Time to Organize!

I'm trying to organize my life.  I think I have an organization disorder.  I can keep my desk cleaned off.  I am fairly organized there.  At home, it's another story.  I'm a pack rat, but not a hoarder.  I sell things and give things away, but I also keep too many scraps of paper.  I have too many books, and they cover the bookshelves along with a nice little layer of dust.  I really need a maid, but having to pick up for a maid is just not in my schedule.  Paying a maid is not in my budget.  Sometimes I wish Hubby and I had a third person in our family: a wife, to do all the things we don't want to do or don't have the time to do!

I finally did chore charts for the kids.  I titled it "Duties," so the boys of course love to joke about doody.  "I'm doing my doodies, Mom!"  Great.  Boys are potty mouthed their whole life.  It just never goes away!!!  (I'm one to talk, I know.)

I can't take credit for this idea.  On a recent trip to visit my sister, I saw a similar chart at her friends' house.  I made a mental note and then created a spreadsheet the next week.  Here is Son Number One's (I have them for all the kids):

Not only does this help organize their life (and mine), but it creates independence.  Eventually, they won't have to look at the chart to know their duty of putting their school uniform in their cubby, or brushing their teeth (I hope that one comes soon!).  Plus it encourages the kids to be kind to each other and to help.

Each kid has specific chores, but if they help the other or do other chores around the house, they still get a "check" for the specific chore I put on their chart.  We want to encourage helping out, and honestly it doesn't matter what they're helping with as long as they are.

My kids thrive on routine, since they have been in daycare virtually since the day they were born.  They love the chart, and they love getting check marks on their chart.

Weekly Rewards Include:

• Allowance for kids, depending on number of check marks they've received.
• Staying up 15 minutes late -- weekend only
• Playing 15 minutes of an Electronic during the weekday -- only if homework is completed and it's not bedtime
• Treasure Box Rewards (earned from 5 or more bonus points throughout the week): Dollar Tree items, Go someplace with Mommy or Daddy alone, Pick out a $1.00 toy at the store, special treat.

So far it's working for us! 

Goal Post Tuesday June 5, 2012

Today is Tuesday and that means it's goal day!  I have lost a total of 40 pounds.  I can barely believe it, except for all the clothes that are falling off when I wear them!  I've been really digging skirts, because of the elastic waists that they usually have. 

I skipped goal posting last week.  I've had a busy two weeks, and blogging has taken a low place on the priority list apparently.  Although I skipped, I did think about my goals from the week before. 

I had several goals, and unfortunately the only one I achieved was losing the 2 pounds.  We have not posted the rules for the kids, but I really want to do this before summer starts.  Number One and Number Two are in need of some limit setting, and Hubby and I are sort of pushovers in that department.  I love the kids, but I have to admit that discipline is not my strong point.  I have a temper, so I get angry, or I'm too soft.  There's sort of no middle ground.  We had a time when we had rules posted in the house, and it worked really well, so I'm going to do it again. 

My other goal last week was to write every day, and this didn't happen either.  I did a lot of reading last week and sitting around when I wasn't at Taekwondo.  I just didn't have the energy.  In fact, I've been fighting off a cold, and I think that's why my body is so tired.

This week, my goals are all about organization.  I'm trying to organize some aspects of my life, so things flow more easily.  It may be hard for me to make these goals too, because I'm going out of town on Friday, so I don't have as much time to accomplish them, but I'm still going to set them down in writing.

• Make a Chore Chart for Hubby and the Kids: We're in bad need of a physical reminder, with a checklist, of items that need to be cleaned around the house.  Sure, we can sit around and look at the mess and clutter and complain about it, but having a list to check off will surely help us accomplish more.  I've tried this before, and it didn't work, but we're going to try it again!
• Create a Calendar: I want to be able to post a monthly calendar on our fridge, so everyone knows where everyone will be on a certain day.  Our schedules are so busy, that I think this will help.  I'd also like to use this calendar to fill in certain things like: Lauren cook dinner tonight, Hubby pick up kids today, etc. 
• Clean Bathrooms: I know that you all don't want to know the ins and outs of our potties!  Putting this here actually helps me achieve this dreaded chore.  Every time I've put it on my blog I've cleaned them.  So once again, clean those bathrooms!!! 

Now I'm off to make this yummy chicken.  I'll let y'all know how it turns out.