What do you do to make your house feel like a home for your kids?

[Anonymous]

It hit me that the school years are going to fly by and then they’ll be gone. I never put much thought into homemaking apart from the basics (home cooked food, cleanliness, nice environment). But now I feel like I’d like to be more intentional about it. What do you do to make your house feel like home for the kids?

[Anonymous]

I allow more artwork and "kid detritus" than I naturally would. I don't allow it to take over, but where my instinct is to get rid of most of the "stuff," I make sure to display on the mantle, on the dresser in my bedroom, on my night stand, all over the fridge, etc. There's a little paper heart that says "BFF" tucked into an organizer in my closet. I've learned to like some level of having all that take over.

[Anonymous]

When my daughter moved in with me I did the things she wanted done to feel comfortable. I got her some special makeup light/mirror thing she said all the best Youtube people have, she wanted a plant for the kitchen windowsill, I'll play her music while we're cleaning or cooking.

[Anonymous]

I love this post!

I also don’t think you’ll know what makes your home “home” to your kids until they’re adults and become nostalgic. That said, here’s what made my parent’s home a “home” when I was growing up in the 80s:

-Kerosene heater was on most winter days (probably not safe, lol, but a very good memory for me). As a parent now, I run the fireplace often

-homemade pizza on special occasion weekends

-a peaceful home where my parent’s loved each other, and never argued in front of us

-screened in deck to relax on

-a clean house. My dad is a neat freak. Beds were always made and the house was immaculate

-and then just the sameness of the home. My parent’s make the same warm breakfast on Saturday’s and Sunday’s (pancakes and egg sandwiches, respectively). I can still walk into their home on Sunday at 7 and know that they’ll be eating breakfast, drinking coffee, and reading the paper.

[Anonymous]

No separate playroom (toys in the family room) and not getting too fussy with décor.

[Anonymous]

Pay the mortgage, the light bill, and we have hot water and hvac. There’s also food in the fridge. Is this a real question?

[Anonymous]

I find your question a little strange, because home is where a loving family is. If you have joy and love in your house, you're already there!

You can decorate however you like, change it up how often you like. What matters is that you communicate to your children that they are important and loved.

My father's job made us move to different countries. My husband and I moved with our children to a European country and back. We've lived in large and small spaces. The material things REALLY do not matter.

[Anonymous]

Fifteen minutes of one-on-one time per day. Your relationship with your kid is the single most important part of home. When the baby is older, DH and I will switch off every day. In the teen years it will probably be a biweekly or month” date” at Chipotle, or whatever.

We also kept the TV out of our main living area. We want to talk more as a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love this post!

I also don’t think you’ll know what makes your home “home” to your kids until they’re adults and become nostalgic. That said, here’s what made my parent’s home a “home” when I was growing up in the 80s:

-Kerosene heater was on most winter days (probably not safe, lol, but a very good memory for me). As a parent now, I run the fireplace often

-homemade pizza on special occasion weekends

-a peaceful home where my parent’s loved each other, and never argued in front of us

-screened in deck to relax on

-a clean house. My dad is a neat freak. Beds were always made and the house was immaculate

-and then just the sameness of the home. My parent’s make the same warm breakfast on Saturday’s and Sunday’s (pancakes and egg sandwiches, respectively). I can still walk into their home on Sunday at 7 and know that they’ll be eating breakfast, drinking coffee, and reading the paper.

[/quot

OP here — thanks, this is the kind of thing I’m reflecting about!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love this post!

I also don’t think you’ll know what makes your home “home” to your kids until they’re adults and become nostalgic. That said, here’s what made my parent’s home a “home” when I was growing up in the 80s:

-Kerosene heater was on most winter days (probably not safe, lol, but a very good memory for me). As a parent now, I run the fireplace often

-homemade pizza on special occasion weekends

-a peaceful home where my parent’s loved each other, and never argued in front of us

-screened in deck to relax on

-a clean house. My dad is a neat freak. Beds were always made and the house was immaculate

-and then just the sameness of the home. My parent’s make the same warm breakfast on Saturday’s and Sunday’s (pancakes and egg sandwiches, respectively). I can still walk into their home on Sunday at 7 and know that they’ll be eating breakfast, drinking coffee, and reading the paper.

I love this! Makes me want to implement a hot breakfast tradition for my kids. I think there is also something to your house being something kids are proud of. Not nice or huge but having a place for their things, displaying things that are important to them, and keeping it clean and ready for friends. Kids doing chores adds to this sense of ownership.

[Anonymous]

Photos up.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others - clean and not cluttered house for the most part, touches of artwork and lots of photos . I do enjoy cooking so simple but healthy meals on a casually set table. Always have a little vase of flowers from supermarket in the kitchen and when my daughter comes home from college I put a small simple arrangement in her room too. Also, candles make any dinner - homemade or take out - special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pay the mortgage, the light bill, and we have hot water and hvac. There’s also food in the fridge. Is this a real question?

+1.

[Anonymous]

Lots of real books on shelves
Dog beds on the living room floor
Photos of the family on the walls
Clean, uncluttered
Fresh flowers in a vase in the kitchen daily
Musical instruments in reach of the children (we have a guitar, drums, a piano, and several string instruments the children are allowed to play whenever)
a chalkboard menu board in the mudroom - kids can see what's for dinner daily and don't have to ask
prayer dice on the table at mealtime

These are the things that I feel make MY home. Do I think you need beautiful decor and a clean space for good parenting? Of course not, but it soothes me and a calm mama makes me a better mama.

[Anonymous]

You cannot do it with decor or “things.” It’s the vibe you cultivate as a family. I can feel it the second I walk into houses. Some feel like warm, happy, safe and secure family homes where everyone loves to be and others do not and it has nothing to do with the quality of furniture, what’s on the walls or shelves.