That note from Seth was written sometime in the last couple of years. I don’t remember exactly when or why. He must have insulted me, and I must have requested a written apology. I’ve saved it in my desk drawer because it makes me giggle. It also reminds me of two of my mothering goals: Try not to be crazy. Try not to be mean. Those are important goals to have I do believe, and more challenging to meet than one might think.
I let myself slide into a place of overwhelm during the last year or two. It’s been this slow descent into chaos. It’s no big secret how these things happen. With small children in the house, it’s not like it’s hard for things to go in this direction. The tricky thing is digging out. I’ve learned that grand plans rarely work out for me. So instead, this time I have tried to come up with a small plan, something very basic, something that everyone else in my position probably already does as a bare minimum.
There are no sources of forced structure in our lives. Jonny works from home, and while it’s a real job with real and at times very stressful full time work, he can create his own hours. Have I mentioned here before that he describes himself as a “free spirit?” And then with homeschooling an entire brood of free spirits, why we could just spend our days in our pajamas making gigantic creative messes in our little house, couldn’t we?
The problem is that I can’t live like that all the time. That lifestyle tends to cause me to be a little crazy and mean sometimes. Surely we can be creative without all the constant chaos? Mess and clutter in the environment create the same in my head, and I am convinced that it probably does the same to the rest of my family, they just don’t realize it. I accept and embrace that a life well lived is oftentimes if not usually messy. But, mama’s job is to keep the ball rolling and make sure that all that must be done, is actually done. I’m not talking about anything unreasonable here, but there really does need to be some sense of routine, an undercurrent if you will, or at least a plan in place if we are to accomplish the necessaries which include work and school at a bare minimum. And while we don’t need to be able to eat off our floors, we do need clean clothes on a regular basis. We do need clean work surfaces. It would be nice if we could get out the door on time every now and then without a last minute scramble looking for lost shoes, keys, etc. You should see what a madhouse it is here sometimes just to get out the door to run an errand.
So over the past month or so I’ve been working on this loose plan. One that makes sure that everyone knows what they need to be doing and doesn’t necessarily require me to spend my entire life nagging. Do you guys have boys in the 12-15 years age range? Do you know what they are like? I have three of them. They are dear, but they are so spacey it makes me insane. So I have this combination of super messy small children, super spacey big children, and a free spirited husband. I’m not complaining about them, just so we’re clear. They are all wonderful, and thank goodness for free spirited messy people to help us all loosen up. But I have to do something here if I am to thrive along with them. Just the bare minimum, people. That’s all I’m looking for.
This week we started The Plan. And I know it’s early, but I think it’s working. I feel better than I have in many months. There is something to be said for having a plan and writing it down.
Some people deep clean their house on Saturday mornings, but travel baseball prevents us from doing that, and really I’d rather not do any extra housework on Saturday anyway. I want to have fun on the weekend if possible. Of course Sundays are for Mass along with rest or play.
We all have daily chores, always have. The only change is that I am writing them down now and kids are checking them off. There is a master weekly list in the kitchen on the side of the fridge. It removes the mystery for everyone, no room for “I forgot.” I bought a blank write-on weekly calendar and am using it differently than the way it’s intended, but in a way that serves me well. I can fill it in on Sunday evening. There is room for the daily activities, and reminders for myself (excercise! take vitamins!) The boys laundry days are penciled in. (Of course for me, it’s always laundry day.) I can pencil in things that I would like to happen, knowing that there may not end up being enough time. But at least they are written down as reminders for another day. The important thing is that the calendar is on the side of the refrigerator where everyone can see it!
The big addition is a rotation of deep cleaning. This helps eliminate my freak out days when I end up saying (shouting?) something along the lines of, “Everyone stop what you are doing. We have to clean this house right! now! Our house is small, and I divided it up into four pieces. Each piece gets an extra deep clean once/week. The kids and I work together first thing in the morning to get it done. Monday we work in the kitchen, Tuesday the living room, Wednesday our two bathrooms, and Thursday our bedrooms. It doesn’t have to take that long, and over time I bet we’ll be able to finish quickly. We have a pretty big cleaning team. Friday is reserved for cleaning projects that happen on a rotating basis such as cleaning out vehicles, cleaning out the fridge, etc. This doesn’t mean that our house is always clean. It just means that there are set times for things to happen and I can remind myself of that when the mess is starting to get under my skin. There is something very soothing about having things written down. And if we have a bad day, or too much scheduled one day outside the home and a daily deep cleaning chore gets skipped, that’s not really a big deal. This system may actually work for me, without stressing me out.
