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Today, we have a special guest post from Julie Cole, one of the co-founders of Mabel’s Labels Inc. Julie has SIX kids and so when she gives tips on being organized, I listen! I am always in need of organization — and what better time than the New Year! Thanks Julie!!!
Getting Organized for the New Year
I’m no organizational guru, but owning a business and being a mama of six kids means I’ve learned a fair few tricks along the way.
Without organization, I lose the thing I value most: TIME. Mine comes at a premium and I have none to waste. Join in my commitment to valuing a mama’s time by keeping these tips in mind:
1) Organize your stuff
It’s time to clear out the junk folks – I’m talking toys, clothes, even that stuff you get all sappy and sentimental about. I have news for you – that painting your kid did when she was five-years-old looks pretty much like every other kid’s painting. If I held onto art projects, my sentimentality would take up a lot of valuable space and create unwanted clutter.
What happens when I have clutter? I can’t find the stuff I need which makes me waste time having to look for it. The other problem with holding onto sentimental items is the longer you have them, the harder they are to part with. Save yourself the grief ten years from now – tell little Johnny you love his painting and then promptly hide it in the recycling bin.
Can’t emphasize this strategy enough – take a half-day every season to organize seasonal clothes and sports equipment. It will save you on the morning of the season’s first snowfall from repeating the annual tradition of frantically searching for winter boots and snow pants while the kids yell about missing the school bus. That half day once every four months is an investment in the value of your time and sanity – you will easily gain that half-day back by closing the door on frantic-searching-panic for good!
2) Organize your peeps
Stop doing everything for the kiddos and instead train them for independence. Not only will it give them lifelong skills, but it will give you time.
Sure, there is an initial commitment – sometimes it’s just easier to pack their school bag for them or fetch that glass of juice. But training them to be independent is worth the time investment. Four of my six kids have to be on the school bus at 7:45am. I use a poster that reminds them of their morning responsibilities. If they get off track, I re-direct them to the poster of duties.
Empower them with strategies for independence. You’ll thank yourself when you actually have time to pour yourself a cup of coffee in the morning.
3) Organize an outsource
Let this year be the year you get realistic. That’s my resolution.
For three years – including two maternity leaves – I’ve had big dreams of getting my 1000 photos into albums and actually printing the 500 still sitting on my laptop. Just thinking about this project was enough to make me break out in a sweat of stress.
Finally admitting it was never going to happen, I hired someone to do it, by posting the project and my cry for help as a Facebook status update. Twenty Facebook friends expressed interest. Sure paying someone to do it is a bit of a drag, but you can’t put a price on mama’s sanity or beautifully organized photos.
So, mamas everywhere, let’s face 2010 with a proactive approach to our organization. Do the groundwork and you will reap the benefits. You’re a busy mama – your time is worth investing in.
Julie Cole is one of the co-founders of Mabel’s Labels Inc and the proud mother of six.
Sidnie says
Wonderful reminders!
Our house is chaos. My oldest is not even 3 yet, but just this week, he’s shown me that he can help unload the dishwasher, and if I sort the laundry, he can load the washer… Those few simple tasks have made my days just the tiniest bit easier!!
The Gang's Momma says
I enjoyed this post immensely. It sparked a gelling of some ideas I’ve been thinking about for quite a while now.
I do have some differences in how I’m viewing the “organize your peeps” part, but only now, after several years of working very hard to train them toward independence. Kind of a reaction to the successful training of independence and its natural outcomes.
It’s been bouncing around in my head for several weeks and I finally got it all out on a post today. Thanks for the succinct boiling down of the topic – it really did help me put my thoughts into words.
Julie Cole says
Tara – not all, just most 🙂 All my kids have done art camp for years. I would seriously have an entire floor of the house full of their paintings, pottery, sculptures, etc. Scanning is a great idea!!
Tara says
You could scan children’s artwork that is special or representational of a certain age-period. That way, you have it electronically, but it’s not taking up space in your house. I disagree with throwing out all their artwork!
Kelly says
Wow! Great ideas!!! Putting everything together in one place is essential! Check out http://aboutone.com Easy way to keep your records accessible no matter where you are!!!
AboutOne
Vicki says
Posting a job on Facebook as a status!! What an excellent idea!! Thanks!
Susan says
I really need to take this advice to heart.
I lose so much time b/c of my disorganization and I’m also guilty of doing too much for my kids – especially my four year old.
Julie Cole says
Angela – I can totally relate! As soon as we all owned our own houses, my mom delivered all of our crap to us! I have to admit, I still have some boxes of old English 101 notes and camp letters to ditch! Not fun….
And Susie – so true….why must we feel that we have to do things for our kids. I think with having so many kids I learned early that it was worth the time investment to get them doing stuff for themselves. Sometimes it seems easier to just do things for them, but in the long run that helps no one.
Susie's Homemade says
I can’t agree with you more!! It is our job to train our children to do things for themselves…even though it feel perfectly natural to do everything for them:-)
Emily says
I LOVE the “organize your peeps” recommendation. I plan to have DS (3 now) washing the dishes in a couple of years and doing laundry a couple years later.
Kids are a lot more capable than a lot of parents realize, and when they realize it they can relieve themselves of a lot of “dirty work.” 🙂
melissa madden says
Love the coments on clutter and sentimental items (as angela smith noted). I don’t save ANYTHING. But seriously, call me sentimental 🙂
Angela Smith says
I love your honest comment on holding on to sentimental things. I used to hold on to more than I should… until I started receiving more from my mother-in-law. She’s been handing down ALL the stuff she kept for my husband – and she’s far worse than I ever was. Now my goal is to never do that to my kids. It’s insane!!!
se7en says
We have just gone on summer vacation over here (Cape Town) and I am so busy teaching my kids skills that I needed them to know during school time… how to make bread for lunch in the bread machine, how to water the plants so that they don’t die (drown or desert)… you are so right it takes longer initially but how sweet when they have a new skill!!!
Jennifer C says
Great advice!~ Thanks for the reality check.
laura says
kind of makes me ashamed of my lameness…BUT all great tips and worth the read.
I really need to get it together!
LoveFeast Table says
I love the outsourcing idea for photos!! The boxes of all my piled up photos are haunting me!! Out source…hmmmm great idea! 🙂 Chris Ann