how do you deal with excessive skids clutter??
My boyfriends 3 teens leave multiple pairs of shoes and their backpacks in the entryway every day. This means when I come in the door with my dogs or anything else for that matter, I cannot open the door all the way, there is barely any room to stand and I trip over stuff. I have spoken to boyfriend about this before and things sometimes get better, then sloppy clutter again.
Not sure if I'm being too uptight, but I'm getting really frustrated with this. I just want to straight out tell him why can't we have a maximum 1 pair of shoes per person at the door and backpacks in bedrooms right away! I don't have kids of my own and I understand his 3 teens can be lazy, but I'm getting tired of bringing this up with short term results. Any suggestions or am I being too uptight? Or should I suggest hooks on the walls for backpacks (I don't like that the way that would look but if that seems a more reasonable solution it's better than tripping over them.) But I just don't see how it can be that difficult for kids stuff to stay in their own rooms in our crowded house.
Your steps are not babies.
Your steps are not babies. Issue consequences if they cannot tidy up.
I installed a bench that has
I installed a bench that has doors that open for their stuff, I installed a shoe shelf in the garage, that helped. I have kids and skids, they both were leaving everything in the entry way, sometimes you have to install storage systems or hooks even if they are not what you want in the space.
Asking them to clean up the entry way works too.
When there is excessive stuff from skids around the house, left out/not put away, books, socks ect. I will just throw it into their bedrooms, if DH ignores it too long and it's getting out if hand, and i feel like I'm nagging too much for them to clean it up, I will pick up the items and hand it to DH, so he can give to the skids.
Thanks, that's a good
Thanks, that's a good alternative! But do you find it just makes them collect even MORE stuff in the entry way...that they just keep cramming more stuff in it instead of putting away? Of course, my preference is in their own rooms (just like where I put my personal stuff too)
I either throw it down the
I either throw it down the stairs or throw it onto the front porch. If I'm feeling charitable I'll throw the stuff into the hall closet. After saying "do not leave your stuff in the entryway or in front of the door it's in the way of everyone else" 10x. It's amazing how well they learn when it's chucked.
When it starts raining here I'll have the mudroom ready. That will be the required entrance. I have a coat rack (and will be installing additional coat hooks very soon), a long rug (and an indoor/outdoor additional rug soon), an umbrella holder, and shelves to put shoes/misc. stuff. Then it's a straight shot to the SDs rooms so they should love going in that way. I have to train DP about all this too - he's even worse when the weather gets bad...
Interesting....I see a common
Interesting....I see a common theme now of the stepmoms enforcing it, but the bio dads being lazy about enforcing it. I find that frustrating...that the dad doesn't stay on top of it. Then we feel like a nag when we stay on top of it. I hate feeling like nag, but I hate not having room in my own house just as much.
Yes! My DP doesn't see it. I
Yes! My DP doesn't see it. I have to stay on top of his stuff too - although I don't ask him to move things any longer, I just do it and throw it in his pile in his closet.
I can talk with DP until I'm blue in the face but he really doesn't see the issue of a bunch of bags and shoes scattered around the front door, across the hall to the top of the stairs and having to walk around them. I like things orderly - not all the time, I'll give some leeway now and then but need to clean it up at some point.
I don't nag. I ask and explain why to the point where I think they get it. Then if it's ignored, I take care of it my way. No nagging. No begging or pleading.
I swear it's oxytocin. They
I swear it's oxytocin. They view their offspring through a different lense. We didn't share in the oxytocin, so we view them more objectively.
Thanks, thats a cheaper
Thanks, thats a cheaper alternative-LOL. I didn't know they had those
My SD is pretty good at
My SD is pretty good at taking things to her room. She is 5 though and not a lazy teen.
If she becomes a lazy teen she will learn quickly...Put your shit away or it gets tossed. If you have books or borrowed items from school you will be responsible for paying the cost to replace them. I only ask once for her to take something to her room, that isn't going to change. Her dad does the same though so that helps.
You are much more patient
You are much more patient than I am!! I refuse to pick up after teenagers. You gave me an idea though, if they ignore the rule, I can start hiding their stuff all around the house (maybe even their Dad's car-LOL). Then they should get tired of not being able to find their stuff when they are rushing to get out the door.
Oh my goodness, thank you for
Oh my goodness, thank you for sharing and sorry you had to experience that! My boyfriend is pretty tidy himself and his kids are getting better but I don't like how he overlooks some of these things. But what is it with kids and their crap everywhere-LOL? I was not allowed to do that growing up so I don't get it
Maybe I should "trip" and fall and let them see me "get hurt tripping over their crap" - LOL. But their Dad would have to see that too to get the right results 
Yeah, DP is not exactly neat.
Yeah, DP is not exactly neat. He's not a total slob, but he can let things go until it's chaotic. I cannot let it get to that point. I don't want to have to do dishes before I cook dinner then clean up dishes afterwards (the dishes everyone else missed and left scattered around).
I had a minor meltdown last night. Our dishwasher broke down (my worst nightmare) and I was doing dishes AGAIN. I just spoke with DP the night before about not using so many dishes in ONE day; try to re-use a water glass. Wash your lunch stuff right after eating. Why are there 10 teaspoons used by two people in one day?!, etc. So I freaked.
I also mentioned, "How old were you when YOU started doing dishes, DP?"
Answer, age 7. "Hey, me too. Why aren't the SDs learning how? They are old enough. They have no chores or resposibility and are getting older."
DP: "Yes, but...can we stop talking about this? Well, maybe I need more help around here."
Me: "Yes, we do need more help BECAUSE they are older."
He did talk with them at dinner about helping out with dishes and things more, because the dishwasher won't be replaced for another week or so.
I would have liked him to say something like, you are both getting older and we need more help from you making sure things are done and cleaned up. Like cleaning up your breakfast dishes, learning how to wash dishes, load dishwasher...etc...but I'll take it for the time being. I am not holding my breath though. SD11 is really, really good at getting out of chores because she "doesn't have time." Yeah, an 11 yo is just SO BUSY working.
Get the big tubs. Fill them
Get the big tubs. Fill them with water. Toss in anything you find in the floor.
Mission accomplished.
I'd stand with my finger on
I'd stand with my finger on the door bell until someone answered the door and getting them to remove everything that blocking the doorway, every time I could not get in the door properly because of their rubbish.
When I used to live with SO
When I used to live with SO and his skids the house was always messy. They had no concept of putting things away after use or tidying up. I couldnt live like that stressedme out far to much.
One day I actually fell down the staires due to their crap on it, they were too lazy on walking up and taking it with them. All that crap went in the bin. Did they miss it - no idea no one said a word about any of the items.
Now I play hide and seek with items if I ever go over there which is very rare! Just because I can and it amuses me
Simple......anything left in
Simple......anything left in common areas gets tossed straight in the bin. They'll learn pretty damn quick. My kids did....the skids did....so did dh. And yes I threw an iPad out that repeatedly got left on the kitchen counter.