Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Getting things done
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/3/00 7:41:49 AM Pacific Daylight Time, NumoAstro@...
writes:
<< I have a question... How do any of you get anything else done in the house
with having the kids there all day? I need to clean out the freezer,
washing
the windows outside.... Do you just include your kids in these tasks (then
it
turns a 1 hour job into a 4 hour job) or what? >>
I recently stated an experiment which has worked well for me in this area.
First of all, the kids 9yod and 20mod, as well as stepsons when they are
here, are involved in lots of tasks. For example, the 9yo does lots of chores
independently while the 20 mo helps unload the dishwasher. The 9yo is also
great at distracting the baby so I can get other things done.
My experiment has been to limit actual housework to 2 hours in the morning
and 1/2 hour in the evening. I only do emergency stuff in between, i.e.
spilled food. It has worked well for me because part of this time can overlap
with my daughter's many projects and I can just lend an ear when she needs
it. I only run errands when I'm on my way somewhere else. We have swimming
lessons at 9am so I leave at 8 and pick up dry cleaning and whatever else on
the way.
The best thing has been that housework no longer seems like a never ending
cycle. I know that once I start, I get off in 2 hours. (I'm thinking of
reducing to 1.5 hrs in the a.m.)
candice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
-Langston Hughes
writes:
<< I have a question... How do any of you get anything else done in the house
with having the kids there all day? I need to clean out the freezer,
washing
the windows outside.... Do you just include your kids in these tasks (then
it
turns a 1 hour job into a 4 hour job) or what? >>
I recently stated an experiment which has worked well for me in this area.
First of all, the kids 9yod and 20mod, as well as stepsons when they are
here, are involved in lots of tasks. For example, the 9yo does lots of chores
independently while the 20 mo helps unload the dishwasher. The 9yo is also
great at distracting the baby so I can get other things done.
My experiment has been to limit actual housework to 2 hours in the morning
and 1/2 hour in the evening. I only do emergency stuff in between, i.e.
spilled food. It has worked well for me because part of this time can overlap
with my daughter's many projects and I can just lend an ear when she needs
it. I only run errands when I'm on my way somewhere else. We have swimming
lessons at 9am so I leave at 8 and pick up dry cleaning and whatever else on
the way.
The best thing has been that housework no longer seems like a never ending
cycle. I know that once I start, I get off in 2 hours. (I'm thinking of
reducing to 1.5 hrs in the a.m.)
candice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
-Langston Hughes
Dia Garland
When my kids were small as yours are I did a lot of things in small
segments. About once a month I would do "big jobs" when my husband was
around to do daddy duty. I cleaned the toilet and sink while they were in
the bath playing. Those had to be done daily, especially the toilet! Don
Aslett has some good books about how to streamline housework.
Dia
segments. About once a month I would do "big jobs" when my husband was
around to do daddy duty. I cleaned the toilet and sink while they were in
the bath playing. Those had to be done daily, especially the toilet! Don
Aslett has some good books about how to streamline housework.
Dia
Vicki A. Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: NumoAstro@... <NumoAstro@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, July 03, 2000 9:38 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Getting things done
washing fun) then you can console yourself with the idea of future
competence. Could be that the future reality is about as true as "pie in
the sky when you die" but you might feel better for the moment. On the
other hand they might be just as interested in following their own projects.
And yes, 5 year olds can definitely have their own projects. You might
want to do a little research on the idea of "benign neglect".
As for a toddler, providing a safe environment for them to explore with
you in "earshot" doing your own tasks may allow them to "entertain"
themselves. I can also remember actually "hiring" my then 6 year old to
"entertain" his toddler brother. Sometimes the payment involved a
promise to be sure the 6 yo later had time to himself without interference
from toddler "helping".
You needn't feel your duty is to constantly entertain. On the other hand
you might want to allow yourself to be entertained by them while they are
young. Time will come that you are not their most important audience.
Get it while you can!
Vicki
From: NumoAstro@... <NumoAstro@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, July 03, 2000 9:38 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Getting things done
> Am I just being overconcerned aboutPerhaps. If they want to help you with projects (some kids find window
>having the entertain them?
washing fun) then you can console yourself with the idea of future
competence. Could be that the future reality is about as true as "pie in
the sky when you die" but you might feel better for the moment. On the
other hand they might be just as interested in following their own projects.
And yes, 5 year olds can definitely have their own projects. You might
want to do a little research on the idea of "benign neglect".
