Help,family grew quickly how to catch-up?

[scatterbrainedmom]

My husband and I had 2 children when we married,I'm fixin to have #5 small home is cluttered and I don't know how to organize or keep things in order,I need some kind of scedule but don't know how It takes me forever to clean anything with an infant and a toddler. I want to be a perfectionist not a clutter queen. everybody's little stuff makes up a lot of stuff together. Mother in law said she did it all but I don't know how. I've mannaged to get the older children who are still all under age 7 to pick up toys from living room but there is always stuff in the floors ( small toys,gloves,socks Misc.) all the time. My mom just always did everything for us. she didn't teach me much about keeping a house. I've been a stay at home mom now for a little over a year and still don't have the hang of it can someone please help me? sorry this message is so long.

[Sara]

I think it's unrealistic to think your home will be spotless with it being small and the amount of people (especially children). I lived in a very small home with only three people and can say that it was very difficult to keep organized.

I think one thing would be to try and pare down on the amount of things. See what you can get rid of. I'd also try and see what systems you can setup. Like totes or bins, shelves, etc for the kids. You can try to utilize space under beds too.

For some people, creating a list of things to do daily works well. While you're creating a list, you can create a chore chart for the kids too. You can decide if you want to reward them for a certain amount of chores being done.

I realize many moms have children that just don't want to cooperate to help clean up, but it's an important part of teaching responsibility. You (not meaning YOU, but meaning anyone) can't have the big expectation that young children will always do these tasks alone. I know with my kids (age 6 and 3 and a newborn who doesn't clean yet lol ) I need to be with them and "helping" sometimes.

It takes me forever to do small tasks here too. I completely understand what you're saying.

I try and do many chores late at night. It's just easier so I don't feel like I'm spinning my wheels.

Sorry about you mil. :p I won't comment on that. ;)

[scatterbrainedmom]

Thanks for the advice the totes and shelves are something I hadn't thought of but I think I'll get some.

[fenwickmum]

hi there scatterbrained mom :) love that id,

i too am a mum to 5 little ones 8 and under, we have moved 3 times since having the children and kind (and sometimes not so kind :) people gave us so much to help start us off that after our last moved (jun 06) i found myself in a 4 bedroomed house filled with stuff stuff and more stuff, all this stuff seems to be found (no matter how well i box it up and hide it) by my little lambs :D

Anyways i decided before i end up preggers with #6 better sort this lot out,

so i agree with smnoel decluttering is key - first thing i had to get rid of was sentamentality (?) second was fear (fear that you may need it one day) etc and so i decluttered - i found that this can be a really cleansing experience in more ways than one. and addictive be careful lol

then research all you can on how other mothers do things, especially larger families as they tend to have to be more organised - believe !! also research exactly how to clean home, what needs doing in each room etc, some good sites are flylady.net and chartjungle.com have checklists

once that was done i then made a list of all the things i needed to do in the day from cleaning, personal grooming, schooling, shopping, cooking i mean evereything even when to drink a glass of water lol - and then worked out how long all this would take (dont forget to schedule regular breaks ;) - and then i arranged my day from that.

start by getting your evening routine in order - ie bed at a good time for you (i know this is hard - i am not a good sleeper at the best of times but if you are determined to see it thru it works :) clothes and shoes ready for morning, this goes for all the family........

then the morning - i now get up 2 hours before my hubby and little ones !!! - it was really hard at first but now i love it, i cherish MY time in the morning, i catch up on little chores, read, pray, sit here and write this :D etc and my family know not to come down until i get them up :) - and after a while i started to enjoy cooking breakfasts and things - our family is definately running smoother and with more love. - i then get the kids up, have their rooms done before we go down to breakfast, i then LOCK all the bedrooms (haha secret to keeping little ones out !!) then we have a family brekkie, hubby gets ready and goes off to work, we then do bathroom time and school time, and chores before lunch, each bedroom has a box downstairs and anything i see left around goes in the box (then on fridays i add up the things in each box and decide what to do with it - ie bin/keep/confiscate etc - each child has 2p deducted from their pocket money for each item ps mummy & daddy have a box too lol,

then afternoons babies nap, older ones do more schooling and have games/crafts/freetime/chores - i prepare dinner with a different child each night

sorry this is so long and i do not write it to boast (i could not have done this alone or 6 months ago for example) and i am not saying this is how it has to be done - i am trying to encourage you that if i can do this anyone can - find the rhythm within your family, learn from others and adapt what will work and throw out what doesnt.

Most of all get your family on board, my mother did everything for me too, so it was not only hard for me to learn to do this stuff myself i now have 5 children to teach what i didnt have taught me - but i will win !!!!

lol

love and blessings
lisa
UK
xxx

ps - as for mil start by decluttering her disapproval from your "I give a monkey's list" lol - no seriously if she is very bad tell her kindly that you know you are struggling (try to do this without chewing off your tongue :) and any real help would be great and any practical advise will be considered, otherwise you will learn the ancient art of homekeeping as you go while keeping up the good work you are already doing !! this worked with my mum she used to wipe the tops of my doorframes !! and check my plants for water when she visited me lol xx GOOD LUCK