Time Management When Children Are at Home

Did I have a big reminder of how little you get done with a 2 year old at your feet!  My granddaughter Ava and I were spending some special time together.  By 11 o’clock I finally had the kitchen cleaned up. I had a big laugh when I thought about what I teach on procrastination. You may have heard me use the illustration about emptying a dishwasher – a 3 -5 minute project, so Do It Now!  Make that an hour project or more when you have a little one helping, interrupting, and causing you to stop and play. About the time the kitchen was cleaned up it was time to start lunch. Nap time (hers) was when I finally put on my make-up and real clothes. After all, I needed to look presentable.  We were going to the hospital for Ava to see her new, adopted baby sister.

Having raised 7 children, I had to stop and think how much it helped when the older ones had assigned chores like, for example, emptying the dishwasher.

I remembered when my 3 boys were small, we would laugh and say that we didn’t worry about the house getting broken into.  If the would-be burglar didn’t break his neck on all the toys on the sidewalk, he would end up falling over all the ride toys in the living room. Someone asked me what my decorating style was when we lived in Chicago and I said “toys, toys and more toys.” Actually it never changed – now there are cat toys scattered on the floor.

I may be an organizer but children come first. Organization should support you and not control you. Little ones grow up so quickly. I find it hard to believe my youngest is 31. Given the choice between organizing and spending time with your children, my recommendation is spend time with your family!

Organizing Tip 1. Put family first in your life – you can always empty the dishwasher later.
Organizing Tip 2. There is a funny side to almost everything – lighten up!
Organizing Tip 3. No one expects you to be SuperMom.  Better to be super-loved.