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Lisbet
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Bridget, I've noticed in a few pic on your blog a basket of silverware on the table. I'm contstantly trying to make more space in my kitchen, I have few cabinets and drawers, and my sliverware drawer overflows constantly. Do you keep this basket on the table all the time? How do you keep littles out of it or little boys from using forks as swords?  Any suggestions? Thanks!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Bridget
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We don't have much drawer space either and they don't pull out well, so we do keep our silverware in the basket on the table. We move it if we need the table space for a project.
Sometimes they do get used as swords but not too often. It's my toddler's job to unload the clean silverware from the dishwasher to the basket.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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rivendellmom
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Hey we do that! I was sick of the silverware drawer never being organized so we keep it all in the basket on the table.
As far as weaponry you'll have to have a stiff penalty for swordplay- like having to wash all the silverware!
Jen
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Lisbet
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Do you keep all of the silverware there? Forks, spoons, etc... I have a basket that would work well for this, I may just give it a shot!
and oh to have a dishwasher!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Martha
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I'm thinking of doing the same thing, but as we also use the table for hs-ing they won't be left there. Don't know yet...
My concern is the amazing disappearance of the spoons. Seems like about 3 or 4 times a year I'll open the drawer to get spoons for cereal or whatever and there will not be a single spoon to be had. No where.  Highly annoying at the time, but a bit amusing once replacement spoons have been purchased.
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Donna Marie
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I have two silverware drawers...side by side. I had to make sure there was a good place for everything for it to work...
What I did do was make it into some kind of Montessori matching thing when the kids are reaaaally young. They stand in front of the open drawers on a step stool and the basket of utensils and I place one of each kind in the trays and we play the matching game. About once a week I let them get reeeeaaallly wet at the sink scrubbng the trays out. And it is the job of an older one to help train the younger ones too! You would be surprised the lengths my 11 yo ds would go to to do something "fun" for my 20 month old. I just take the sharp things out first before I place the basket in position. This sorting hting is usually the 3yo ds's job while the 6yodd or 7yo ds empty the dishwasher. I keep spreading the word for the older ones to train the younger ones to do their jobs so that they can cut their work in half.
HTH!
God Love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc 
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Lisbet
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Oh Martha, we buy silverware at Sams in BULK!! It's crazy how we go through it, I think they accidently throw them away. Just a few months ago I had to wait to eat until someone else was done so I could use their fork!
I think I'll try this basket idea.
Donna Marie, My older kids train the younger ones too, also encouraged by spreading the load!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Bridget
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I think there is silverware for 16 or 18 in the basket. I have enough for 50 but the rest is stored, mainly brought out at Christmas dinner, as it is always here. (The grocery stores were selling a really inexpensive line a few years ago that is hefty and doesn't feel cheap.)
Our kitchen is a decent size, but poorly laid out. I recently purged to make more counter and cupboard space. I even put away the coffee maker for company and drink instant coffee in the mornings. Am I a martyr or what?
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Donna Marie
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Bridget wrote:
| I I recently purged to make more counter and cupboard space. I even put away the coffee maker for company and drink instant coffee in the mornings. Am I a martyr or what? |
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Ah Bridget, you are a stronger woman than I! Although I will take instant in my hot cocoa...
God Love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc
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Donna Marie from NJ
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Finding Elegant Simplicity
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Lisbet
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Bridget, I bought a perculator, it's stainless steel and I keep in on the stovetop in order to save counter space. Instant!!!  stronger than I too!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Elizabeth
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Lisbet wrote:
| Oh Martha, we buy silverware at Sams in BULK!! It's crazy how we go through it, I think they accidently throw them away. Just a few months ago I had to wait to eat until someone else was done so I could use their fork! |
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Ihate to tell you but this will get worse as they get older . You wouldn't believe the places I've found silverware...My teenagers are going to purchase the next bulk silverware purchase for this family.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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momwats8
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I can honestly say that I have to put the silverware away in a drawer. One it is just too big a temptation for 7 boys to stay away from. Two Maggie is the master climber and I am constantly fiding her on the table top. I swear she is Houdini no matter what I do she gets on there at least once a day.
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Donna Marie
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momwats8 wrote:
| I can honestly say that I have to put the silverware away in a drawer. One it is just too big a temptation for 7 boys to stay away from. Two Maggie is the master climber and I am constantly fiding her on the table top. I swear she is Houdini no matter what I do she gets on there at least once a day. |
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Here too!...my 20 mo is called the Great Christini! If you look at it slantways with only one eye open, it is magnificent what someone of her age can accomplish. Oooh my poor heart! She is waaay too strong and coordinated for someone her age! 
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lapazfarm
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Spoons are forever disappearing around here. Last time we moved when we packed and cleaned out my dds(16) room (who btw swore she *never* ate in her room), we found 13 spoons tucked in various nooks and crannies!  Just yesterday I found one behind the trash can that I think dd(5) threw away with her yogurt container but thankfully missed. And all this with a rule that we don't eat anywhere but the table. So, every once in awhile I have to go buy a new set of spoons. Why is it always spoons?
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Mary G
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This was a "whack on the side of the head" moment when I read this post.....we have VERY few drawers in our new house' kitchen - we don't even have space for a "junk drawer" .
It's driving me nuts that the silverware drawer we do have is always a mess -- it's also a perfect spot for other drawer-type stuff. So, voila, I'm getting a basket and putting the silverware in there! This will also make it easier for my littles to set the table and help empty the dishwasher!
You guys are so smart! 
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momwats8
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Donna Marie wrote:
| [QUOTE=momwats8] I can honestly Here too!...my 20 mo is called the Great Christini! If you look at it slantways with only one eye open, it is magnificent what someone of her age can accomplish. Oooh my poor heart! She is waaay too strong and coordinated for someone her age! |
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That is too funny. I was cracking up and the kids were asking me what was soo funny. It must be a girl thing or something. It is like she is invincible. thanks for the chuckle!!!
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momtomany
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Elizabeth wrote:
Ihate to tell you but this will get worse as they get older . You wouldn't believe the places I've found silverware...My teenagers are going to purchase the next bulk silverware purchase for this family. |
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And I thought our family was the only one with missing silverware, and strange places where it turned up!
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momtomany
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lapazfarm wrote:
| Spoons are forever disappearing around here. Last time we moved when we packed and cleaned out my dds(16) room (who btw swore she *never* ate in her room), we found 13 spoons tucked in various nooks and crannies! Just yesterday I found one behind the trash can that I think dd(5) threw away with her yogurt container but thankfully missed. And all this with a rule that we don't eat anywhere but the table. So, every once in awhile I have to go buy a new set of spoons. Why is it always spoons? |
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When we moved, the poor moving men had spoons falling on their heads as they dismantled my oldest dd's bunkbed. And we have a "no eating except in the kitchen" rule!
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Mary Ann in PA
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Q for Bridget (or others!)
