Were handfuls of grated cheese being toted by children on the go-- included in this idea?
How about muddy fields (the "no-shoe-rule" ignored) and light carpet?
And I don't think toothpaste and it's capacity to travel far and wide was considered either.
Little, teeny-tiny-toys and accessories seem resistant to myriads of organizing methods.
Sam's "guys" incarcerated in the table carvings
Have you ever read books with titles such as "Confessions of an Organized Housewife", or "Overcoming Chaos"? I have skimmed through these and others in various spurts of Spring Cleaning (or Deep Cleaning, or Desperate Detailing...) and I have to wonder if the authors are really eligible to be experts? (Have they had 5 children --boys and girls? (because there are more toys, more clothes, more books... if you have both). Have they lived in 3 houses where their spouses were doing yard work that involved deep mud (like dealing with swine)? Have they lived with a stream and a sand box just across the street? Is one of their children a Kleptomaniac?)
Perhaps I should share some of my space-saving and emotionally-freeing techniques:
If you are feeling tight on space, try putting all the laundry that needs folding or ironing in the master bathroom for several days...when you finally do put it away, you'll feel as though your water-closet is very roomy.
For a tidier pantry, bring a recycling container with you and deposit all of the empty boxes your children have left after they have knowingly (and happily) taken the last fruit snack, or bit of cold cereal, or cracker, or granola bar...
For motivation to mop the children's bathroom floor, leave an overflowing toilet to do it's thing for a couple of hours. Not only will you have the chance to really serve your family on the Sabbath, but you'll get to use towels that had gone unused for a while. While you're at it, I'd suggest a big pot on the furniture downstairs to catch the liquid descending from the light fixture. That will prompt a discussion on fire safety and electrocution precaution --and every busy family with busy imaginations will want to encourage such discussions right before bed.
So many more tips and tricks...installments might be the best method for my sharing.
Yes --perhaps order means different things in different households.?
4 comments:
I have no doubt your home feels plenty orderly and calm :) When we moved to this home I packed away literally half of my children's toys in the basement. They don't miss them a bit! There are still enough toys for some mess but it has made my job easier...
Seriously... you should write a book. It would be the only honest one out there! You do a great job Stef... I remember days of running to the store to get a new outfit for a kindergartner..because I didn't have any clean clothes... and how about throwing socks out...because you can't find the mates? Oh I miss those days... not! You do get through them... Love you!
Wow! Never a dull moment at the Hall House. I guess you've been as busy as ever!
We really should relate daily tales to one another. yesterday it was really raining remember, a good hard rain, and scott decided it was time to put in a fence, so he rented a tool and dug deep holes in our grass--lots of good wet dirt right? and then he decided he had to at least get one post in so that he felt like he'd accomplished something so out came the cement mix... henry wants to be dad's helper and aggie just can't help herself she's playing in all the mud puddles with her pink princess shoes on, she tried to lay down once in the center of the puddle, you know really expereince the feel of mud and water mixed. all the while it is pouring rain. we stripped everyone down left all the clothes on the front porch to salvage later and got in the warm tub. "maybe the fence today wasn't such a good idea, i think i'm getting sick." scott says.
ahh family, isn't it about time. love you, mieka
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