What you WON”T do for your kid…

[SK in CV]

[quote=FlyerInHi]
I’ve wondered if messy people become more organized after they have children just to set a good example for their kids.[/quote]

No.

[CA renter]

[quote=njtosd][quote=CA renter]Sounds like you’re going to be great parents, CE (but stay away from that soda!). I like your ideas here. Don’t worry too much about the food; you can make a hobby out of cooking with the family (that’s what we do, since we also love good food, unfortunately).

This will be such an awesome experience for you guys! :)[/quote]

OK – I have to agree that soda isn’t great. And maybe I am sensitive because I developed a morning Diet Pepsi habit in college before I started on (the more caffeinated) coffee. But why does this thread put so much more emphasis on soda than, say, alcohol and/or smoking? Plus, I feel like the biggest battle we face is not soda but staying fun and cheerful in the face of unfathomably messy rooms, mountains of laundry, homework, bills and (for example) my 12 year old’s incessant drumming. Sometimes I go to bed at night and realize I was a real buzz kill for most of the day. Staying positive in light of all the commotion is a daily challenge . . .[/quote]

Mountains and mountains of laundry! Where does it all come from?!?

Totally hear you on trying to be happy and fun while attempting to rear decent kids in a relatively clean, organized home. It’s especially difficult when dad gets to be the fun guy, so mom is the only one doing all the disciplining throughout the day.

The kids on our street were all discussing their parents in our backyard one day, and we overheard them saying: “Dads are all fun and awesomeness!!! They are so awesome and fun! Moms are all about rules and cleaning.” Of course, the dads thought it was great, not so much for us moms. 🙁

As for the soda, my DH drank soda daily as a kid, and I drank plenty in my teens and young adult years, too. But that stuff is pure junk. My MIL is a lifelong drinker of diet Pepsi, and she’s had a lot of bone problems (hip and back surgeries), in addition to being obese, even though she eats very little. I’m pretty convinced her poor diet (what she does eat is lacking in nutrition and there’s not nearly enough produce), smoking, and Pepsi habits are to blame.

It’s one thing to have a soda a couple of times a year when you go to a movie or something, but daily drinking is just so bad for you, IMHO, that we don’t have soda at our house except for what is reserved for parties and guests.

Some stuff about diet soda being bad, too:

http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/7-side-effects-of-drinking-diet-soda

[CA renter]

[quote=SK in CV][quote=FlyerInHi]
I’ve wondered if messy people become more organized after they have children just to set a good example for their kids.[/quote]

No.[/quote]

LOL! 🙂

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=CA renter][quote=njtosd][quote=CA renter]Sounds like you’re going to be great parents, CE (but stay away from that soda!). I like your ideas here. Don’t worry too much about the food; you can make a hobby out of cooking with the family (that’s what we do, since we also love good food, unfortunately).

This will be such an awesome experience for you guys! :)[/quote]

OK – I have to agree that soda isn’t great. And maybe I am sensitive because I developed a morning Diet Pepsi habit in college before I started on (the more caffeinated) coffee. But why does this thread put so much more emphasis on soda than, say, alcohol and/or smoking? Plus, I feel like the biggest battle we face is not soda but staying fun and cheerful in the face of unfathomably messy rooms, mountains of laundry, homework, bills and (for example) my 12 year old’s incessant drumming. Sometimes I go to bed at night and realize I was a real buzz kill for most of the day. Staying positive in light of all the commotion is a daily challenge . . .[/quote]

Mountains and mountains of laundry! Where does it all come from?!?

Totally hear you on trying to be happy and fun while attempting to rear decent kids in a relatively clean, organized home. It’s especially difficult when dad gets to be the fun guy, so mom is the only one doing all the disciplining throughout the day.

The kids on our street were all discussing their parents in our backyard one day, and we overheard them saying: “Dads are all fun and awesomeness!!! They are so awesome and fun! Moms are all about rules and cleaning.” Of course, the dads thought it was great, not so much for us moms. 🙁

As for the soda, my DH drank soda daily as a kid, and I drank plenty in my teens and young adult years, too. But that stuff is pure junk. My MIL is a lifelong drinker of diet Pepsi, and she’s had a lot of bone problems (hip and back surgeries), in addition to being obese, even though she eats very little. I’m pretty convinced her poor diet (what she does eat is lacking in nutrition and there’s not nearly enough produce), smoking, and Pepsi habits are to blame.

It’s one thing to have a soda a couple of times a year when you go to a movie or something, but daily drinking is just so bad for you, IMHO, that we don’t have soda at our house except for what is reserved for parties and guests.

Some stuff about diet soda being bad, too:

http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/7-side-effects-of-drinking-diet-soda%5B/quote%5D

I have a secret trick that cuts laundry by 50%.

I wear my clothes twice as long.

[CA renter]

We do that whenever we can, too, scaredy. It’s still a ton of laundry when you have a family of five plus a dog, as you know.

[scaredyclassic]

Don’t wear socks

Skip underwear.

[CA renter]

Ain’t gonna happen (the underwear part)!