I know that for some of you this is all so terribly obvious. For some people this home organization stuff comes naturally. I’ve got a little sister who is a homemaking master. What can I say? She got all those genetics. I got ADD. I am perpetually distracted.
This week I feel like there is room for me to breathe and feel like the entire world isn’t descending into absolute chaos. There is the possibility that I can be sane and kind most of the time. And that is good.
I think I can keep this up. I think it’s sustainable. I think I can. I think I can.
Kay says
One little tip that may help: each person has their own laundry basket; preferably a rectangular one. That person puts their dirty laundry in it & then only those clothes are put in the washing machine then the dryer & then folded & put back in their laundry basket before another load goes into the dryer. In this way there is no sorting of clothing when it comes time to put them away. Each person could also have their designated laundry day.
In my home the washing machine/dryer ran every single day & having this system saved lots of time since it’s no big deal to throw clothes into a machine….but it is a big deal to put them away. This makes that chore easiser
Jennifer says
Ginny, Whatever Works!!!! Even if it’s only for a couple of months.
My hubby goes through different ways to organize his life every couple of months and he always feels bad for finding a new thing. It works for a while and then he moves on to something else and that works for a while. Who cares if ADD means you change up how things get done. Do what you need to do to feel better!
Marnya says
Thanks Ginny for your spot on post! I can relate: small house, young kids (only two here), working from home (me), an addition project that has been going on for 2 1/2 years, toys, books, laundry, mommy’s stuff, daddy’s stuff. The addition was supposed to help alleviate some of this, but has added to it and still is not useable! Thank you for the calendar idea. I may try this one. I really like your layout. I used to make lists and be good about abiding by them, but that has slipped away especially since my second baby was born two years ago. Things are definitely out of control now and I’m not sure where to start. At least I can remind myself that I am not alone in this situation and can take advice from those who have been and are in the same boat. Happy Gardening!!
Dee says
I gave up trying to have a clean house when I had young kids. Instead we just tried to keep it picked up. No junk laying around cause we cleaned up right after. No clothes on the floor or towels. Those went in the laundry basket. Toys got picked up after supper and stayed put away unless there was one toy you wanted to play with and then you could only take out one and you had to put it away. There may have been dirty laundry, floors needing washing, windows smudged and nasty and general dirt but people thought our house was clean because we had no clutter and put stuff away. LOL! Best secret ever.
Marnya says
If I can at least get back to this point in reining in the chaos I would be happy!
Sara McD says
This reminds me of this other thing I read this week. http://jamesclear.com/checklist-solutions
Kate says
I don’t live by a schedule, but I do have a routine. Routine is what I think is the most important in providing kids a sense of security and keeping housekeeping sanity. For me, writing down chores doesn’t work. I still, ultimately, have to make sure they did them. I have more of a “before this do that” program. So I ask before the boys sit down to breakfast if they did their outside chores. I don’t go into lecture mode if they didn’t, I just tell them to go. After dinner, I might (if the living room is really trashed), say before we have dessert (or read or watch a video) everyone needs to pick up in the living room. Everyone wants the goal quickly so they all work together without me nagging. I realized that I have to be relatively free during the day to be a good manager. I can’t be so caught up in my busyness or projects that I can’t take the time to check on follow through or give direction. A good manager is on site and attentive. Kids are forgetful and they have no sense of time, so they do need reminders often. I think it’s really good to give some kind of reference time or event. But the most important thing is that they know that you are going to check on them and examine their work. If it’s not important enough for you to get up or drop what you are doing and check up on their work, then why should it be important to them? Thanks for a good job is also helpful. Our home and school life aren’t perfect, but they are not chaotic. There is a relative peace with everyone for the most part knowing what’s expected of them and what to expect.
