Nice things. Young Kids.

A lot of women I know, who have small children, say, oh I'll get nice things once my kids are out of the house.  I laugh & they laugh when they say it, because it's said somewhat jokingly, but I couldn't disagree more.

Believe me, I know how cheerios, peanut butter, sand from the sandbox, runny noses, all of that can make for a less than tidy home.  Not to mention the mishaps with scissors or permanent markers (oh, don't get me started).

But, and this is a big but, why postpone your life, or the way you want your house to look once kids are out of the home?

Kids are messy.

Asher, 20 months.   He seemed to have enjoyed his smoothie.  

But that doesn't mean you can't have nice things.  You just have to have a place for everything. 

  

18 or 25 or 30 years is a good chunk of time to live in a place where you are uninspired by your surroundings.  Sure kids are kids, but kids can & need to learn how to treat things with respect.

Kids can learn to be clean, organized, & care about living in a place with nice things.

Am I against running, jumping, rough housing?  Toys?  Playing?

Heavens no.

But we try to maintain a certain atmosphere in the various parts of our home.

Bedrooms are for sleeping.

Toy room is for playing & projects.  Kitchen is for eating, talking, cooking.  Living room is for music, movies, family time, reading, cuddling on the couch.

If the kids need to run around, we send them outside.  Fortunately we have plenty of  backyard (fenced, too), driveway, & sidewalks for playing tag, wrestling, riding bikes.

Hopefully if my kids, having grown up in a house of order, with a certain degree of decorum & respect for things & people, they will grow up with an appreciation for beauty & order.

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