If you have children, you know how hard it is to find the time to be organized. You also know that without organization a lot of time is wasted. Have you ever envied that “perfect” mom who seems to have a home-cooked breakfast ready as her children enter the kitchen in their clean wrinkle-free school clothes? Do you feel fortunate if you get to drink a cup of lukewarm coffee while trying to decide if your kids need to wear raincoats or snow gear? This article has helpful tips to make your life easier and better organized.
Organizing For Mornings
Morning is the most hectic time of the day for moms who have to get children off to school, and then try to get themselves ready for work. Moms who have mastered this task suggest you should get yourself ready first. By getting up 20 to 30 minutes earlier than your children, you will be almost ready when they start their own morning routine. Be sure to check your weather app to know how the kids should dress and if they need rain gear. You’ll have plenty of time to make breakfast and have a hot cup of coffee as you pass out instructions for the day. By doing this, you will be ready to leave for work at the same time the kids are ready for school whether you drive them or they take the bus.
Learn To Say No
You can’t do everything and expect to get anything accomplished. When you have children in school, you will be asked to volunteer for field trips, baking sales, and helping with school functions. These functions can take up all of your spare time. If an activity doesn’t fit into your schedule, say no. Don’t feel obligated to take on more responsibilities that you can handle comfortably. Simply say no, but that you will be happy to help another time when your schedule isn’t as full.
Organizational Helps
Have a separate laundry basket for each child with his or her name on it. It goes in their bedroom closet until it is full. After the laundry is washed, places each child’s folded laundry in their basket and put it on the children’s beds for them to put away. Children need chores to realize the importance of family working together. Give the bathroom a quick cleaning while young kids are in the tub. In less than 15 minutes you can clean the mirror, brush the toilet bowl, scrub the sink, grab the dirty laundry, and wash down the tub as soon as the baths are over. The cleaning you get done during the week makes it possible for you to enjoy your weekend with few chores. Any morning you make pancakes, make an extra few servings. When they are cool, place in zipper bags and freeze. They come in handy on days you are running behind. Just pop them in the toaster, and there is no bowl or pan to clean up.
Try one or two new things a week to see which organizational tips work best for you. Don’t hesitate to get your children involved. They sometimes have great ideas.