[scaredyclassic]

what about the idea of not washing jeans for a long time. underwear by weight is relatively light, alo by volume small…but jeans, and esp. towels, are huge. wear your jeans for a month, two months. don’t wear heavy things that will get super sweaty, like during yard work.

part of this laundry explosion is controllable.

also, when babies areyoung and spitting up a lot, I used to leave them shirtless more often and just wipe them down, instead of creating spit up laundry. let him roam in his diaper.

[no_such_reality]

Oh honestly soda is the evil I wish I could give up. Soda IS the gateway drug.

Congratulations!

What did I give up? My two seater convertible sports car. I now drive a minivan. Sliding rear doors is just way less effort to try and not door ding everyone into oblivion.

If you’re a month out, hopefully all your prep is finished. Arrival could be any day. You say him, so if you’re having a boy, have you are you wife already agreed on yes or no on circumcision? The hospital will ask you when you’re at your most tired.

Along the lines of surfing, daddy and me swim lesson start as young as 3 months. Lots of dads in the pool!

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=no_such_reality]Oh honestly soda is the evil I wish I could give up. Soda IS the gateway drug.

Congratulations!

What did I give up? My two seater convertible sports car. I now drive a minivan. Sliding rear doors is just way less effort to try and not door ding everyone into oblivion.

If you’re a month out, hopefully all your prep is finished. Arrival could be any day. You say him, so if you’re having a boy, have you are you wife already agreed on yes or no on circumcision? The hospital will ask you when you’re at your most tired.

Along the lines of surfing, daddy and me swim lesson start as young as 3 months. Lots of dads in the pool![/quote]

http://www.nocirc.com

[NotCranky]

[quote=flu]Oh… And one thing I had to give up (at least in front of my kid)…swearing…[/quote]

Profanity is the language of anger. I’ll never be the cool type like Mister Rodgers.

[njtosd]

[quote=FlyerInHi]

I have the greatest admiration for parents who can keep everything perfect all the time while raising several kids — clean house, make up beds, fold and put away laundry, cook healthy fresh meals at the dining table, tend a beautiful garden ….

It’s easier if you can afford to hire a maid and a nanny, but most families can’t.

I’ve wondered if messy people become more organized after they have children just to set a good example for their kids.[/quote]

The price of the neatness that you admire is too high, in my opinion, unless everyone is that way naturally. I have seen lots of studies like this one:

Basically – neatness and orderliness squelch novel thinking.

And since becoming a parent I’ve probably tolerated more mess (not less) so that my kids can, to give a recent example, tape straws to their doors to make a design that they like. My oldest made a nerf blow dart gun with PVC tubing (it’s impressive but we found nerf darts everywhere for weeks). They also mixed glow stick “juice” with dish soap to make glowing bubbles (Pinterest). Living in perpetual neatness would kill me, and I think the kids would suffer.

Just in case you misinterpret, we don’t have a dirty house (no dishes and glasses hanging around, etc.) but we often have a cluttered house. And I think the kids will remember the fun stuff more than they would the tidy spaces.

[UCGal]

[quote=SK in CV][quote=FlyerInHi]
I’ve wondered if messy people become more organized after they have children just to set a good example for their kids.[/quote]

No.[/quote]
+100
LMAO
(oops – does that count as cursing?)

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=njtosd]
The price of the neatness that you admire is too high, in my opinion, unless everyone is that way naturally. I have seen lots of studies like this one:

Basically – neatness and orderliness squelch novel thinking.
[/quote]

Very interesting article.
I would agree that some mess is good for the creative process.

Some disorder such as stacks of books can be attractive looking and add warmth to the house.

[quote=njtosd]
And since becoming a parent I’ve probably tolerated more mess (not less) so that my kids can, to give a recent example, tape straws to their doors to make a design that they like. My oldest made a nerf blow dart gun with PVC tubing (it’s impressive but we found nerf darts everywhere for weeks). They also mixed glow stick “juice” with dish soap to make glowing bubbles (Pinterest). Living in perpetual neatness would kill me, and I think the kids would suffer.

Just in case you misinterpret, we don’t have a dirty house (no dishes and glasses hanging around, etc.) but we often have a cluttered house. And I think the kids will remember the fun stuff more than they would the tidy spaces.[/quote]

You sound like you’ve achieved a good balance and are very suitable to be a parent. I think they key is that you were neat before becoming a parent.

There is a difference between some disorder from everyday living in an active household and dirtiness.

Of course, extra tidiness is not kids friendly because you can’t have anything out.

I know so many people who can’t even do basic household chores but they say they want kids, *cough* *cough*.

Call me conservative, I grew up in a household where certain things had to be done before having fun. I’m just used to making up my bed in the morning. It takes 3 minutes. An unmade bed really bothers me.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=scaredyclassic]what about the idea of not washing jeans for a long time. underwear by weight is relatively light, alo by volume small…but jeans, and esp. towels, are huge. wear your jeans for a month, two months. [/quote]

I think that’s how people live in Europe. They use small bathtowels that dry quickly.

I rented AirBNB apartments in Europe and I noticed their washing facilities are very poor.

The standard in America is to wear clothes only once between showers. It’s kinda gross to rewear things after you shower, no?

I don’t wear sweaters because you can’t wash wool at home. In the winter you wear a sweater to a restaurant and afterwards it stinks like the food.

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