Why have a lawn?

It was there when we bought the house, and lawns are a nice place for
kids to play!

That's how I feel, too. My neighbors can attest to the fact that I'm on my
knees a lot weeding the lawn. The weeds still win. I put a thin layer of
compost on every so often for fertilizer. My husband mows (I wish he'd mow a
little higher, but I can't complain too much because he does it. If I
complain a lot, he'll make me do it). I have a huge problem with using
herbicides, so I use handtools. I don't like inorganic fertilizers, so I use
compost. The lawn isn't perfect, but it's livable and I don't have to worry
so much if my 8 month old gets a handful in her mouth (I try not to let her,
but sometimes I'm just not fast enough).