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Post by Alexandra on Apr 19, 2009 9:29:03 GMT -5
So we got our living room pretty well cleaned up.
So what happens? There's all this space in the living room--you can actually see the floor--and our son decides to fill up this space with his toys.
Anytime we get the living room straightened up, the toys make a migration.
I just tell my son that they're going to be migrating to the closet if he doesn't put them back into his room!
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Post by crazycatlady on Apr 19, 2009 9:49:24 GMT -5
I think that is part of life, really. Kids do love an open space to spread out and play. The trick is getting them to put the toys away when they are done. My youngest is 9, and we still have a "toybox" tucked away in one corner of the living room...although honestly they are pulling out video game dance mats, and board games more often than toys these days.
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Post by merrymaid on Apr 19, 2009 11:18:19 GMT -5
That happens here, too. But savor it... it will be gone all too soon and if the only mess is toys, it's okay. I hope that doesn't sound insensitive, as I don't mean to be.... I've just been pondering how short is the time I have left with my 10 year.
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Post by Arid on Apr 19, 2009 13:28:25 GMT -5
Have a "ten-minute toy pick-up" at least once a day. It could be right before bedtime, or it could be earlier in the day, if you and your child are too tired to manage it then. Yes, I said "you and your child." You will need to be right there with him for the first few times to teach him the routine that you want him to follow. Then, after a reasonable amount of time, if he still is leaving his toys out, the toys begin "disappearing." Give him the option of "earning" them back. If THAT doesn't work, toys start leaving--permanently! Consequences, consequences, consequences. . .
Good luck.
Arid
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Post by annieblue on Apr 19, 2009 14:55:46 GMT -5
My daughter makes the 5 year-old pick up & put away any toys before moving on to the next type of toys. She can be annoying that way & drive everyone crazy along the way,  . What I've been doing with grandson on his visits is let him play-play-play to his heart's content (it THANKFULLY keeps him busy, ) & then we play a new game called "De-LIMINATE thuh EBIDENCE." His way of saying our SOS mantra: Eliminate the Evidence.  I don't know the age of your children, but grandson knows all about finding clues & being a detective from watching & loving the Blues Clues show when he was a bit younger. So I introduced the game of a detective coming into a room & figuring out exactly what people have been doing in there, something we DON'T want the detective to be successful at. I say, "Hmmm, looks to me like someone was eating lunch in here because I see a juice cup left on the table." So he gets all excited & runs the cup to the kitchen whilst repeating, "De-LIMINATE thuh EBIDENCE." It is hysterical funny. Sometimes he takes stuff to the wrong places, so then I say it looks like someone was using coloring books & scissors on the floor but then they took them to the table instead of the drawer, . The first time he went home & started running around saying this it flipped his mom right out, woo. I definitely agree about consequences for the older children. With older daughter when she was nearing teen years I tried to use humor as often as possible. I would stick post-it notes all over the house: "Hi, I am your bath towel, I like to be hung up on this hook when you have finished with me. Thank you & have a nice day." That sort of thing. At first she was annoyed & continued to live with consequences, but eventually she thought it was funny. Then after a long while she decided it was embarrassing for her friends to see all the notes, so she began to do some of the stuff on her own in order to earn the privilege of no more notes. Thankfully, younger daughter was never difficult in this area.
I'd love to see lots more ideas of what worked for moms through the years added here! The more minds we can look into, the better.  Best to you in these endeavors! |
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messytessy
New Member
Joined: April 2009
Posts: 24 
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Post by messytessy on Apr 19, 2009 18:02:05 GMT -5
Sometimes my BF sabotages my efforts to keep important papers filed away. He'll toss the bills, bank statements and misc papers into a pile on the table where they get forgotten and food spilled on them. My son will leave dirty dishes and clothing all around the house even when I get on his tail about picking up after himself. In fact I see one of his tshirts draped across the back of the chair now.
Alot of times I sabotage myself. I said I wasn't going to buy any new clothes, books or other stuff until I get my closet organized and the other day I couldn't pass up on some free sci-fi books and cheap art supplies from the clearance rack. Now I need to find a place to put them.
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kalla
New Member
textbook ISTJ
Joined: December 2008
Posts: 67
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Post by kalla on Apr 20, 2009 10:20:53 GMT -5
Oy, constantly. I live with my mom and sister (sis is 30), and they are both BAD about seeing a clean spot, then feeling compelled to fill it with something. "OOoo, a clean spot, perfect for my project/my collection/just to spread out." Nowadays it's piles of things from my late grandmother's house. Every time I turn around, there's another new pile of just junk. I can barely keep up with our own household stuff, but now they're bringing more in. Despite my sour tone, I really am trying to keep a good attitude about everything. Keep working on the stuff I can control. Make sure dishes are done to avoid mold and buggies, make sure bathroom is clean just because, and make sure my bedroom is a safe, soothing oasis in mom's Clutterville. Sending warm *HUGS* to everyone who feels like they're swimming upstream.  |
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Post by molly on Apr 20, 2009 15:31:03 GMT -5
Yes! With three kids, this is how it always is.
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