Annie says
I SO understand! I’ve got the same sort of thing going on – a toddler and teenagers, a househusband and ME with the crazy make-my-own schedule.
Not quite sure how I’m going to cope with it, but I MUST somehow! Things have gotten pretty out of control.
Alyson says
I have been in the same boat the last 2 years! When I was pregnant with my fourth I was on bed rest and had such a long recovery time, EVERYTHING went to chaos. I still feel that I have not caught up and it’s been 2 years! I’m going to have my fifth child in November and that news has really motivated me to get in as much order in the house as I can now before pregnancy tables might turn ha! I love your deep clean schedule, and plan to implement it in my own home 🙂
Nathana Clay @theengagedhome.com says
I pray it will work and be a blessing to your family! I know I sometimes feel that way about things like meal planning and blog scheduling. I sit down and plan it all out, but sometimes my follow through is lacking . . . I know they have their own hiccups, and to be honest, are way more organized than I could ever dream of being (and I consider myself organized), but the Duggar family (19 Kids and Counting) really has this chore/schedule thing down to an art form. I loved reading their books for inspiration. 🙂
Nathana Clay @theengagedhome.com says
Also, for what it’s worth, you get way more done in a day than I could ever dream of!
Krisha says
Your pussy willow photos are stunning! Well done.
DanielleB says
I too have to have a list. And I totally agree with the spacey teenage boys. My DH just doesn’t get why we have to tell them every single day to do the chores they do every single day. Having 4 of my boys now in their 20s I now know they mostly grow out of it….My youngest daughter (13) is rather spacey as well. LOL I loved the one comment about the wall of drawers as that is how it seems in my house. Except the children seem to wait until I tell them to open the drawer! ~smile~
But lists are wonderful. I had a planner where I literally wrote down what I needed to do everyday, including take vitamens, make bed etc. The kids at school thought that was rather funny but to me if it is not written down it is not in my brain. I often called my planner my brains and I am going back to that system
Good luck!
Mardi says
Seriously Ginny, it’s good to be back. Been away from you blog for a while. But it’s good to be back. Love the plan. I only have four kids and life is often pretty chaotic around here too. So oh yeah, I know.
Pamela says
Good to start small. Thanks for the inspirational post!
Ann says
I keep 2 calendars, one is a month at a glance family calendar where we write down the big events, appointments, etc. Then I buy a nice quality spiral blank lined book each year (usually in Target) with lots of pages. I divided each page in half with day and date and use this to write my personal jobs to be accomplished for the day along with any event from the family calendar that affects my tasks for the day. I try not to put too many things on the list because I want to be able to get them done and have time for knitting and other much more fun and creative things each day. If it’s not on the list it probably doesn’t get done. I usually take a few minutes each week to look ahead on the family calendar to add to my To Do Book. I love to check off the little jobs each day. I have a notation system in place to let me know that a job didn’t get done and then it gets moved to the next day.
I’ve been using this system for at least the last 5 years and it works for me. My husband and I are retired and our children no longer live at home but things still can get out of hand very easily. I also try to neaten up each night before I go to bed using some of the Flylady’s techniques this way things don’t get too out of control. My husband helps me once a week give the house a good cleaning.
Good luck with your new system. I grew up in a large family and our grandparents also lived with us. It was a lot of work to keep our home from getting cluttered and dirty. My parents used lists on the refrigerator that we were expected to check off each day so that we ALL participated in keeping the house neat and the kitchen cleaned up. The biggest challenge was the laundry. I always did my own but my 7 brothers sort of shared clothing and it never seemed to get folded and put away. They just rooted around in laundry baskets looking for clean clothing. My mother had 2 washers and 2 dryers going almost every day just to keep up!
Linda says
I know exactly how you feel! I also have ADD and it has only gotten worse the older I get. Calendars mean nothing to me. I forget they are there. I have no schedule at all but oh well. And my daughter actually threw her math book at me once. She remembers it vividly (it was a Saxon) and I don’t. My kids are grown and doing great so don’t stress too much!
