Ask:
Am I mean? We recently had a bathroom renovation, making our "front" bathroom with a handicapped accessible tub for DS. I want this room to be used only for his baths and guests, especially since now it looks quite nice. So that it stays nice and I don't have to do major cleaning in it, just the tub and a general wipe-down. Our house is small! To use the other bathroom, in DH and my bedroom, you'd have to walk about 10 extra steps. Literally.
WEll, ds2 and dh have been using the toilet, and now even getting ready in the a.m. in there. Yesterday there was toothpaste all over the sink and pee all over the seat and the floor. I am not a super-clean-freak, at all. I am actually kind of sloppy and would rather have that sloppiness contained to one room instead of two. KWIM? I told them no using the "front" bathroom unless it is an absolute emergency and the other one is occuppied.
Then I got flack. We always had off limits spaces in my home growing up. Is this weird?
Answer:
There are no real off limit spaces in our house except for the dank dark basement and the laundry room. Those are for safety reasons.
Our daughter is welcome in every room of the house...even our bedroom. The only time she is not welcome in a room is if I am watching a show kids should not watch before she goes to bed or if my husband is playing a game with a lot of violence in it on the XBOX. We taught her about privacy when she was really small so she knows not to come in while were using the bathroom or to ask to come in if we are in the shower. We also do not allow her to open our bedroom closets and ask her to stay out of the desk drawers since we keep bills and such in there.
Silly me already knocks on her door (she is five) if she has the door closed in her room to make sure it is ok if I come in...of course it always is ok but I respect her little boundaries already...as she learned to respect ours.
Maybe you can tell your other kids if they plan on using that bathroom they must help clean it. If they are young they can use a damp sponge or a Swiffer to help out
Jen
Answer:
I grew up with rooms off limits as well and I have them in my house! The formal living room and dining room are used for company and the kids know that it is off limits to them. We have a family room and another eating area that we use as a family on a daily basis. I keep these areas off limits so I am not constantly cleaning and to help keep the furniture from getting dirty - nothing like spilled juice on my nice couches! Also, we have a large glass dining room table that I do not want the girls running into.
Answer:
Not really 'off limits' but my kids don't go into our formal living room or dining room to play around, they need to stay out of there. Otherwise, they play in the playroom or their rooms. I don't like toys all over the place, so if they pull something out to play with in the family room, it needs to be put away as soon as their done.
Answer:
My bedroom is off limits to my kids unless I'm in there. This is my private 'peaceful' place where I don't want a lot of noise and/or chatter. I don't have a partner so there's no worries of them seeing anything they shouldn't. I grew up with off limits areas and I think it's a good thing, it teaches them respect and about privacy. I think there's nothing wrong with your off limits place, or your reasons for it. I'm also in a small home with three kids, and the fourth when he's home. Stick to your guns but explain why.
Answer:
Nope...I set rules right from the get...so off limit areas aren't necessary here.
Answer:
Actaully, I am considering implementing some "off-limit" rooms. I have 3 boys and it seems they, and their junk, are everywhere!!! We have a livingroom upstairs and downstairs, so I am thinking that they need to keep their stuff out of one of them. Our excersize room is a no kid zone, as well as the office.
Answer:
My bedroom is "off limits" unless I'm in there...I have my office in there and school stuff, and if anything gets misplaced or touched...I start to freak out...so they pretty much know to stay out. Otherwise, there really are not any "off limit" rooms. They do know that I expect them to leave a room the same way they enter it and if they don't I nag them continuously...so they are pretty good about it!!
Answer:
Kids aren't allowed to play in our bedroom. My office and hubby's office are 'no play zones'. I don't limit bathrooms, though.