As for a toddler, providing a safe environment for them to explore with
you in "earshot" doing your own tasks may allow them to "entertain"
themselves. I can also remember actually "hiring" my then 6 year old to
"entertain" his toddler brother. Sometimes the payment involved a
promise to be sure the 6 yo later had time to himself without interference
from toddler "helping".
You needn't feel your duty is to constantly entertain. On the other hand
you might want to allow yourself to be entertained by them while they are
young. Time will come that you are not their most important audience.
Get it while you can!
Vicki
[email protected]
Candice,
Great idea! I think I will try this-for our never-ending house work.
Julie
Great idea! I think I will try this-for our never-ending house work.
Julie
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/3/00 9:50:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Jaam1224@...
writes:
<< Candice,
Great idea! I think I will try this-for our never-ending house work. >>
Thanks but I can't take the credit. I got the idea when I read the Feminine
Mystique a month or so ago.
candice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Heaven knows what my id might do!"
Laura Hunt
writes:
<< Candice,
Great idea! I think I will try this-for our never-ending house work. >>
Thanks but I can't take the credit. I got the idea when I read the Feminine
Mystique a month or so ago.
candice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Heaven knows what my id might do!"
Laura Hunt
Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>I have a question... How do any of you get anything else done in the house with having the kids there all day? ... Am I just being overconcerned about having the entertain them?Well I don't entertain my kids, and I don't feel guilty about that. I will play with them and read to them, some of the time, but when I have something that needs to be done, than they have to amuse themselves. That's just the way it is. If I need to do the dishes or mop the kitchen floor or clean out the refridgerator or oven, I ask them to leave the kitchen until I am done. Period.
>Dawn F
Of course, they can do the same thing if they are playing and do not want to be disturbed, they are free to close their door and be left alone as long as they like. I expect them to extend the same courtesy to me, to a certain degree. I can't be expected to be completely left alone, given their ages. I have to keep an ear on them at all times at least. But if I am doing something and they are gumming up the works, I will ask them to please find something else to do until I finish my job.
Now, that said, there are things that they can "help" with. When we vacum, my 2 year old loves to go and get his toy vacum and help out. They REALLY love to help me water the plants in the garden, or do any digging and weeding, etc. When Dad is working on one of our many remodeling projects, the kids get their toy tools and "help" him. When we do laundry they like to help throw the clothes into the machines and help me sort socks.
Most of my jobs are done on a casual schedule, whenever the mood strikes me and the kids allow me the time. Some are done at naptime (like maybe mopping) and some after they go to bed (like balancing the checkbook) but most are done around them as they buzz around like a couple of tornadoes.
When they were not both walking well (2 year old took his time to learn that) it was nearly impossible to get any outside chores done, like running errands. Now though, I can take them with me in our van and they hold my hand or ride in the carts and I am able to do a number of things. We only do our grocery shopping once every two weeks and we both go, taking two carts, one for each toddler.
Nanci K.
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Tracy Oldfield
This sounds a bit like my 'I do the hoovering on Tuesday.' I
empty the house bins then, too. If they feel like it, the kids help.
Otherwise, stuff gets done when deadlines approach (like the
freezer, got cleaned on the day the dustbin gets emptied, and the
toilets, when I know I have guests coming round or folk in the
house feeding the moggies while we're away <G>)
Tracy
empty the house bins then, too. If they feel like it, the kids help.
Otherwise, stuff gets done when deadlines approach (like the
freezer, got cleaned on the day the dustbin gets emptied, and the
toilets, when I know I have guests coming round or folk in the
house feeding the moggies while we're away <G>)
Tracy
On 3 Jul 2000, at 10:52, czuniga145@... wrote:
In a message dated 7/3/00 7:41:49 AM Pacific Daylight
Time, NumoAstro@...
writes:
My experiment has been to limit actual housework to 2
hours in the morning
and 1/2 hour in the evening. I only do emergency stuff
in between, i.e.
spilled food. It has worked well for me because part of
this time can overlap
with my daughter's many projects and I can just lend an
ear when she needs
it. I only run errands when I'm on my way somewhere
else. We have swimming
lessons at 9am so I leave at 8 and pick up dry cleaning
and whatever else on
the way.
The best thing has been that housework no longer seems
like a never ending
cycle. I know that once I start, I get off in 2 hours.
(I'm thinking of
reducing to 1.5 hrs in the a.m.)
candice
Amy
> In a message dated 7/3/00 7:41:49 AM Pacific Daylight Time,NumoAstro@...
