Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Keeping House - Kids' Rooms


Today we're keeping house in Brenna's room. Herein lies my frustration: it just gets undone. Almost instantly. My cousin suggests just shutting the door, which is EXACTLY what both of our mothers (sisters) did when we were teenagers. The thing is, when their rooms are clean, the kids have so much FUN playing in them. So I do it. And they look good for a minute.


So we took some time and got her room put back together. I had Brenna "help". She gets better at that, the older she gets. When she was younger, when her room would get clean, she'd say, "Look! We have a road!" Meaning, there's actually floor to play on. I always thought that was too cute.

It didn't take long.



Voila!

I'm working on a daily routine. My friend Heidi suggested this as a 5-year SAHM veteran. I've gotten one actually written and it includes having the kids help me pick up their rooms each night before we go to bed. I know this is not a new idea, but will be new to us. And would help us immensely, if we were to start each day with their rooms clean. They would have ROADS to play on every day!

9 comments:

Jacqniel said...

When our kids were little I use to tell Mark that trying to keep the house clean was like mowing the lawn and having it grow three inches right behind him. SO frustrating!
Brenna's room looks great! The nightly routine is a wonderful idea! Have you ever put toys away for awhile? I realized that having too many became overwhelming and confusing. I would put some things in a box in a closet and then on a rainy day or an 'I'm bored' day, out would come the box!

Jenifer said...

I am a big believer in everything put away at the end of the day for them and me. I feel so much better waking up to a tidy house. I am really anal like that so I think it is my personality, but you know it works with little ones, it really does.

Melanie D. said...

Oh how I wish I were more anal Jen! Really I do.

My attitude is more like - well, if it's coming right back out, why put it away? And if I'm getting back in the bed tonight, why make it? I know that this leads to my demise.

nikkis30by30 said...

Ok, so, we never make beds in our house. I don't like sleeping in a made bed. I like my blankets where I left them. And even though I told you about closing the door.... well, most nights my kids' rooms are fairly picked up when they go to bed. I may have to sweep through right quick and get dirty clothes, but all in all, they are generally clean. However, if there are nights it doesn't get done, it just plain doesn't get done. No sense in flipping over it in my book.

Brenna's room looks AWESOME!!! But.... what about Mason's? Did you get that one accomplished yesterday or did our 2 hour talk on the phone blow that?? ;)

Melanie D. said...

Mason's got done. Just no pictures. His is never that much of a mess to start. It's smaller and has less "stuff".

Brenna's room actually is easy to clean. Everything has a spot so it goes really quickly. That dollhouse bookshelf that my dad built has been a God-send.

Jenifer said...

I tagged you for the one-word meme....

N. said...

Oooh, I covet that dollhouse bookcase. So sassy. So girly.
I've been known to clean up the kids' rooms, and take a digital photo as proof that they were clean. Momentary, though it may be.
I don't have a routine. I'm soooooo lazy.

Michelle said...

wow how do you fit all of that stuff in her room?! LOL It looks so nice and neat when it's all put away LOL I'm like you - I know Kayla will just destroy her room after it's clean, but I can't stand a cluttered room so we have to put things away every day :)

Laura said...

Oh her bookcase is adorable!

I agree though, kids rooms are tough to keep control off.

Well done!
Laura