The One Where We Begin To Get Organized

It's been a little over a week since I posted about needing organization. I have since received both Managers of Their Homes and Managers of Their Chores. Being the good Mom that I am, I had to read the chores one first and put it into action. I've been pleasantly surprised that they children seem to like it. It helps them to get everything they need to get done & reminds them of what needs to be done. Of course I still have to say "Check your chore pack" and such, but for the most part it's given me less frustration and put the chores into their hands more. I like that A LOT.

I've begun reading Managers of Their Homes. I like it as well and it's giving me some good ideas. Being summer, I'm not sure how much we'll stick tightly to a schedule, but I can see it helping a lot during the school year.

I've been trying to start my days earlier. It seems to help my spirits a bit to get up earlier in the day, go for a walk & do my daily devotions prior to the children waking up.

So organization is starting to happen.... just slowly. I still need to think up an IF/Then chart. It's not quite as easy as I thought it would be tho...

The One Where We Need Organization!

Managing the home, managing the children, managing the schooling, managing the household bills, groceries, etc is becoming a task that feels so incredibly overwhelming lately. A task?! Try a bazillion tasks. I actually enjoy going to staff meetings & staffing support groups just to step away from my reality for a few moments and get a breather. Some days I think having a job outside of the home would be lovely. Only problem is... all these things would still be waiting for me so it would actually add to my work load.

One of the books I'm reading is "Homeschooling With a Meek & Quiet Spirit" by Teri Maxwell. It's a pretty good book. One of those books where you can take a lot from, but leave what won't work for your family in it w/out feeling guilty. :) It's a good read so far & is giving me some wonderful ideas. I've decided to purchase both Managers of Their Home & Managers of Their Chores from the Maxwells and see if I can work them into our lives (therefore hopefully making our lives a little less overwhelming and a bit more manageable?? I hope!)

As far as parenting goes, that has been a chore in itself lately! Erich is hitting that awful stage where he has to push the limits as far or further than they can go. I don't like this stage. It's constant discipline, constant redirection and constant frustration (on my part!!) The book suggests making an If/Then chart. I think I'm going to do this. Basically each negative action has a predetermined consequence. So the child knows that if the do 'x' the consequence is 'y'. There's not question about it. No thinking it over for Mom (once it's established). I think that may help Erich especially. Even if he doesn't want them, he NEEDS firmly set boundaries at this point in his life. He's obviously unable to set them for himself and needs to know I'm going to set them and not budge on them.

I'll definitely blog more about how these things are going after we get started on them. :)