> writes:house
>
> << I have a question... How do any of you get anything else done in the
> with having the kids there all day?I personally don't. My dh needs to do these things. I also have a mother's
helper that comes on a day when dh doesn't get home til late so I can get a
little something done that day.
Amy
.
>
>
Lynda
Starting as soon as they could toodle they all had jobs--folding laundry,
putting away groceries, putting dishes away, pulling weeds in the garden or
simply fetching and carrying. This continues with more as they grow.
Everyone has responsibilities from cleaning their rooms to cleaning up
after they haul out a project or games.
Today middle kidlet learned how to adjust a carberator as he wanted to take
the mini-bike out. He is twelve and was told that with age and wants come
the responsibilities of checking the oil and adjusting the carb (it is a
tempermental beast <g>). Right now he is folding the newspapers that he
will deliver tomorrow.
Youngest kidlet is eight and she is folding laundry (complaining like crazy
but she is a Taurus. Anyone know why they are called bulls and not mules
<g>). She also loaded the dryer with the next load.
Eldest kidlet (16) pruned (sawed) the dead limbs out of the rhodie and
vacuumed the upstairs after he washed dishes from breakfast.
When I clean the fridge or the freezer it is a family affair. When I do
the intense vacuuming, everyone has a job moving and replacing so I get all
the nocks and crannies.
Lynda
----------
putting away groceries, putting dishes away, pulling weeds in the garden or
simply fetching and carrying. This continues with more as they grow.
Everyone has responsibilities from cleaning their rooms to cleaning up
after they haul out a project or games.
Today middle kidlet learned how to adjust a carberator as he wanted to take
the mini-bike out. He is twelve and was told that with age and wants come
the responsibilities of checking the oil and adjusting the carb (it is a
tempermental beast <g>). Right now he is folding the newspapers that he
will deliver tomorrow.
Youngest kidlet is eight and she is folding laundry (complaining like crazy
but she is a Taurus. Anyone know why they are called bulls and not mules
<g>). She also loaded the dryer with the next load.
Eldest kidlet (16) pruned (sawed) the dead limbs out of the rhodie and
vacuumed the upstairs after he washed dishes from breakfast.
When I clean the fridge or the freezer it is a family affair. When I do
the intense vacuuming, everyone has a job moving and replacing so I get all
the nocks and crannies.
Lynda
----------
> From: NumoAstro@...house
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Getting things done
> Date: Monday, July 03, 2000 7:38 AM
>
> I have a question... How do any of you get anything else done in the
> with having the kids there all day? I need to clean out the freezer,washing
> the windows outside.... Do you just include your kids in these tasks(then it
> turns a 1 hour job into a 4 hour job) or what? I can't do all this stuffof
> when they go to bed as then I need to work and although hubby does most
> that kind of stuff, I'd like to do some of it? Or are is all your timehow
> completely with the kids? My best friend asked me the other day "well
> are you suppose to get anything done" and I didn't have an answer forthat
> except to say "I';ll take them with me" (we were talking about going tothe
> bank, groceries store etc, outside things)... Then today I realized Ineed to
> do lots of things around the house... Am I just being overconcerned about
> having the entertain them?
>
> Feedback would be great...
>
> Dawn F
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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In a message dated 7/3/00 10:16:16 AM Central Daylight Time, moocow@...
