Moms’ Group – Session #4

24 Sep Moms’ Group – Session #4

Everyone take 5 minutes and write down handy things you do to organize your stuff around the home. Each person presents their ideas. Then give a talk developing the ideas presented and talking about some of the following. If you show real examples of these ideas in action (a divided drawer for example), that would help tremendously.

No matter how many kids you have and how old they are, you as Mom need to create a sense of order in your home. Everything must have a place, and everything should be in its place. For example, crayons are in the craft cupboard, scissors on the nail in the kitchen, books in the book basket, etc. Sometimes we feel this is impossible because we just don’t have the time. True, our hands are filled with family responsibilities. Yet we must grab a few minutes here and there to organize, put into order and maintain order, whether regarding big things (tidying a room) or little things (organizing a drawer). We need order to be able to find things, to have a sense of exterior calm and to function more effectively. It will give you greater peace, security and a sense of control. But mom beware. Order is a means for making life happier for others, not an end. Don’t become a witch when there’s a mess. Kids don’t need a Mommy Godzilla. They rather need a mom who is mature enough to weigh the situation, make a plan, enlist the troops and approach the task with a sporting spirit.

• Important to take seriously the problems the members in your house experience about physical order, ie. Husband and toys; kids and homework etc. etc. Seek to make them happy. Put order where needed. Make it attractive, easy and accessible to everyone.

• Physical order permits us to have mental order and hopefully order in our thoughts and priorities

• Some people in the family really need that physical order to feel at peace. We as parents need to do our best to have the structures in place to enhance the order.

• Although we want order for the sake of neatness, harmony etc., we should not aim at perfection or order for order’s sake, but rather to keep the family happy. Don’t set too high standards. Be appropriate for ages and numbers of children. Don’t compare houses. Each household is different—different energy levels, personalities, stages.

• Learn from people who are paid to do the work you do. Look for time savers, space savers, efficient approaches etc. You can learn an awful lot by really looking at your teacher’s classroom, for example – or how a cleaning lady sets herself up.

• Realize little kids can’t read – use picture diagrams on their toy bins, jacket hooks etc.

• Make sure kids can easily organize, reach and deal with the things you expect of them, ie. Hooks, bins, shelves etc. May need a little stool, a lower closet rod, etc.

• Eliminate unnecessary belongings. Declutter, dejunk – saves lots of time and cleaning.

• Organize the space you have attractively, effectively and efficiently.

• Think where things are first used rather than what it is and place it closest to place of use.

• For high priority items, use one-motion storage – means you grab it, reach for it, obtain it with one motion.

• Store things only one layer deep.

• Keep large, lightweight items high so they can be retrieved with one motion.

• Use square containers, save space.

• 4 storage alternatives: floor, drawer, shelf or hanging

• 1. Hang it up: – kitchen utensils on peg board

  • bikes on hooks in garage

  • rackets and other sports equipment hung up.

  • pocketed shoe bag to contain shoes, socks, hair dryers, hats, scarves, sewing items

  • tension rod between walls for clothes; over laundry sink for drip drying etc.

  • 2 closet rods for shirts and skirts/pants

  • 2 towel rods on back of bathroom door

  • hanging baskets for small items

2. Store it on the Floor

• Don’t ignore space between things.

• Empty boxes for under bed, under cribs.

• Stacking vegetable bins for closets (shoes, sweaters, socks etc.).

• Garbage cans in garage for hockey sticks, rakes, sports stuff.

• Big basket in pantry to pasta, flour, rice etc.

• Wicker basket for dish towels, diapers, towels etc.

• Big laundry baskets for toys, clothes etc.

3. Drop it into a drawer

• Divide and conquer the drawer with smaller boxes (plastic, cardboard, whatever)

• Drawer dividers help organize and tidy items. Consider cutting some heavy box cardboard and taping into dresser drawers to socks, and underwear, shirts and pants.

4. Shelve it

– Small items placed in bins/dishpans/boxes that are labeled with name/picture to help kids

– Stackable containers give more room. See through bins help take the mystery of contents away. Put most used items on lower more accessible shelves