My 2 year old keeps me busy. She is a little tornado. I'm happy she keeps herself entertained but she can wreck the entire house in less than hour

I'm always exhausted! You can only pick up cars and books so many times in an evening before you're ready to throw them all out a window.

I used to pull my hair out cleaning up after him, but I've almost gotten used to it (my son is 3), and whenever he starts to pull a lot of toys out into another room besides his own, I redirect him back into his room.

And although it takes patience, it may be a good time to start teaching him/her to clean up after themselves.

A comedian once said "cleaning the house while you have kids is as productive as shoveling while it's still snowing". It's a never ending process picking up after them.

I have scheduled pick up times during the day. I pick up the front room quickly, not completely, before we leave for our morning activity (I hate coming home to a tornado house), then ds's room and front room completely at nap time, then front room quickly again at dinner time, then ds's room and front room completely at bedtime. If I didn't have a system, I would pick up all day long, so I've learned to live with some mess between cleanings. The quick pick ups really help keep me sane, 2 minutes can almost clear the front room making it less crazy to me.
Ds is starting to help with things like putting the blocks in the box, his books on the table so I can put them on the shelf, and putting his laundry in the hamper.

She is 27 months old so she doesn't grasp cleaning up after herself yet. I was happy yesterday when she put her crayons back in the container when she was finished.. thank goodness for small favors. I do a major cleanup at naptime and bedtime. It is all in a days work around here

This makes SO much sense to me. I do this a little... but I tend to be an all or nothing type person so half the time I'll have the boys tackle the playroom (a small 'formal' area off the living room) while I clean the living room. Their bedroom will then get everything SHOVED into the closet to be locked up until we have time to clean it.

I think I'm gonna start doing it more gradual like you suggested. If I can make cleaning up the living room just another step that must be done before we leave for the day then that will be a big step in keeping the house clean. 'get on your shoes', 'grab your backpack', 'is the living room clean?' My boys LOVE to do the little assignments I give them... I really think this might work! I'm SO excited to try this!! So simple, yet so profound...

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13