writes:
<< When my kids were small as yours are I did a lot of things in small
segments. About once a month I would do "big jobs" when my husband was
around to do daddy duty >>
This sounds like me, too. My kids are almost 6, 3 1/2, and 9 mos, and
sometimes things aren't done the way I'd prefer them to be, and I have had to
try to learn to accept it. Also, when dh is home, I enlist his help to get
things done, which helps quite a lot. Aside from that, I just have to live
with the fact that I am not going to have a house as clean as I'd like all of
the time, and many things get accomplished at a much slower pace than they
might be if there was more available time. I think it's an adjustment to the
lifestyle that comes with homeschooling. ~Karen
writes:
<< When my kids were small as yours are I did a lot of things in small
segments. About once a month I would do "big jobs" when my husband was
around to do daddy duty >>
This sounds like me, too. My kids are almost 6, 3 1/2, and 9 mos, and
sometimes things aren't done the way I'd prefer them to be, and I have had to
try to learn to accept it. Also, when dh is home, I enlist his help to get
things done, which helps quite a lot. Aside from that, I just have to live
with the fact that I am not going to have a house as clean as I'd like all of
the time, and many things get accomplished at a much slower pace than they
might be if there was more available time. I think it's an adjustment to the
lifestyle that comes with homeschooling. ~Karen
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/3/2000 8:27:53 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
HPaulson5@... writes:
<< My kids are almost 6, 3 1/2, and 9 mos, and
sometimes things aren't done the way I'd prefer them to be, and I have had
to
try to learn to accept it. >>
Karen:
Mine are nearly 5 and 9 mos and I think I'm going to have to learn to give up
the perfectionism when it comes to keeping my house clean. I'm beginning to
see how it's a different lifestyle, not just keeping them home from school
and that's all there is. We had a wonderful day yesterday... Zak was into
building all kinds of things yesterday... I gave them baths at 10am as that's
what Zak wanted to do so he could play "boats" and I put Max in there as
well.. I just sat and blew bubbles for them for 1/2hr, then put the baby down
for a nap and Zak wanted to build his train track. I asked if he wanted me
to play he said "no thanks I can do it all by myself" so I got to go in my
office for 1 hour (it's in the house). I called my best friend (whose
looking into the homeschooling now!!!!), then someone from the my local
homeschooling group to set up a swim date with our kids and then some
work....
I think that sometimes I still have a hard time going from being the woman
that was very organized in the working world and having to schedule
everything to just letting things happen now that I have 2 kids.
Thank you everyone for your input so far, it has been most helpful and useful
to hear what you all have to say about this Getting Things Done subject.
Dawn F
HPaulson5@... writes:
<< My kids are almost 6, 3 1/2, and 9 mos, and
sometimes things aren't done the way I'd prefer them to be, and I have had
to
try to learn to accept it. >>
Karen:
Mine are nearly 5 and 9 mos and I think I'm going to have to learn to give up
the perfectionism when it comes to keeping my house clean. I'm beginning to
see how it's a different lifestyle, not just keeping them home from school
and that's all there is. We had a wonderful day yesterday... Zak was into
building all kinds of things yesterday... I gave them baths at 10am as that's
what Zak wanted to do so he could play "boats" and I put Max in there as
well.. I just sat and blew bubbles for them for 1/2hr, then put the baby down
for a nap and Zak wanted to build his train track. I asked if he wanted me
to play he said "no thanks I can do it all by myself" so I got to go in my
office for 1 hour (it's in the house). I called my best friend (whose
looking into the homeschooling now!!!!), then someone from the my local
homeschooling group to set up a swim date with our kids and then some
work....
I think that sometimes I still have a hard time going from being the woman
that was very organized in the working world and having to schedule
everything to just letting things happen now that I have 2 kids.
Thank you everyone for your input so far, it has been most helpful and useful
to hear what you all have to say about this Getting Things Done subject.
Dawn F
Holly Atchison
Dawn,
Usually I either let them help me or I get out the crayons,ect. for an art
project in the dining room. If hubby is around he takes them outside or to
the park or something to keep them busy. When Im desperate I get things
done at night or when Tacy is asleep. When she is asleep Lili keeps herself
busy fairly well without getting into a lot of mess.
Holly
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
Usually I either let them help me or I get out the crayons,ect. for an art
project in the dining room. If hubby is around he takes them outside or to
the park or something to keep them busy. When Im desperate I get things
done at night or when Tacy is asleep. When she is asleep Lili keeps herself
busy fairly well without getting into a lot of mess.
Holly
>From: NumoAstro@...________________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Getting things done
>Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 10:38:53 EDT
>
>I have a question... How do any of you get anything else done in the house
>with having the kids there all day? I need to clean out the freezer,
>washing
>the windows outside.... Do you just include your kids in these tasks (then
>it
>turns a 1 hour job into a 4 hour job) or what? I can't do all this stuff
>when they go to bed as then I need to work and although hubby does most of
>that kind of stuff, I'd like to do some of it? Or are is all your time
>completely with the kids? My best friend asked me the other day "well how
>are you suppose to get anything done" and I didn't have an answer for that
>except to say "I';ll take them with me" (we were talking about going to the
>bank, groceries store etc, outside things)... Then today I realized I need
>to
>do lots of things around the house... Am I just being overconcerned about
>having the entertain them?
>
>Feedback would be great...
>
>Dawn F
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Tracy Oldfield
Night-time is MY time (but there again, quite a lot of the daytime is
my time too, this is a huge advantage of not living by school
schedules for me) I get online and chat and email, and soak in the
bath with dh and watch unsuitable tv, LOL I just don't do
housework at night. Sometimes I might work on 'work,' but not
often.
