So, you’re the parent who always seems to be running late, has a never-ending pile of laundry, and might have once lost their phone in the refrigerator (true story!). And now, you’re tasked with teaching your child the art of organization. Panic not! You don’t need to turn into a model of perfection to guide your little ones toward becoming organized superstars, disorganized parents can teach organizational skills too! With a bit of creativity, a dash of humor, and a few practical tips, and some faking it, you can help them master organizational skills for school and life—even if you’re still working on finding your keys every morning. Here are some ways disorganized parents can teach their kids organizational skills. Turn Chaos into a Learning Opportunity: First off, let’s embrace the mess. If your house looks like a whirlwind hit it, don’t hide it—use it as a teachable moment. Be…
Laundry. It never ends. Six years ago, I wrote a Mabelhood post about the incessant burden of laundry and how I was considering giving up clothes entirely to save my time and sanity. Unfortunately, the nudist lifestyle didn’t pan out, and here I am — still constantly sorting, washing, drying, and folding clothes. I have even more washloads now, as my kids and their clothing have gotten bigger (and smellier). The laundry struggle is real, and we’re all in the same sweat-soaked, ketchup-stained boat. With this in mind, I have compiled some tips to help maximize your laundry organization and efficiency. Embrace a new laundry mindset It’s time to accept the fact that laundry is a constant in your life. As parenting author and mom of six Dawn Meehan put it: “I don’t have laundry day. I have laundry life.” The great news is: we are not living in pioneer times.…
It’s the time of year when you find yourself with double the toys in the toy room. The kids are thrilled, but you’re probably hating the mess. Don’t start the new year with clutter. With so many storage options these days, you can easily find a good solution for your space, one that looks nice and also functions well for your kids! So, for 2024, you can say goodbye to messy floors and hello to a well-organized play area with our toy storage solutions and tips for keeping organized all year long! Playroom Organization Tips: Take Stock of what toys they have Get the kids to take a few items they’re willing to donate. Throw out any broken toys or lost pieces. Including the kids in this process is critical; they need to feel they’re in charge of their own toys, and this makes them take greater responsibility for their…
2019 came in with a bang and with it brought…. organization porn?!
Thanks to the popular Netflix series, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, the masses are attempting to take control of their lives by folding their laundry in thirds and stacking everything upright. I’m not surprised at the popularity of this craze. There’s something quite enjoyable about watching other people organize their homes (and knowing that some people live in a much higher level of disorder is strangely satisfying). By the end of each episode, you’re drawn into the mesmerizing KonMari ways and soon you’re tempted to sort through your entire home, drawer-by-drawer, and decide what sparks joy. Is Marie Kondo realistic home organization for parents?
This is where it gets messy, so to speak. Often what sparks joy for me, and I’m sure for many moms, is looking around my home and seeing all the signs of happy kids; toys on the floor, muddy boots in the entryway, mess from a fun craft. But am I creating an excuse to have a messy home? There have been times when I have felt embarrassed at the state of the house, and that’s when I know it’s gone too far. It can so quickly go from being ‘chilled’ to feeling ashamed and overwhelmed, and suddenly you’re spiraling into angry-mom mode, feeling frustrated, underappreciated and resentful. And all while the mess continues to grow.
The problem with the (deceptively) simple KonMari method is that it needs to be 100% perfect, and nothing less. If my clothes aren’t folded in thirds, am I a failure? Of course not, it is one perfectionist’s way of maintaining order and, ultimately, it’s really a system of organization rather than a tiding method. The KonMari method is also only a first (really enormous) step. It will help you organize, but we still need to have a clean house, the method is only as good as it’s user. Your socks are folded into thirds; but if you still feel cheerios crunching under your feet can you still find that inner calm?
Here is a checklist of simple tasks for organization, tidying and cleaning in 2019 that, for most of us, will be manageable. There’s still time to re-write your new year resolutions into something more attainable that you will accomplish and feel proud of.
