Do your kids make a mess and then expect you to clean it up?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
May 21, 2008 5:12pm CST
Do your kids drop food and liquids on the floor and then forget to clean them up? Do they think you'll do it? Or, are they just forgetful? Do they offer to clean up after themselves?
Most times my little kid is very helpful around the house. She loves to volunteer as my assistant when I'm sweeping or washing the walls. She goes nuts everytime I clean out the closet. She sorts clothes and puts toys in their proper place. But, she doesn't like vacuuming. I think the sound hurts her ears.
Today she was drinking water from a cup and spilled water on the floor. I don't think she even noticed. Later, after almost slipping on the water, I realized what she had done. I went ahead and cleaned it up and didn't say anything. She's good most of the time, so I cut her a break. I'm spilling stuff all the time, so why blame her with something that I could have easily done myself.
When she's older, I'm sure she will be the first person to clean up messes like that. Just now, she spilled some water again while working on her computer and she immediately grabbed an old piece of play clothes and tried to mop it up. I didn't have to say anything. I was so proud of her.
2 people like this
6 responses
@keasling (723)
• United States
22 May 08
My children are really bad like tat. They have the run of the house most of the time. I get so tired of walking into the kitchen and find a mess. And it is like HELLO don't you see the trash can. I get so mad at them. my husband just hollers saying I should just spank them and which I do but it doesn't stay in their head. It is like they enjoy seeing me get upset. I am thinking of putting themoutside in the barn. Maybe that will help.
2 people like this
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
22 May 08
I'm not sure why, but my son has been an incredibly neat child so far. He goes and gets a paper towel or baby wipe if he makes even the smallest mess. He can just get food on the corner of his mouth, and he wants it cleaned up right away!
As far as spilling stuff goes, if it gets on him at all, he wants the whole mess cleaned up right away. If none of it gets on him, he still usually brings it to my attention, but he doesn't necessarily clean it up himself. If it's something he's not supposed to be messing with (like the pets' food and/or water), he usually tries to clean it up, but never bothers to tell my husband or me, so we have to find it on our own later.
1 person likes this
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
22 May 08
You don't say how old she is, but enjoy it, there will be days when she gets into her teens that she's not so 'clean' concious lol However, she does sound like my daughters and even though they would only clean up their rooms once a week when they got to be teenagers they were still good about helping around the house, cleaning up spills, etc. I have been living with my s/o for 3 years, his daughter was 11 when we moved in together (she lives with her mom for the most part), and she was really bad about leaving glasses sitting around, candy wrappers, etc. and expected me to clean up after her! From her actions I was certain this was coming from what she gets away with at her mom's house, however, she soon learned that I was not going to pick up after her and she does much better now, takes her glass to the sink, picks up her trash, etc. and cleans up her room before going back home to mom's.
@MichaelJay (1100)
•
22 May 08
My 18 yar old is infuriating. She spends a lot of time in her room, like most teens, but she has a deal here she's supposed to clean it. Most of the time we would need a visa to enter her room if we could get past the border patrols!
Her worst habit is when me or her mum do the dishes (usually a big pile as we both work, and it only gets done once a day) and we've just finished. She'll appear from her pit with a stack of plates and glasses and just dump them by the sink.
One day I got so mad I took them back to her room, dumped them on the bed and left a note saying 'we gave the domestics a night off!'
Water off a duck's back, she took no notice....
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
22 May 08
When my children were 3-4yrs old they loved to help me clean. Ah the good old days! As they aged they somehow "forget" to pick-up, put-away or clean-out which ever their present mess requires. I just keep telling them that i am not cleaning up after them (i did't their sisters and i'm not starting with the boys). Eventually when i lose ALL patience and get a trash bag to clean out their room myself(i have only had to actually do this once for the girls and once for the boys) they will do it. because when i go in to clean, EVERYTHING except 1mos. clothing (toys,books and games included) goes to goodwill and i promise you it was more than a year before they got any uneccessary items back then it all had to be slowly bought over birthdays and christmases. They may wait till the last min. but they will do it.
