Life is like a juggling act. As one gets older, more and more juggling balls get added to the act. With the addition of each "ball" one has to learn the trick all over it seems. Achieving smoothness and keeping all the balls in the air takes time and practice and PATIENCE! Lots of patience with those around you and oneself. Frustrating as it may seem, losing patience or hope when a "ball" falls down to the ground for the hundredth time is futile. Pick up the ball and try again!
As moms we juggle husband, home, children, pets, perhaps jobs, and more. Some days it seems as if all the balls are hitting the ground and not staying up at all. Other days, we feel like juggling queens. It is hard to decide at times what is most important; which task will help keep your sanity; which one can be ignored for a little while. Keeping the home in order and somewhat clean is important in creating a peaceful atmosphere for the family. A chaotic disorderly home will not help foster a peaceful spirit in the home. So ensuring order in the home will contribute to an environment that will help your children, spouse, and yourself.
Here are some tips that help me to keep my home organized and decent looking:
1) Write a list. Making a list of the things that need to be done around the home is the first step to being organized. No longer are all the tasks flying around in your head. They are now on paper where you can clearly see them. You can write the tasks in any order or in order of importance to be even more orderly.
2) Do one or two tasks at at time. Don't look at the whole list or try to get it done all at once. Pick one or two items off the list and work on getting them done.
3) Have a go through the house cleanup day. Something happens at my house on weekends and when Monday rolls around it seems there are things out of place everywhere! I try to take some time most Mondays to put everything I see out of place back where they belong. Having a day when you go through the house and relocate things to their rightful place is very helpful in keeping the home organized.
4)Always try to put things back where they belong. Throughout the week try to put things back where you found them, If you use the hammer to hang up that cute thrift store find, don't leave it on the kitchen counter! Put it back where you got it from. The tissue paper left over from the gift wrapping session needs to go back in the closet.
5)Have kids clean up toys every evening. It's amazing how kids can spread toys around the house. I keep some of my little girl's toys in the living room and she can make grand displays of what she owns. So every night before we go to bed we clean up the toys together. It's so much better to wake up to orderly toys than that grand display :)
6)Stop and play with your kids every once in a while. Whining children demanding your attention can contribute to your not being able to keep your home organized and clean. I don't like using videos a lot to keep my child out of the way while I clean. But stopping your work to play with your kids every hour or so helps them know they are important and that you haven't forgotten about them. It will keep them happier and less whiny.
7) Include your kids in completing the list. My little girl is less than two years old. But often she is with me as I load the washing machine or sweep the floor. Having your child "help" keeps them out of trouble and teaches them life skills that they will need when they are grown up.
8)Finally, be patient with yourself! Don't get frustrated if your list is not completely done at the end of the day. It's not so much about scratching tasks off a list as determining that disorder will not take over your home. Disorder can be conquered one step at a time and one day at a time.
Happy homemaking!
