess it was probably making it. Now keep in mind this family also
has a fulltime live-in maid as do most people here so my colleague doesn't
actually have to do any cleaning or cooking herself.
After the conversation I didn't think much of it until this morning as I
was in the shower. I remembered when we moved in here being very excited as
the place has 5 bathrooms and so I was thrilled at the idea of having my
own (our last place had 1 bathroom so I was coming off that:) But today I
looked around at all the extra "stuff" that seems to have gravitated in
with me. The rubber ducks and baby shampoo for the newest little one. The
foam letters with all the kids' names that were plastered on the walls from
my 8-year-old. Bubbles, plastic ball, water balloon, funnel, teen face
wash....
When I hit the living room I saw the mini trampoline, the big Arabic
cushions that the boys use for tumbling, baby playmat, dog and cat toys,
pictures all over the walls, book shelf full of kid and adult books and
stuff. Boxes of legos and playmobile, and a skateboard in one corner.
Someone has placed a cowboy hat on my 5 foot Malaysian Goddess statue and
there seems to be a bouncy ball in the mouth of one of my African masks.
The Zen garden has small plastic animals in it as well as an umbrella from
a fancy drink. Along the window there are 2 statues of Buddhas as well as 6
orangina bottles with different colored water in them (they catch the light
and look cool according to 3rd son). My computer desk is piled with cds of
various things, rocks and shells to look at in the microscope, and two
pencil holders made out of clay (they don't actually hold pencils and are
enormous but were made with love). This is in addition to various lego
sculptures placed around the furniture.
But you know I look at all this and I just think how beautiful. This to me
is topnotch interior design. I couldn't imagine living my life without
being surrounded by all these things that represent my family. I may
sometimes snap a little when I stand barefoot on lego or can't find a free
chair as they are all part of a huge tent. But I couldn't imagine living in
a house in which my children didn't feel welcome to be in every room.
It just seems to me that if you can't share the rooms of your home with
your children then how can you share their lives. I really feel sorry for
my colleague as she cannot see past the "mess" to the beauty of her children.
Kate
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/3/03 9:43:10 AM, karegree@... writes:
<< The Zen garden has small plastic animals in it as well as an umbrella from
a fancy drink. Along the window there are 2 statues of Buddhas as well as 6
orangina bottles with different colored water in them (they catch the light
and look cool according to 3rd son). >>
Sounds beautiful.
Thank you for the vivid peek into your home!
Sandra
<< The Zen garden has small plastic animals in it as well as an umbrella from
a fancy drink. Along the window there are 2 statues of Buddhas as well as 6
orangina bottles with different colored water in them (they catch the light
and look cool according to 3rd son). >>
Sounds beautiful.
Thank you for the vivid peek into your home!
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/4/03 7:48:27 AM Central Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
<<
It just seems to me that if you can't share the rooms of your home with
your children then how can you share their lives. I really feel sorry for
my colleague as she cannot see past the "mess" to the beauty of her
children. >>
Thanks for that sweet post Kate.
I needed that today! I'm surrounded by chaos with no hope of ever digging out
in this tiny house.....oh well.
Ren
"The sun is shining--the sun is shining. That is the magic. The flowers are
growing--the roots are stirring. That is the magic. Being alive is the
magic--being strong is the magic The magic is in me--the magic is in
me....It's in every one of us."
----Frances Hodgson Burnett
[email protected] writes:
<<
It just seems to me that if you can't share the rooms of your home with
your children then how can you share their lives. I really feel sorry for
my colleague as she cannot see past the "mess" to the beauty of her
children. >>
Thanks for that sweet post Kate.
I needed that today! I'm surrounded by chaos with no hope of ever digging out
in this tiny house.....oh well.
Ren
"The sun is shining--the sun is shining. That is the magic. The flowers are
growing--the roots are stirring. That is the magic. Being alive is the
magic--being strong is the magic The magic is in me--the magic is in
me....It's in every one of us."
----Frances Hodgson Burnett