Monique says
Dear Ginny,
I think your calendar is a great idea! Good luck with it all. Just remember that as your kids get older, there will be less “stuff” lying around, so that will make things easier too.
One thing that I find helpful is to do little jobs as I’m waiting ( maybe while I’m waiting for our 7 year old to get dressed, or before the bus comes, or whatever little snippets of time , where I can’t do anything BIG anyway) and I start a load of laundry, or make a bed, or fold some clothes….these don’t require a lot of time or thought, so are easy to fit in here and there.
I used to clean my house on Saturdays, which meant I didn’t look forward to the weekend AT ALL, and would be grumpy the whole day because I knew it would take the entire day to clean the mess left the previous 7 days. For me it is much better to clean a bit every day and then the weekends are for fun, family, and relaxation.
I try and get my work done quickly in the morning because that’s when I am more focused, but you might find it easier at a different time of the day. Maybe your older kids can entertain the younger ones for 1/2 hour so you can get some of your stuff done? I don’t know if you are familiar with the Duggar family ( of 19 kids and counting), but they have always had their older kids be responsible for younger siblings, and that seems to free up time for the parents.
And I feel for you when you say your husband works from home! Sometimes I am very envious of women whose husbands can always go with them on trips to the park, or where ever,because they work from home, but when my husband is home for vacation I am always happy when vacation time is over because he leaves a mess too!
Brooke says
I am stealing your idea! And yes, try not to be crazy is my number one. When I’m crazy, I’m mean. It’s a constant juggling, reshuffling kind of life this. Inspiring, honest post.
Marnya says
Ditto!
karen says
I like how you’ve organized the cleaning thoughts and put them to paper and everyone can read your cleaning thoughts. I bet this is the system that works for you and your family 🙂 I hope you give an update 🙂
Joy says
I know what you mean. I’ve just got Mama’s Notebook – weekly planner and organiser which is helping (as long as you write in it and then read it!!!) This week i’ve been able to organise meals a bit and also keep track of bills due.
Also I’ve always thought that baskets were the best thing for being in control (contain the chaos!!!!!), they look pretty, can be moved about and still look chic even if everything is just chucked in there till children sort them out properly. The basket thing is now a family joke and my partner is not keen on any more, but i still stand by it as organisational genius. Good luck with your new habits.
Lana says
If I do not write everything out and check it off I do nothing. Early in our marriage of almost 37 years I found out that I lived entirely by crisis. I did laundry when there was nothing to wear and cleaned when we could not stand the gross bathrooms anymore. Now that I have a schedule for everything and a written list for the week of what needs to be done outside of that we actually have clothes to wear and food to eat and non grody bathrooms. And for some reason I do not mind doing it all if I have a list to work from. It does not make sense but it works for me.
Iris says
I think that cleaning plan is a brilliant idea and I may just copy it. 🙂 I have three boys They are younger than yours, with the oldest just 8 now, but most days the house is a mess. It doesn’t help that I’m also working, but to be honest, I don’t think it’d be very different if I was at home most of the time because there is so much to do that it probably still wouln’t be much better. Our youngest is only 3 so would be of limited help, but I think it’s a fantastic idea to have a room a day that everyone helps to clean. That way it doesn’t become a huge chore and once it’s done we can move on with whatever we want to do that is more fun, and as a bonus it involves the boys in the housework, which is very important to me. Thanks for posting this – very inspirational!
Ramona says
Oh, Ginny, we’re having Easter this Sunday (we’re orthodox) and yesterday I started cleaning the house, very worried that I won’t finish in time, but somehow, when I was taking a brake, I was scrolling ravelry and I saw a beautiful cardigan pattern for my 2o mths old girl, so I HAD to cast on immediately.
Talking about what’s important 🙂
MotherOwl says
Puff on Ginny. I have a system with little pockets and chores written on slips of paper tucked intio the pockets. Free time happens when the pockets are empty. This system was born whe I felt angry, mean and scolding all the time. I second the emotion of a messy along day 🙂
Happy Easter
Renee Anne says
This is one of the reasons I started a pseudo bullet journal thingie in my day planner. I have my phone to keep track of things like doctor appointments but there are so many other things to do and that I want to do so I do it that way. Writing it down helps.