Tracy
my time too, this is a huge advantage of not living by school
schedules for me) I get online and chat and email, and soak in the
bath with dh and watch unsuitable tv, LOL I just don't do
housework at night. Sometimes I might work on 'work,' but not
often.
Tracy
On 4 Jul 2000, at 15:11, Holly Atchison wrote:
Dawn,
When Im desperate I get things
done at night or when Tacy is asleep. When she is asleep Lili
keeps herself
busy fairly well without getting into a lot of mess.
Holly
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/4/2000 3:46:28 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
lurine@... writes:
<< (complaining like crazy
but she is a Taurus. Anyone know why they are called bulls and not mules
<g>). >>
Not sure why they are not called mules, but they are definately headstrong
and once on a path will not get off it. That makes them really good at
completing things, but when they don't want to do something, they become very
very stubborn. My first husband was a Taurus and a nightmare to deal with
when he didn't want to do something that I wanted to do... Guess that's why
he's my ex <g>
Dawn F
lurine@... writes:
<< (complaining like crazy
but she is a Taurus. Anyone know why they are called bulls and not mules
<g>). >>
Not sure why they are not called mules, but they are definately headstrong
and once on a path will not get off it. That makes them really good at
completing things, but when they don't want to do something, they become very
very stubborn. My first husband was a Taurus and a nightmare to deal with
when he didn't want to do something that I wanted to do... Guess that's why
he's my ex <g>
Dawn F
Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>Starting as soon as they could toodle they all had jobs--OK...mine are toddlers. So what do you do when you ask them to take care of a chore (pickng up a mess of toys, say) and they throw a tantrum and refuse? I try to get them involved, I make a game of it, I help out, I even will tell them that the toy will be in time out for a few days if they cannot care for it properly by putting it away when they are done with it.
>Lynda
But they are at the unreasonable and emotionally explosive age when they cannot always be talked into something, no matter how sound the reasoning. In the end, I get exponentially more stress and work than if I had just done it myself, and they seem to have gotten no easier to convince yet, most of the time. Plus I have a very hyperactive three year old, which complicates things all the more.
Nanci K.
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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>I think that sometimes I still have a hard time going from being the womanI have the same problems. I get stressed out about the house not being clean or things being our of place. I am not really all that anal about it, and I can leave things sometimes, but when it gets to be too much stuff I begin to feel disorganized and chaotic myself, in my mind. I like to have the house reaonably clean and well ordered and I am an organizational person, so I look for ways to make it easier and quicker to keep things picked up and find what I need.
>that was very organized in the working world and having to schedule
>everything to just letting things happen now that I have 2 kids.
>Dawn F
I used to have a very busy and stressful office job where I was responsible for keeping 100+ people on time, schedules sychronized, meeting scheduled and notified, mail delivered, messages given, filing done and interoffice library cataloged and tracked. I have to relearn how to relax about scheduling and organization a bit.
Nanci K.
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[email protected]
In a message dated 7/7/2000 1:22:14 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< OK...mine are toddlers. >>
When Zak was 3, he went through the terrible twos!!! And we had all the
throwing toys etc... It was hard on my nerves, but I just persisted with the
picking up and engaging him in those activities... I was very glad when the
3's tantrums were over with, because now at approaching 5 Zak will say "I
have too many toys out here I'll need to pick some up" Sometimes when it's
time for a bath I'll say "what do you think needs to happen next?" and he'll
say "pick up my toys" (these are the ones in the living room, dining room
where everyone else lives)...
Hang in there it does get a bit easier. I just gave my 9 month old a bath
(very poopie diaper at 1:30pm) and of course he keeps standing up in the
bath, which is a safety issue and I have to keep sitting him down. I forgot
I had to go through all of this again and I know it will be ok.
Dawn F
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< OK...mine are toddlers. >>
When Zak was 3, he went through the terrible twos!!! And we had all the
throwing toys etc... It was hard on my nerves, but I just persisted with the
picking up and engaging him in those activities... I was very glad when the
3's tantrums were over with, because now at approaching 5 Zak will say "I
have too many toys out here I'll need to pick some up" Sometimes when it's
time for a bath I'll say "what do you think needs to happen next?" and he'll
say "pick up my toys" (these are the ones in the living room, dining room
where everyone else lives)...
