Who doesn’t want to be an organized mom? An organized mom feeds her children healthy meals, maintains an orderly and clean home, has kids who complete their homework, and are on time to school each day. The following are six tips for how to be an organized mom.
1. Routine. Organized moms follow routines, this way their children know what to expect, when to expect it, and can become used to the schedule. This helps things go smoothly for the whole family, and frees up some of mom’s time. For example, if mom puts her children down for a nap every day at 2 pm, she knows she has the hour after, possibly more, to get other things done, to take a break, etc. If the kids know that they are expected to get up, brush their teeth, and make their beds, then mom does not have to do that later. Routines help everything go more smoothly.
2. A food plan. Organized moms are known for keeping their families well fed, but how do they fit it all in? One great secret of an organized mom is to make a plan for what meals they will have that week, and do all of the prep work on one day as to save time and mess. For example, they may put together a lasagna, a soup, etc. all on the same day, wash lettuce for a salad, and slice carrots, cucumber, etc. for the same salad on Saturday, so that Monday night when everyone is hurrying to get homework done, make it to various commitments, etc. dinner can get on the table in a matter of minutes.
An organized mom tries to plan ahead for meals.
3. Expectations. Organized moms expect their family to follow certain guidelines, and help them stay organized. So, for example, they may expect their children to be home by 5 for dinner. This way they do not have to search for their kids, or call all of the neighbors trying to locate them before they eat. They may expect homework to be completed as soon as they return home from school, or expect that they get their dirty clothes to the wash.
4. A break. Organized moms take breaks before they allow themselves to be overwhelmed. Getting overwhelmed usually results in letting things go, getting further behind, and a mess. So, an organized mom knows not to take on too much, and to give herself a night out, a bubble bath, or a few hours to herself when she needs it.
5. Places for everything. Organized moms set up hooks to hold back packs, have bins for toys, or shelves for shoes. They have a place for everything, and monitor to ensure that when their children get home from school they do not just drop their backpack anywhere, but rather put it where it needs to be so that they next morning it is easy to find.
6. Plan B. Organized moms are flexible. If they weren’t, when a hiccup happens, things would hit a stand still. So, they are the kind of moms that decide that since the roast they prepared for dinner is just not done cooking, they will serve it another day, and order pizza for the evening. Organized moms have an idea of what they are going to do if their original plans go awry.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to