Shannon Dennis says
When I read this post I feel like I am reading about my life! Sometimes I feel like I am walking around holding onto my head lest I will start losing it at any moment! I have 8 kids, one on the way. 18,17,13, 12, 11, 9, 3, and 2. And, oh goodness, do I feel you when you talk about the spacey 12 year old who seems in a constant world of his own making and it’s only when he happens to hear my voice have I found myself unwelcome into his world, and for crying out loud would I just leave so he can continue to have his own thoughts, as if I wouldn’t give all my money in the world to have my own thoughts for more than two minutes at a time! I homeschool too and am wondering why it is that I am just now looking at your chore/calendar idea as if it’s the first time I have seen a calendar, and admiring it like it’s the greatest invention since the bath with Epsom salts. Thank you for a wonderful idea. I will be implementing it at my house as soon as is mom possible.
Luz Maria Perez says
This sounds like a great plan because you have tailored it for you. I have HUGE anxiety myself regarding the CHAOS (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome) in myself. However, in the last two weeks, I have been working on zones that I have defined in half hour increments throughout the day with one hour breaks in between. I take before and after pics and send them to my sister as a way of keeping myself accountable. It works for me and so I keep working my plan!
So far so good and I am working longer than the half hour increment, thereby getting more done. It has energized me and oddly enough, I have lost two pounds (of course because I am no longer sitting on my tush in front of the TV for hours. 🙂
Marnya says
That acronym perfectly describes myself. When company is expected and unavoidable I fly into action and do whatever I can to alleviate the visible mess, but that just creates hidden piles and does not help the problem in any meaningful way. It is spring and I would like to use this motivation to clear out the mess and start a cleaning routine.
Eileen says
How I loved this post. My kids are all grown and out of the house now, but those young years are not forgotten. My son entered into that spacey stage around 11 and did not come out till he turned 30 years old…no kidding! Of course, if it was really important to him, he was johnny on the spot! I was complaining this to a friend when he was about 15 years old and kid you not , this friend ( who had grown adult sons ) put her hands on my shoulders, looking straight into my eyes and said; “ Eileen, boys can’t grow balls and brains at the same time”, it all made sense to me. And yes, I continue to insist on chores being done in a timely fashion but not on a strict Eileen time frame. My son now thanks me for growing up in a house that was not strict/inflexible but comfortably organized and that had a routine and a daily rhythm. Home has always been his reprieve (sp) to relax and distress as it has been for my girls. Waltons, Little House on the Prairie and Dr. Quinn always a win to take things down several notches. When they come now, we will still watch an episode of one of the dearly loved shows’. He is now 33 years old .
Your doing great Ginny and so are your children.
Paula says
That wee blue bottle? I have one just like it that I dug out of the dirt nearly 30 years ago in Kansas.
Erin says
Ginny
Encouraging you{{}}
This is an area I continue to struggle in and yet…with three graduated children I can now see the benefits even more and more of creating within our children a healthy rhythm. Which as homeschoolers can be a challenge particularly when we are easier going people. I didn’t always see this as so important until my children became college students and I realised I did them a disservice in some areas.
Barbara says
When you have as many children as you have, and teens (and they are spacey!), even without ADD — I am almost always focused — things get crazy. Really crazy. It’s not you. Even my 13 yo daughter is spacey (she’s blond and I truly believe there is something to that saying — no offense). And I have heard this said about men — if you can picture a large wall of drawers, men can have one drawer open at a time. Women have a quarter or more of the drawers open and they are doing something with each open drawer all the time. With four adult men in my household, I can attest to this theory. But, somehow, genetically my daughter has that same trait. She lives in the present moment only and can do only one thing at a time.
PS Love how Larkspur is taking to gardening — maybe she can just take over!
Erika says
My home consists of “me, myself and I”, but I still have to write down everything and make lists. If I don’t write it down, it doesn’t get done. And oh how rewarding to be able to mark something off!
