Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Is your house tidy?

82 replies

Helenemjay · 10/03/2006 17:25

When you have little kids? is your house a mess or is it tidy? i like a clean house but admit it is untidy with toys and the like and i have to say i NEVER get on top of my ever growing laundry! - this is an ongoing 'heated' discussion between me and dp, i think when you have small children (mine are 5.5, 3, and just 6 months) your house is normal if its untidy and has lots of laundry, but dp thinks our home should be just short of 'showhome' all the time! I think thats never going to happen!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
006 · 10/03/2006 17:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kid · 10/03/2006 17:29

I like my house to be a bit tidy, especially if we are having visitors. I never expect it be looking like a show home. The only way that is going to happen if we all move out!

My kids are 7 and 3.11 and I work full-time. As long as we all have clean clothes to wear, I don't mind how much dirty washing there is. PLus its kept in a cupboard out of sight so I don't have to look at it.

Dh knows better than to comment on the tidiness of the house (or lack of it) as I'd let him show me how tidy he can keep it!

alliebaba · 10/03/2006 17:30

if that's what he thinks, let him clean it and that will give you time to do the laundry

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
NomDePlume · 10/03/2006 17:34

I have 3 kids - 14 (unhelpful, messy boy), 12.5 (unhelpful, messy boy), 3.5 (messy, clumsy girl), I'm a SAHM and my house is tidy to the point of obsession 99.9% of the time. Obviously when DD has toys etc out then I'm not putting them away constantly but I do like things to be left tidy and clean, otherwise we'd drown under all the crap

mythumbelinas · 10/03/2006 17:37

When i lived in my lovely flat and only had dd1 it was always clean and tidy .. now in a house and another dd .. it never seems to stay clean and tidy for long!
I do need more storage though!

eve2005 · 10/03/2006 17:38

mine starts of ok in the morning but dd 13 months soon changes that. don't bother doing too much during the day but while she's having her tea at night it all gets a once over while she's there to see it be done.

keeps me sane because i don't have to do anything much after i've parceled her off to bed and it doesn't take much to do because it's done every night. also seems to be sinking in with her as she loves to 'tidy' her building blocks back into their box and 'clean' her high chair table by rubbing it with a piece of kitchen paper.

as for dp, if he dared to comment on the state of the place he'd be looking for somewhere else to live that he could clean to whatever standard he wanted! Wink

Original poster
Helenemjay · 10/03/2006 17:39

Well he does clean it up sometimes and i have to admit he does a good job! BUT he thinks his tidying up is perfect and i should learn from him GRRRR Angry i just dont think men understand how difficult it is to juggles kids and housework! - was watching Anthea last night and her soddin perfect house - but lets be honest she hasnt got her kids under her feet ALL the time, she has cleaners that go in and and a vast amount of money to buy all these boxes/baskets/storage whatevers! my dp sits watching it and then just smiles at me like 'see, she can do it!!' Apparently mena and women have been arguing about these things since adam and eve!!! lol

OP posts:
Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 10/03/2006 17:39

Do not watch Anthea - she gives untidy people a bad name!

Original poster
Helenemjay · 10/03/2006 17:41

LOL SMBK!!!! your right noone should watch Anthea!

OP posts:
Tommy · 10/03/2006 17:42

my house looks tidy sometimes but there is a big heap of papers, letters, things that I should be dealing with etc on the sideboard in the dining room which drives me mad and I really should tidy it up. The only problem is that it's just by the computer so, instead of tidying, I end up on MN instead! Grin

ScummyMummy · 10/03/2006 17:42

No. It is untidy.

Surfermum · 10/03/2006 17:43

Trying to keep this place tidy with a 2.9 year old (and a 45 year old come to that) is like trying to keep a jelly still.

Enid · 10/03/2006 17:44

yes

dh is anal

but at least he does it

but its not very clean Blush (thats my job)

LadyTophamHatt · 10/03/2006 17:47

Yes.

Bcause my Dh is from the same ilk as Enids.
(really bloody annoying isn't it Enid?)

And also because I've been out at "work" all day today (for the first time in 7 years!!!!) dh has done it allGrin

Enid · 10/03/2006 17:48

yes it is annoying sometimes

I left a book on the windowsill in the downstairs loo this morning

he's beeen back from work for 20 minutes

I've just checked

its gone back on the shelf

blueteddy · 10/03/2006 17:49

Yes, it is very tidy, as I have an anal husband too! Infact the lounge feels like a show room.
The children do have a playroom for their toys though.

mykidsmum · 10/03/2006 17:49

can I swar mine for yours Enid? If only my dp would do that

mykidsmum · 10/03/2006 17:50

obviously I meant swap

MaryP0p1 · 10/03/2006 17:52

I spent all weekend cleaning it, haven't been in it and its a pigsty. To top everything the dog has just thrown up on the kids room floor.

LadyTophamHatt · 10/03/2006 17:54

Enid..that is excatly what DH is like, except 20 mintues would be about 15 minutes too long.

I was going to start a thread about Loo roll the other day (but podkin had read my mind that day and already done it) and we've had 3 arguments about it so far!

Life is too short to worry about loo roll.

To quote ferris bueller "stick a lump of coal up his arse and in 2 week you'll have a diamond" thats my Dh...except it would be a week!

sorry hi-jack over....

Mazzystar · 10/03/2006 17:57

my house is clean AND tidy for the 3 hours between my cleaner leaving and DS returning home from nursery.

the rest of the time it is a midden

Enid · 10/03/2006 17:58

he loves to do it though

he says it 'calms him'

at least he doesnt nag me to do it too

saadia · 10/03/2006 17:59

My house is never perfect, although today I had friends visiting so yesterday I did a manic clean and even woke up early this morning to go over the kitchen. No matter how much I do there's always something else and the tidiness doesn't last. Also we have laminate that really shows the dust so I could actually spend the whole day sweeping and there would still be dust.

LadyTophamHatt · 10/03/2006 18:01

Funny, because mine gets really agitated if it's not done. He says he just doesn't feel comfortable with stuff lying about, he's calm once it's done.

But mine is a nagger.
He is turning into my mother.

Mimsie · 10/03/2006 18:07

Have been making real efforts to tidy up my house recently... But am sure if any of your hubby's came over they'd have a heart attack!!!

DH and I met at uni and still sort of live like students... The only difference is that I do clean. Am on top of washing ironing etc... but we're messy. For example yesterday my friend came over to pick up DS old bike. It needed adjusting... so got the spanners out (these days I know where they are!!!like I said am getting better at putting things away) got the stabilisers back on etc... left the spanners in the hall. I can honestly say that hubby would have left them there for months. (he might have pushed them under the stairs a bit more)

I did eventually put them back! Today...

I don't seem able to make the place tidy though... It's a skill I just don't have!