Can organized parents please help me? I have never been organized, but I do believe that I can learn.?

Question

I am a parent of a few small children (five and under), and no one can explain it. I do not want to pass on my disorderliness to my children. Could someone please help with time management, meal planning, laundry, dishes, and cleaning. Would you share with me your schedules? Does everything have to be cleaned daily? How can I prepare home cooked meals, currently I buy a lot of prepared foods? When I ask people how to be organized, they say clean. That does not help me. I need structure and a schedule. Please make your answers as detailed as possible. That will be such a great help to me. All of the older people in my life have cluttered houses and rarely discard anything. Even though I have grown up in and around this, this is not the person that I want to be. Please help me. I desperately desire to learn and apply this to my life so take your time and explain how you maintain order in your homes. Thank you in advance for your serious answers. Malaperts need not bother.

Answer 1

Good for you! Let me share what I Did when my kids were small.
I guess structure is really the key. My day reall began the night before. Let's start out after dinner-6PM I would turn out most of the lights in the house maybe even light some candles if it would be safe. Turn off all the computers, TV's noise producers. Then I would get the kids in my lap or gathered around(maybe everyone can sit on a story blanket) We would read actually for about an hour. Even when the kids were babies they would listen. I read regular chapter books for story time. UNtil 7 PM I know this sounds early but it was fine because we already had spent the whole day together. SO after quiet time reading the kids were all wound down and ready for bed. We didn't have bedtime problems because they just had my undivided attention for an hour. They would go to bed and stay there until morning. No getting up.(7 PM) They were well rested and never got sick because they always had the rest they needed which seems to be rare these days. This schedule continued to about 8 yrs. old then we moved to 8 pm. This also allowed quiet time for me to relax after the kids were in bed. Right after putting them to bed I would clean up any toys that might be left over, most would be done together with the kids before dinner. I found my kids preferred doing things with me rather than toys so we did things together. Even getting dinner ready. It may take a little longer but your spending quality time and they are learning not making a mess somewhere else in the house. I used the lights to guide where the activity was. So don't just leave the tv running in the other room but turn it off and work together. Kids can set the table stir or mix be creative. So after a quick put away of what might be left out I would then clean the kitchen. Wouldn't take to long because the kids were now in bed and all was quiet. This would be my main cleaning time so we would start the day fresh the next day. I would gather all the dirty clothes and throw them in the wash. Then I would leave them there and that would be where we would start our chores in the morning. I would get up get the kids something to eat, put the clothes in the dryer. Decide if you wants the kids dressed and beds made before breakfast or after. Before is good because then They are working toward breakfast and you all don't slouch around in comfy jammies. So then after breakfast we do the dishes AND put them away. Then get the clothes out of the dryer and we would all work together to put them away. Little ones can match socks then fold etc. Now because we do this everyday we don't have big loads of laundry.
Then my chores were broken down into days. This could be done by writing down everything that ever has to be done put one thing on one 3 X 5 card. Then I would decide if it was a daily chore or a weekly chore or a monthly chore. Then I got a file box and labeled the tabs by the days of the weeks and the months of the year. I had one card with everything that had to be done everyday then I would just move that card to the next day when they were finished. Then the cards that were all categorized as weekly chores like maybe cleaning out the refrigerator would be divided into the days of the week. So it might go like this: Monday would have the card for the daily list plus a weekly chore card like dusting-this would then be done together with the kids(put socks on their hands and pretend to have a "car wash". Tuesday Sweep out stairwells or clean toilets. Then I would have one day like Saturday dedicated to doing the weekly chores like washing down cupboards thoroughly. So on saturday I would just work my way through weekly chores. The monthly chores I would keep in the front of the box to work through over the month when convenient. If you find something is not staying clean enough in between cleaning then maybe the schedule needs to be moved up.weekly to daily, etc. Also once you get this schedule working you can rest guilt free when your chores are done for the day because you' have everything scheduled. If you miss a weeekly chore don't worry you will pick it up the next week. As far as meals go plan a menu start maybe w/ a 7 day menu. Monday spaghetti day Tuesday meatloaf etc. Then as you get the rest of your schedule under control you can add menu items for a 2 week schedule or even a 30 day schedule. Shopping for a menu makes shopping easier. Also when making meatloaf for instance you can make 2 and freeze one for another day. This system is flexible and you don't have to wait to get your house perfect to start with. Just make up your cards and start with day 1. You'll be amazed even after the first week how things are shaping up. Oh and when you finish your weekly chore it goes back under the same day. and your monthly chore can be moved to the next month in the box. Give yourself a break and just take it one day at a time and enjoy your kids along the way. They really do grow up quickly. I hope this is helpful to you.

