I struggle with the "shoes off" in the house policy. In theory, that would be my preference. And certainly in bad weather, my kids all take their shoes off. However, I have four kids, and two of them are outside playing all the time. They come in and out for a variety of reasons, so requiring them to take shoes off each and every time just isn't manageable (especially since one of them has fine motor skills problems, so just tying his shoes is difficult for him). I usually take mine off when I come inside, unless I'm wearing sneakers and coming from the store where I have to make multiple trips to the car. That said, I also have three entry points. The kids go in and out through the garage, which is underneath the main floor. If they are coming in and staying in, they usually leave their shoes in the garage just outside the door (a huge pile which I'm trying to organize - used to be a big basket but too many shoes, so now I have an organizer to put together, but not sure they will actually put their shoes in each compartment!). I always use the front door and kick my shoes off at the front door - there is a basket there by the door, so if I'm going out again later, I leave my shoes there, but if not I bring them upstairs to my closet. I wear slippers in the house. We also have a mudroom but it is accessible from the back door. There was a time when my kids always used it after school/coming home from somewhere, but now my key no longer works in the lock so they always use the garage instead. The mudroom, however, seems to store whatever shoes they haven't left in the garage (as well as shoes that are not in use regularly, like cleats, church shoes, etc). They each have their own cubby, and a basket for shoes in their cubby. I find it perfectly normal here where I live to see a basket of shoes near the front door. The only houses where I don't see them are my friends' homes who have homes that are more formal (don't look very lived in), or if they have a mudroom or other main entry for family. I just read the two posts above mine and see that they both have four kids like me. I had to laugh at choclot b/c her battle sounds like mine! Mine each have their own cubbies and STILL I find their things all over the mudroom - coats laying on the bench instead of hanging on the hook, shoes on the floor *right next to* their shoe basket, socks they've taken off and left in their cubbies and then wonder why they have no socks after I do laundry! I do call them from wherever they are to fix their mistakes, but much of the time I'm off doing something else and don't notice right away. My kids are 8, 10, 12 and turning 14. My oldest has actually become very organized (she keeps all her shoes in an organizer up in her bedroom after years of using the mudroom), hangs her coat in her room, etc. My 12 y/o is a slob, but he is incredibly organized with his schoolwork, binder, etc and judging from what I hear from his friends' mothers whose boys are constantly losing things, forgetting to turn in schoolwork, etc, I figure I'll take that over him not putting his shoes away properly!

Fori is extremely displeased, haha. I would gladly help you if I could, but I have so much to learn yet! I just need to get the BF to let me have a go at the wet saw. I think I would totally enjoy the whole tile cutting process - I have enough "artsy-craftsy" in me that it's kinda right up my alley. rebunky, I totally get it. I have SO many projects that are on my to-do list. *sigh* Never enough time. Yanno, it's funny, back when I started this whole update project (not a remodel - nothing so grand as what you all are doing!) I was taking trash out one night and a neighbor stopped by to chat. I told her I was painting my cabinets and she mentioned that she had been working on her kitchen for a year. And I remember thinking..."A year?!? What the heck? She's retired what is taking her so long??" HAHAHAHA!!! I was clueless. A noob. I am terrible at visualizing changes - I have to see pics of how it could look. And even then, I am terrible at making a decision. So I am very thankful for those here have more experience and a better "eye" that I do.

Yes, it is a different world, and yet it's the same. Vulnerable people, less powerful people, have always been at risk from those who are stronger and more aggressive. And you cannot tell by looking. We all know the old stereotypes of scoutmasters, priests, Etc, people who put themselves into positions in which they will have access to large numbers of vulnerable children, victimize those children, and yet who have enjoyed absolute credibility and Trust. And a child in distress is a very vulnerable person. Hand them a box of tissues? Sure, but hand them a pillow or a teddy bear at the same time. I once spoke with a teacher who taught special needs and at-risk children. One of the clever and caring things that she did was to create a safe Corner in the back of the classroom. She had a giant Appliance box with all kinds of fabric with different textures, velvets, flannels, Etc. Also in the Box were very soft stuffed animals and a few pillows. Anyone who needed a break or a comforting environment could go play in what they call the fabric box.

North Iowa here.. What no one on this thread understands is there are no "green spaces" here. We have Habitat ReStore. We have Menard's or maybe Lowe's or Home Depot. Iowa people help each other all the time. Craig's list has junk. I did a kitchen gut 10+ years ago with Menard's hickory cabinets and laminate counters. No back splash. Existing Vinyl floor. Used my just fine white appliances. My house was built in 1880 so no open concept here. My kitchen is a room. A small room by comparison to almost all kitchens on here. I had a handyman who worked cheap. I had known him for at least 30 years so when I left for work I knew he'd deal with whatever came along. He was gone when I got home and I did clean up. I also did the gutting of the old kitchen; dead mice in the light fixture but he warned me about the potential so I was prepared. Maybe I was very, very lucky but I got a great kitchen for $10,000. I don't know what inflation would do to that price today. Compared to what I started with I now have a palace. You are a long way from final plans and I think you will do just fine. It takes a lot of price comparison shopping to get there. And shopping on eBay and Menard's sales. Don't over look the consignment shops. If you do Menard's cabinets wait until they have the 11% off. If you visit the cabinet people there regularly and tweak your layout, you will find people you really like and who like you and they will tell you when the sales are coming up. You can also make your own laminate counters for cheap. I didn't do that 4 inch backsplash thing and even though I didn't do any other kind of backsplash, I'm glad I didn't add it. Right now I have wallpaper but I'm thinking I might tile some paneling that's cut to fit so that if I get tired of it I can pull it off and put something else there.