I think routine and structure is good for everyone; it gets boring sometimes, but I know I function much better when I’m in my normal routine 🙂
I’m still amazed by you and your family….I can barely get my own laundry done! lol
Naomi says
I like a tidy clean house, but it just seems so hard to keep it that way. I’m a terrible procrastinator, and the thought of cleaning the bathroom makes me think of all the other million things I would rather do. I’ve been feeling lately too that the ball has dropped (ummm, since the twins were born, but that is already three years ago), and I can’t seem to get it rolling again. I find it really hard to get the kids to do chores. I know chores for kids are wonderful for so many reasons, but it takes so much energy to get them to do it.
Your plan looks great! I think I will try to borrow a few ideas, but am finding my optimism waning. You can do it! 🙂
Elizabeth says
“Mess and clutter in the environment create the same in my head” ~ I am the same, the very same. I think your plan is a very very good one and I can see that it would help! I am finding I need small plans too and for me (since I don’t have kids) I keep a daily list in a small notebook, as well as google calendar reminders. it’s super hard to be organized when things are messy; I can relate!
Angela says
This was on the perfect day of the week for me Ginny. Every Thursday there are approximately 26 boxes of bagged flyers sitting in our homeschool/kitchen, a result of bagging flyers for 537 homes. And it drives me nuts!! I am so thankful when Thursday night comes and they have all been delivered because the box pile has been growing since Tuesday so it’s 48 hours of mess. With six of us at home and yes, also a husband who works from home in a teeny tiny office there is never a reprieve it seems to the disorder. I too get overwhelmed when the mess in the house seems overwhelming and am thrilled when one of my older girls decides to take it upon herself to clean without being asked. I have started in the last month with small jobs like organizing a pantry shelf a week & sorting through mismatched socks & plastic containers! You are on the right path.
Ashley says
Have you ever heard of Flylady? (flylady.net) Her website saved my bacon – I also get completely overwhelmed by chaos, and her system is simple and designed for what she calls “Sidetracked Home Executives” – people who aren’t born with those organized genes. She’s all about tackling the chaos lovingly one little step at a time, and creating a system in which missing a day is no big deal and there’s no need to catch up. It sounds like you’ve crafted something similar, but I’d still recommend checking Flylady out – her routines completely revolutionized by day-to-day life, and I think she’s responsible for much of the sanity (and all of the clean underpants) I have left.
Good for you for working on this! Good luck! I have faith. 🙂
Tonya says
Oh Ginny,
I have to tall you I giggled when I read the title of your post. With a house full as well and a full-time home based business with Dad at home too – and home learning and animals…..I know you know what I mean. I, also, have a part of me that so craves organization but then another side that wants to just let the creativity flow – although, I think I have come to more of a balance where I realize I need some organization in order to make space for creativity.
Thank you for sharing.
Sabrina says
“Everyone stop! We need to clean this place up right now!” That pretty much sums up my house cleaning style. I’m feeling cluttered these days. So happy for warmer days and lots of outside space to run and play. Maybe my house will be neater.
Megan Wahl says
can I just say how much I love the photos of the “works in progress?” I think you should have mess-along day in addition to yarn along. I don’t knit, but I do always have a messy kitchen work table and it is so comforting to know that I am not alone!
Mellisa says
Oh Ginny, I sooooo feel your need to have some sort of rhythm in a housefull of freespitited, ADHD, energetic lovies. I wouldn’t trade a hair on their precious heads, but like you, I crave just a little calm in the middle of the storm. ‘When momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!’…. there is so much truth in that very little statement. Just a small rhythm to keep us all flowing through life sanely!!!! Good luck girl! This sounds like a GREAT plan!
Jennifer says
I can only get things done when I’ve got a good schedule and lots of lists. I have a son going on ten this year and I’m already seeing the spaciness in him, and I know it will just get worse. His latest thing, when I’m trying to tell him how to do something properly is to dismissively say “That’s true,” and go on doing whatever he feels like doing. It drives me up a wall. Crazy, even. Then my husband, who is an engineer and often lost in his own head, tells me he’s “obtuse,” which is supposed to excuse a multitude of things I’m left having to deal with. I wish I could be obtuse! It sounds wonderful. Instead I have to be with-it and responsible. Sigh. I like your plan, Ginny. I think it will work out fine. I like you calendar for chores/tasks too, it’s so nicely organized.
