photo courtesy of simplyseleta.com
With summertime, comes less of a need for order in the home because life is more relaxed and not so scheduled. I love summer because there is nowhere to be and there is no rushing around to beat the clock. We all know that a laid back approach to life is good and refreshing for a family. The cycle of life teaches us however that the short time given to us for relaxing is to prepare us for the demanding seasons ahead.
As school is fast approaching, so is the need for structure
and systems that work for you and your busy family. Home needs to be a place
where we make it possible for ourselves, our spouse, and our children to make
it successfully out the door. And by successful I mean, good attitudes, car
keys in hand, and the right gear needed for the day… all before 8am. The world
is going to fire its own challenges and obstacles our way the second we step
foot outside. Let’s try and make the experience of preparing for the day,
within the home, a peaceful one. This will require a little work, but it will
go a long way for you and your family.
First evaluate the needs for your family. No matter what age
children, or how many children you have, some sense of structure is good for
any family. Since my children were babies, I lacked in the structure
department. Set bedtimes? Whenever we got home. Scheduled feedings? They will
let me know when they are hungry. Play dates? We weren’t invited because we
couldn’t commit. I guess I always knew there would be a time that schedules
would be demanding and there would be a huge need for structure, but I wanted
to delay that until it was absolutely necessary. This summer is the first time
it hit me. I can now say, we need structure and we need goals. And as only this
professional procrastinator can do, I am putting on my game face and I am ready
for the challenge… kind of.
Now just because Mama is ready doesn’t mean the kids are. It
is going to require patience on my part to not cave in to the moans and groans
that come out of my children’s mouths because they don’t like the idea of
schedules. Now that my kids are older and they all communicate with me, I can
see beyond the whining and realize their little minds and hearts need purpose. They
just don’t know it yet. So whether it is one on one reading time, picking up
their rooms, or putting their backpacks and lunch boxes in the correct spot
when they get home- in the beginning make it fun and rewarding so they long to
do it. Eventually you can stop rewarding them and it will become habit, just
like potty training.
Your job as the maker of your home is to designate specific
areas and assign a purpose to each space. This will help your children become
little helpers so you aren’t doing it all by yourself. You can create these
spaces in your home to be aesthetically pleasing instead of an eyesore. For
instance, if you are tired of lost homework, backpacks, and shoes, come up with
an area where your kids know where to put everything the second they walk into
the door. All you need is a blank wall in the hallway or a mudroom and you are
ready to create this catch-all nook. Hooks are great for jackets, bags and
lunchboxes. Labels are a cute way to designate what goes where. You can simply
print out cute labels with fun fonts and place it in a small frame and then
hang it on the wall. Another fun idea is to buy a small frame and paint it a
fun color; after the paint, remove the frame backing and the glass, then paint
a small section of your wall with chalkboard paint and place the frame over it.
Now the space is cute and functional. The last item you need is baskets.
Shallow baskets are good so your child can place his homework and any important
papers you need to see from school. This will be a teamwork effort between you
and your child. Larger baskets are necessary for shoes, hats and gloves.
This same idea you can use in other areas of your home as
well. We all know closets, playrooms, and the pantry are a recipe for disaster
once the children touch it. Labeled baskets and containers help clear the
clutter. Create the same type of system you did for their school stuff in these
other spaces so your children take responsibility and do their share in the
home.
The hardest part in all of this is the last step,
implementation. As the school year goes on and things get a little more hectic
we grow lax in our expectations and we stop doing the very thing that is most
important when it gets busy. Sadly, I do really well at organized systems for
about two weeks and then I guess subconsciously I get bored with the concept
and move on. It’s only until I am going through a mental breakdown halfway into
the year that I realize I should have kept the structure going. Don’t do this.
Learn from my mistakes and keep implementing the systems even when you get
tired because it will pay off!
At first, you will feel like the mean guy who is barking
orders at people, however once these rules turn into family habits, you won’t
know what to do with all your spare time. Ok, maybe it won’t be that dramatic
but I guarantee you will have a sense of peace in your household that comes when
a family is focusing on each other and loving well rather than scrambling,
yelling, and avoiding being late every day. Before school starts this year,
think ahead. Challenge yourself to create inspiring spaces so your family will
thrive. The reward is gaining more time as a family and less time dealing with
the mess so you can enjoy all things that are truly home.
written for the Wacoan Magazine
