With the 3 older bros at varied heights, with varied ability to accurately aim, and varied amounts of experience practicing… suffice it to say I offer an “at your own risk” warning if someone who stopped by unexpectedly asks to use the restroom. But even if we have advanced notice of company, it’s difficult to know that a recently cleaned bathroom will remain clean because… well, a lot can happen in a few moments without parental supervision in our home.

We were at a party at our neighbors’ house when the mom (of 3 boys) made an admission that I found beyond brilliant and therefore cite as my 7th parenting hack:

After you’ve cleaned the downstairs bathroom, lock the door from the outside so that your children – by process of elimination (no pun intended) – have to go upstairs and use their own bathroom instead. Just before guests arrive, unlock the downstairs bathroom door.

Hack #7: They Can’t Make a Mess of the Bathroom if They Can’t *GET* to the Bathroom.