Answer 2

Mand has got a great idea about making a time sheet.

Now, I don't have any kids of my own. But I have done my share of baby-sitting, and it's not easy to clean with all those little tykes around. Especially when you never know when the next emergency will be.

For meals, a crock pot is a wonderful investment: You can put ingredients for a good meal or pot roast in that and let it simmer on low during the day, and by dinner time your roast will be ready.

I find it's easiest for me to clean in the mornings, right after I've had my coffee and breakfast. A typical morning for me is this:

Make my bed
Grab a cleaning rag, do my bathroom stuff, then spray down everything with diluted Lysol and wipe. Viola! Clean bathroom!
Take care of the pet stuff
Take out the garbage if needed
Wash my hands, then put away the clean dishes from the night before.
Get coffee and breakfast, and while at it check my e-mail (I keep a tray by my computer)
Clean the breakfast dishes
Start laundry if need be. The washer can run while you're doing other chores.
Vacuum and mop, if need be
Dust, if need be

I hope you find this useful!

Answer 3

First, Remember you are a mom with small kids so there will always been a little clutter!... Don't try to become some clean freak as you will be miserable! (trust me I have been down that road!)

If at all possible slowly start getting rid of things you don't need.. (extra crap you have stored under your kitchen and bathroom sinks), junk stuffed around your computer etc.... Set Aside 2 hours a day to work on a project, for example a toy box or a closet.... Set aside a least 1 hour a day for daily house maintance. (dusting, vacuuming, dishes)...... You will be very surprised after a week of setting aside 2 hours a day to work on projects how much you will have accomplished! (just make sure that you complete 1 project at a time & don't have 2-3 going at one time!)....... Make sure you write out a list of things you want to accomplish during the week and then break it down day by day so when you wake up in the morning you know exactly what you need to do.

As far as meals.... Girl that is a Tough One..... I am the queen of making LARGE meals then freezing left overs to have later that week...... Really with your kids being so small I don't see how you can make a home cooked meal every night. (nor why you would want to!)................. I really think that having a home cooked meal a couple times during the week is plenty & god knows your hands are FULL enough without having to stay in the kitchen.

I wish you lots of luck & strength as getting organized is not an easy thing esp. with little kids depending on you and wanting your time....... Take it in stride girl & You will amaze yourself!

Answer 4

Get rid of clutter. Throw away all the junk you can at one time. Put things where they belong and that is easy so the children can help. In time management all I can say is do what is important first, everything else can be done later. I don't have a set schedule but my house cleaning somes before running errands. Everything doesn't have to be done at one time. Like sweeping and mopping, scrubbing the bathtub can be done once a week. I do laundry as soon as I have a full load as to not let it pile up on me! Check out some great websites like allrecipes.com or kraft.com on some great home cooked recipes that are easy. Do the dishes every day. I makes things look alot better. Be sure to take the trash out as soon as it is full, I think overflowing trash looks horrible. Good luck!

Answer 5

For meals, I bought a good Betty Crocker cookbook, and now I plan a week's worth at a time. I sit down on Friday and go through the cookbook. I make a shopping list at the same time, so I know what I'll need. This saves money, too, since I'm not randomly buying things I might not use.

It helps to make a set schedule, like laundry on Mondays, clean the bathroom on Tuesdays, clean the kitchen on Wednesdays, etc. according to your preferences. Then make a short list of things to do every day, like vaccum, dishes, etc.

I always worked outside the home until I got married 2 years ago, so I had to get used to running a household. Between myself and my husband we have 7 kids, so having a schedule really helps out. The best thing you can do is to teach your kids to help out around the house. Even little kids (like mine!) can put their dirty clothes in the hamper and pick up their toys. If you teach them now, they'll get used to being organized.

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Try not to buy your children every toy out there. Less clutter. When my children got tired of their toys, I split them up and put 1/2 away, then brought them out in a month or so, and put the ones they had played with away.
Get up, fix everyone breakfast. It's not a restaurant, so fix it once. Then do up the dishes. A four or five year old can rinse dishes if you wash by hand. They can also fold hankies, socks, underwear, etc, washcloths. They may not be good at it, but they are learning valuable tasks.
Laundry, do some every day so it doesn't pile up.
Ready to eat meals cost a lot more. Try to 'cook once' eat twice. Make a big enough roast or hot dish, etc to have enough for another meal.
Baths and books about 7-8pm, and then they're off to bed.
I used to freeze sweet corn, etc and had my young kids help put it in containers. They can also frost cupcakes, etc.