Marty says
I keep a big dry erase-able board and write our weekly activities on it. Thankfully some are the same, week in and week out. Love to read your goings-on! And your photos are so wonderful – love your daffodils! Blessings.
Andrea G in Morgan Hill, CA says
One thing that helps me is one list of PERMANENT things to do each day so I don’t have to write it down on the calendar each time. I make a calendar on the computer and print it out each week. It has the permanent things already on it – these are: Tuesday and Friday, take out compost, Wednesday, empty house garbage and trash, Monday, start the fermented bread. Looks like you have done this with your permanent deep cleaning, but there may be other opportunities. Congratulations to you on your planning!
Emmalina says
Thank you for writing this post, this glimpse into your every day is so comforting and helpful. It’s good to know other mamas struggle with the same things I do, the same feelings about it all too. You rock.
Katherine says
Ditto.
Thanks for this. It really helps. You DO rock!
Carlin says
I love this post, because I think we all struggle with this stuff in our own way. Sometimes I like to think that I am easy going and at peace with everything (including the state of the house), but then all of a sudden I’m NOT. Lately I’ve just had to be more honest with myself and accept that the state of the house is very important to my well being. And that some organization in this area might actually be doing the rest of the family a huge favor. oh, and me, of course (I just always resist these types of things). I think I may start today by writing out some chores on paper and see how that goes.
I love all of your photos, it looks like Spring is coming your way! Have a good weekend.
Tracey says
Even with just three of us left at home your schedule is how I run my home. Who wants to clean all the time? Not me!
PS- I use to tell Mike I was going to ship off all the boys when they reached 12 and would take them back when they were 16 or 17 ;). Not only are they spacey, they smell and I get tired of telling them to constantly take a shower and air out their rooms.
Leslie F says
YES!!!!! Something about the SMELL of boys that age – we called it the “blue funk” and it’s terrible. When my oldest hit that stage, I asked the doctor if there was something wrong with him – she looked at me with her “I’ve-already-raised-three-boys” look and said, “He’s fine, boys just stink.” Then she laughed and walked out of the room.
Meryl says
Yes! Since our wee Bette arrived this winter, Sweet Husband and I have been going through a process of reallocating who is responsible for what. A little shake-up of our “systems”, but a needed one if this mama was going to not turn into a nagging shrew. (Which is generally a good goal, as you say!)
Sue says
You can.
priest's wife @byzcathewife says
We are on the same wavelength…I just read a blog post at amongst lovely things about spiral notebook planning…time to get organized
Olivia says
I love fresh starts and new plans. Always makes you feel like you’ve taken the big first step, the rest will fall into place. Good Luck! I thought 7 and 9 year old boys were the spaciest? Or maybe it’s just chronic…
We work and school from home too. That means 7 people home all day to eat, play and work….and to make the messes that go along with all of that. I love it because of the freedom it gives us and the closeness. But there are always dirty dishes, clothes and surfaces, all day. Because it’s all being done inside our home, not in an office or schoolroom or cafeteria. I have to remind myself of this every day when I start to compare our home to the home I grew up in, our my husband. Just a completely different lifestyle and a whole mess to go with it. And it’s ok. We chose it. It’s good. 🙂
Jen says
I so know this feeling and am also trying to tame the chaos and reduce the stress. For us it’s always the socks. Where do all the socks go? Why are there never pairs despite there being a gazillion pairs of socks between 7 of us? I’ve started a secret stash of paired socks that I keep in the top drawer of the shoe cabinet for those moments that we are running out the door and socks are nowhere to be found.
For several years six of us lived in a 600 sq ft open plan house (no interior walls inside aside from around the tiny bathroom) and so everything was always everywhere, no room distinctions. Now that we have a little bit more space and defined rooms I am realizing we still have everything everywhere. Revelation: my bedroom does not have to be a catchall for kids toys, homeschooling supplies, tech gear, crafting whatnots, clean laundry piles, etc. It’s only taken me two years to *get* it. Haha!