Hang in there it does get a bit easier. I just gave my 9 month old a bath
(very poopie diaper at 1:30pm) and of course he keeps standing up in the
bath, which is a safety issue and I have to keep sitting him down. I forgot
I had to go through all of this again and I know it will be ok.
Dawn F
[email protected]
In a message dated 07/07/2000 8:21:53 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< So what do you do when you ask them to take care of a chore (pickng up a
mess of toys, say) and they throw a tantrum and refuse? >>
My experience (such as it is, grain of salt, and all that) is that toddlers
-- 3 yo -- how far beyond?? -- just don't get the whole reason behind why we
need to clean up. They just got the stuff out where they want it and now
this crazy woman (me) wants them to put it away?? This makes no sense. Add
to this the attention span of a gnat, and you get a lot of toys out at once.
No perfect answer here tho -- my house is a mess most of the time.
I just think it is beyond the understanding of most 3 yo or younger children
to do anything as complex as "pick up these toys" or to see the need to do it
if they do understand.
Of course, I have pretty low standards of housekeeping. But I just try to
keep a reasonable level of usability. If there is so much stuff out that you
can't use the next thing, sometimes that actually seems to make sense to
them. Of course, mine are a little older now -- 5 1/2 and 7 yo -- so that
helps.
Or not. My husband is a prime example of that. (Maybe it's hereditary! :) )
Low standards, that's my answer. And patience. Large doses!
Well, good luck.
Nance
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< So what do you do when you ask them to take care of a chore (pickng up a
mess of toys, say) and they throw a tantrum and refuse? >>
My experience (such as it is, grain of salt, and all that) is that toddlers
-- 3 yo -- how far beyond?? -- just don't get the whole reason behind why we
need to clean up. They just got the stuff out where they want it and now
this crazy woman (me) wants them to put it away?? This makes no sense. Add
to this the attention span of a gnat, and you get a lot of toys out at once.
No perfect answer here tho -- my house is a mess most of the time.
I just think it is beyond the understanding of most 3 yo or younger children
to do anything as complex as "pick up these toys" or to see the need to do it
if they do understand.
Of course, I have pretty low standards of housekeeping. But I just try to
keep a reasonable level of usability. If there is so much stuff out that you
can't use the next thing, sometimes that actually seems to make sense to
them. Of course, mine are a little older now -- 5 1/2 and 7 yo -- so that
helps.
Or not. My husband is a prime example of that. (Maybe it's hereditary! :) )
Low standards, that's my answer. And patience. Large doses!
Well, good luck.
Nance
Tracy Oldfield
If you have structured nap and bedtimes I can see this working.
but my kids both outgrew naps ages ago, and they go to bed when
they're tired, which is not a good time to start tidying up, in my
experience. Their room gets done once a week, and the rest of
the house that day (well the next day now...) but the living spaces
get down when I'm sick of falling over stuff. Dh complains about
some stuff, like the box of empty cardboard boxes and stuff (the
cutting and sticking box) in the living/ dining room (I really don't
like this house...) but never does anything about it himself. I think
'owning the problem' can help figure out who should be doing the
tidying up <g>
Tracy
By putting toys away at good break points every day, it
more or less stays
under control.
I'm working on changing my own habits too. I'm a piler
and I have too many
piles. I think that will help them too.
--
Cindy Ferguson
but my kids both outgrew naps ages ago, and they go to bed when
they're tired, which is not a good time to start tidying up, in my
experience. Their room gets done once a week, and the rest of
the house that day (well the next day now...) but the living spaces
get down when I'm sick of falling over stuff. Dh complains about
some stuff, like the box of empty cardboard boxes and stuff (the
cutting and sticking box) in the living/ dining room (I really don't
like this house...) but never does anything about it himself. I think
'owning the problem' can help figure out who should be doing the
tidying up <g>
Tracy
By putting toys away at good break points every day, it
more or less stays
under control.
I'm working on changing my own habits too. I'm a piler
and I have too many
piles. I think that will help them too.
--
Cindy Ferguson
Stella
I just have to laugh at the moment.
It is midnight and I am reading messages.
dh is scrabbling about on the living room carpet with a dust pan
and brush, cleaning up the bits of snacks that the kids have
dropped.
maybe i should quit reading these messages and get on with the
flaming cleaning do you think?