Answer 7

Incorporate the Kids to help...make a game out of cleaning their room(s), let them "help" vaccum, so forth...it works for me and I have priceless memories and it also "teaches" them responsibility without being over bearing. Throw out anything you don't need....old reciepts, old bills (keep these for a year then throw out), dedicate a box,drawer, manilla envelope to these. Do laundry when you get a full load. Wash the dishes as you go. There are easy and fast recipes out there that are good and healthy. Clean as you go..if you see something that needs to be done...do it. There are somethings that can be done once a month, twice a month, once a week and daily. When you take a shower/bath clean tub/shower stall after your done. When you cook wash the dishes as you go. Sweep after a meal.. what is really important is if you make up your mind to have a clean, uncluttered house and all it takes is a little time each day.

Answer 8

i Have 4 Children And Yes You Have To Clean Daily.And Yes I Cook Everyday Something New Not The Same.I Cook In The Morning And Then In The Afternoon And Then At Night That Is It.I Give Them A Snack At Bed Time.Then I Give Them A Bath And They Watch TV For A Little While Then They Go To Bed.Then I Clean Up The House Again.

Answer 9

sit down and write down what things you need to do and plan the timing. Then leave copies everywhere so you always see what you should be doing. After a while you will get used to things and may no longer need the time sheets.
You can also make your own ready meals just set aside a good few hours when the kids are settled and make up soup, chilli, chicken dishes etc and freeze them in the portions you need that way you can cook the amount as and when you need.
Also try watching Perfect housewife with Anthea Turner she has loads of ideas!
Also dont worry if not all goes to plan such is life!

Answer 10

I have the exact same problem and I am trying so hard to get organized and get things clean. I hate it when people say "clean" as an answer. They have no idea. I have 4 children. Their ages rank between 3 and 10. I also have a slobby husband. He never picks up after himself. On top of that we have 4 dogs, a rabbit, and a cat. I use flylady.net. I hate telling people that. You don't know how many people laugh about it and it makes me feel like such a loser. Something I don't need because I feel bad enough living in the disaster I live in. The kids won't pick up after themselves. My husband won't pick up. I am taking care of the needs of 6 people, myself included, although a lot of my needs get sacrificed. I am tired. Laundry for 6 people. Dishes for 6 people. ( I try to use paper plates, plastic cups, and plastic wear whenever possible). Anyway, my point is I know exactly how you feel. I am sooo unorganized. Check out flylady and email me. Maybe we can provide encouragement for one another. Take care.

Answer 11

Yes it can be done!!
(1) meals need to be done depending on what each one likes but as a family you should have a two to three week routine. Write down the foods you all like and include your children on this. From that comprehensive list organise what you want to eat each day, involve the little minds as well in a playful manner, to get the most out of them. Buy your food according to this schedule, either once a month if you have storage or weekly if you don't have the space. This is how I manage, include eat outs as well in this schedule.
(2)Cleaning up is easier if done immediately after meals (manual) or straight in the dishwasher in an orderly fashion soon after each meal, run the dishwasher once a day after all meals,empty and put away same day or if you are an early riser first thing the next day.
(3)Laundry, put your clothes in similar washing groups as and when you take them off and wash them as soon as you have a load for any group of clothes, continue this cycle everyday or as necessary, thereis no short cut to this. Do not change the children's clothes everyday if they are at home, they can repeat up to three times each pre week,(massive saving on this one believe me)
(4) As you follow these tips not necessarily religiously but in an orderly fashion you will see what needs to be cleaned stands out on its own, then involve the little ones in a playful manner but strictly giving little punishments when they mess up and let them see the difference between mess and order, that way you are training them, you will be surprised what these little suspicious minds can do in time, trust me I have been there.
(5)Finally, while all the above is part of time management, here is what you need to do for planning your time successfully. On a daily basis write down at the end of the day 6 (six) tasks that have to be done the next day, put them down in order of urgent then important. Because urgent tasks need to be done there and then they come first even if they are not necessarily important,then important tasks which still have to be done but are not necessarily urgent. Make sure you do them by the end of the day, then make a new list for the following day, you will find that if you neglect you will end up with a lot of tasks at the end of the week and because these are goals you set yourself to achieve you will feel bad until you have done them. This advice is not conclusive and by no means dictative so adjust yourself as you go using the framework I have given you.

I hope I have been of help.