I went on a declutter list for a while and there were SO many
messages that they were in themselves 'clutter'. it took SO long
sifting through them that i was totally worn out by then and in
no shape to declutter!
dh often says; "this house needs cleaning badly" and i have to
reply;
"well i did do it badly!"
better go he is scraping some awful forgotten 'yuk' from under
the rug now!!!!
stella
It is midnight and I am reading messages.
dh is scrabbling about on the living room carpet with a dust pan
and brush, cleaning up the bits of snacks that the kids have
dropped.
maybe i should quit reading these messages and get on with the
flaming cleaning do you think?
I went on a declutter list for a while and there were SO many
messages that they were in themselves 'clutter'. it took SO long
sifting through them that i was totally worn out by then and in
no shape to declutter!
dh often says; "this house needs cleaning badly" and i have to
reply;
"well i did do it badly!"
better go he is scraping some awful forgotten 'yuk' from under
the rug now!!!!
stella
Tracy Oldfield
ROFL, I'll have to remember that one <g>
Tracy
Tracy
On 8 Jul 2000, at 0:04, Stella wrote:
dh often says; "this house needs cleaning badly" and i
have to
reply;
"well i did do it badly!"
[email protected]
Stella, ROTFL
Julie
Julie
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/7/00 3:55:53 PM Central Daylight Time,
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< I get stressed out about the house not being clean or things being our of
place. I am not really all that anal about it, and I can leave things
sometimes, but when it gets to be too much stuff I begin to feel disorganized
and chaotic myself, in my mind. I like to have the house reaonably clean and
well ordered and I am an organizational person, so I look for ways to make it
easier and quicker to keep things picked up and find what I need.
bothers me--I also feel disorganized and it makes me feel stressed. I really
am much nicer when my house is --not spotless-- but relatively clean! :)
~Karen
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< I get stressed out about the house not being clean or things being our of
place. I am not really all that anal about it, and I can leave things
sometimes, but when it gets to be too much stuff I begin to feel disorganized
and chaotic myself, in my mind. I like to have the house reaonably clean and
well ordered and I am an organizational person, so I look for ways to make it
easier and quicker to keep things picked up and find what I need.
>>Nanci, you sound just like me. If things get too disorganized, it really
bothers me--I also feel disorganized and it makes me feel stressed. I really
am much nicer when my house is --not spotless-- but relatively clean! :)
~Karen
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/7/00 5:29:24 PM Central Daylight Time,
marbleface@... writes:
<< My experience (such as it is, grain of salt, and all that) is that
toddlers
-- 3 yo -- how far beyond?? -- just don't get the whole reason behind why
we
need to clean up. They just got the stuff out where they want it and now
this crazy woman (me) wants them to put it away?? This makes no sense. Add
to this the attention span of a gnat, and you get a lot of toys out at once.
marbleface@... writes:
<< My experience (such as it is, grain of salt, and all that) is that
toddlers
-- 3 yo -- how far beyond?? -- just don't get the whole reason behind why
we
need to clean up. They just got the stuff out where they want it and now
this crazy woman (me) wants them to put it away?? This makes no sense. Add
to this the attention span of a gnat, and you get a lot of toys out at once.
>>Thanks Nance-- this does make a lot of sense. ~Karen...mommy to messy 3 yo
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/7/00 6:04:10 PM Central Daylight Time,
stella@... writes:
<< dh often says; "this house needs cleaning badly" and i have to
reply;
"well i did do it badly!"
better go he is scraping some awful forgotten 'yuk' from under
the rug now!!!!
stella >>
Hee hee hee! Stella, you are so funny! On another list I
am on we talked about how so many of us have "crunchies" on the floor! :)
Coincidentally, my 3 yo, who I have been describing on this list today
(stubborn/won't clean), is my main "crunchie culprit"! Where he sits at the
kit. table is always the messiest, and the floor under his seat has to be
swept a half dozen times a day, so that my 9 mo won't eat it all! :) ~Karen
stella@... writes:
<< dh often says; "this house needs cleaning badly" and i have to
reply;
"well i did do it badly!"
better go he is scraping some awful forgotten 'yuk' from under
the rug now!!!!
stella >>
Hee hee hee! Stella, you are so funny! On another list I
am on we talked about how so many of us have "crunchies" on the floor! :)
Coincidentally, my 3 yo, who I have been describing on this list today
(stubborn/won't clean), is my main "crunchie culprit"! Where he sits at the
kit. table is always the messiest, and the floor under his seat has to be
swept a half dozen times a day, so that my 9 mo won't eat it all! :) ~Karen
Amy
> maybe i should quit reading these messages and get on with theNah! :)
> flaming cleaning do you think?
Amy
----- Original Message -----
From: Stella <stella@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2000 4:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Getting things done
> I just have to laugh at the moment.
> It is midnight and I am reading messages.
> dh is scrabbling about on the living room carpet with a dust pan
> and brush, cleaning up the bits of snacks that the kids have
> dropped.
> I went on a declutter list for a while and there were SO many
> messages that they were in themselves 'clutter'. it took SO long
> sifting through them that i was totally worn out by then and in
> no shape to declutter!
> dh often says; "this house needs cleaning badly" and i have to
> reply;
> "well i did do it badly!"
> better go he is scraping some awful forgotten 'yuk' from under
> the rug now!!!!
> stella
>
>
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In a message dated 7/7/2000 4:04:16 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
stella@... writes:
<< dh is scrabbling about on the living room carpet with a dust pan
and brush, cleaning up the bits of snacks that the kids have
dropped.
maybe i should quit reading these messages and get on with the
flaming cleaning do you think? >>
No Stella you do something for yourself like reading these messages <g> When
my hubby came in from work this evening he went straight for playing with the
kids and walked by the mess in the kitchen, plus the grocery shopping I'd
just done... So I went in and said "I know you want to play with the kids
because you haven't seen them all day, but right now I need you to clean up
the crap in the kitchen and I'll feed the baby" I felt so much better. I
let my dh clean up as much as possible. Having been in the airforce he's a
bit obsessed with having a tidy house and so my attitude lately is "you go
for it Steve, I'm going to sit and watch the Eastenders (British Soap))...
Dawn F
stella@... writes:
<< dh is scrabbling about on the living room carpet with a dust pan
and brush, cleaning up the bits of snacks that the kids have
dropped.
maybe i should quit reading these messages and get on with the
flaming cleaning do you think? >>
No Stella you do something for yourself like reading these messages <g> When
my hubby came in from work this evening he went straight for playing with the
kids and walked by the mess in the kitchen, plus the grocery shopping I'd
just done... So I went in and said "I know you want to play with the kids
because you haven't seen them all day, but right now I need you to clean up
the crap in the kitchen and I'll feed the baby" I felt so much better. I
let my dh clean up as much as possible. Having been in the airforce he's a
bit obsessed with having a tidy house and so my attitude lately is "you go
for it Steve, I'm going to sit and watch the Eastenders (British Soap))...
Dawn F
Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>My experience (such as it is, grain of salt, and all that) is that toddlers -- 3 yo -- how far beyond?? -- just don't get the whole reason behind why we need to clean up.Mine are 2 and 3 1/2......and I do use a lot of patience (counting down and mental time out for me) and have lowered my standards of the state of the house since I have had my kids. (sigh)
>Low standards, that's my answer. And patience. Large doses!
>
>Well, good luck.
>
>Nance
Nanci K.
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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
>Mine are almost 3 and 5. We have bins for a lot of their toys - we >are working on getting more bins.We have bins as well and they are labeled (as in: vehicles, wood blocks, legos, play food, music, animals, etc) I also drew pictures on the labels of the objects so that the boys can tell what they are for, since they don't read. I line up bins on the floor and we sort and put the things in them, but it is usually mostly me doing it.
>We have pick up time twice a day - at naptime and atWe try to do this as well, barring terrible meltdown tantrums, or Mommy exhaustion or other extenuating circumstances.
>bedtime.
>If they can't focus or put off doing it, singing a clean up songWe do this too. We sing the one from Bear in the Big Blue House on Disney (Let's Clean Up the House!)
>helps.
>Putting the toys in time out helps.We do this too, but then I get the constant litany of "I want ____!!"
I'm sorry but that toy is in time out, because you would not pick it up (or whatever.)
"No!! NO NONONONONONO!!!!!!" Accompanied by stomping and/or wilting on the floor "I want it!!"
I am not going to discuss this anymore, you know where they are and you will not get them back until ____ (predetermined time.)
Two minutes later........
"Mommy....I want _______!"
ETC.......
>I found that allowing the number of toys out to become overwhelming >did just that - overwhelmed all of us.This is good advice too, and I try to stay on top of the mess to keep from being overwhelmed.
>Cindy Ferguson
Nanci K.
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Nanci and Thomas Kuykendall
I really am much nicer when my house is --not spotless-- but relatively clean! :)
Nanci K.
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>~KarenMe too, Karen.
Nanci K.
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