Simple things can have substantial results

When all my kiddos were living at home, there were times I was really really really overwhelmed.  I wasn't trying to keep my head above water, I just wanted the straw I stuck up above the water line to not get clogged up ! LOL!!

At one point, I sent my husband an SOS, thinking his solution would surely be to whip the kids into shape and tell them they had to do all my work or something.  Instead, he came up with

Family conference.  Seriously.  I was skeptical to say the least that circling the wagons every Sunday evening would address my overwhelment (is that a word??) but, guess what?  Hubby was right.  Again.

Even though we are all together quite a bit, including most meals, somehow this weekly gathering to coordinate schedules and discuss what was going on in each other's lives worked some magic.  Sometimes I fixed a snack for us and we munched away while catching up on things and looking ahead to the next week.  Other times we had different ones share a family devotional or celebrate recent successes.  But this intentional togetherness was like the epicenter of an earthquake of goodwill and its positive tremors were felt through the week.

Even if you're not as overwhelmed as I was feeling, I suggest a weekly family conference.  Aftershocks can be a good thing!

A picture is worth 1000 words

A few posts ago, I mentioned how I handle mail and that prompted some questions about my, uh, system.  I responded with some pics on FB of my, uh, system.  Since then, I've had more queries so here's more info on my, uh, system.

I sort the mail each day as soon as I possibly can.  And I trash as much as possible.  I don't keep catalogs or most magazines.  Seriously.  If they contain game changing info, I feel sure I can dig it up online.  So I toss it.  Then I distribute what remains to family members.  (For a while years ago, I used different color folders for each of us.  Then I decided the children didn't get enough mail for all that trouble.  So, my current, uh, system evolved)  I put hubby's mail in the contraption shown below and he handles as needed.  This is located on the bookcase beside his chair and I would love to "clean it out" for him :) but I don't dare.  Marital happiness and all that.

 

Next step - wall mounted mail holder/file system.  I got this as a wedding gift from my friend Beth and it is probably the most used gift we received.  LOVE IT!!  Top slot - all tax info (receipts for my tutoring business, contribution receipts, etc)  At tax time, I turn it all over to hubby.  Middle slot - paid bills and other things that need to be filed later in more permanent folders (not shown here)  This is a temporary holding spot for all those things that I don't have time to file after I handle them.  I know lots of folks use only digital copies and hopefully I will catch up with the rest of the universe one day.  For now, this works for me.  Bottom bin - bills to be paid (I only pay once a month) and any other pending correspondence.  As much as possible, I handle things immediately but sometimes I need input before I RSVP to an event or whatever.

 

There you have it - my, uh, mail system.

  Notice the keys.  We have a lot of drivers in our family.  Dear hubby lives by the rule that car keys should be placed here immediately upon entering house.  I appealed for an exemption so he lets me keep mine in my purse.  Most of the time that's the case.....
Funny - no, actually it's sad - story on keys.  Sweet neighbor gave me a duplicate of her house key for an emergency.  Of course those things are just a safety net - emergencies never happen, right?  Well, said neighbor locked herself out of her house one day but she didn't worry.  Cuz she knew I had a key to her house!  Right?  Well, except that I couldn't find it.  Oh my goodness.  I looked high and low and tried every key in this collection.  None worked.  Weeks later I found her key - in its labeled envelope - stuck down in one of these bins.  I've been embarrassed for two years.  Thankfully she is a gracious woman and still speaks to me. 

Next pic - organizational tip from my 11 year old.  Her room would make an army colonel proud.  Every single thing is in its rightful place, down to each bottle of nail polish.  She saw my tshirt drawer one day and rearranged it for me.  Changed my life forever.  Instead of folding each shirt, she rolled them up and placed each one like a file folder.  Now they all fit and I can see each one easily instead of digging through a stack to find the one I want on the bottom.
Out of the mouths of babes.  Wow.  This picture is its current state, shirts placed by yours truly.  When Betsy arranged them, they looked even better.

This last picture is of my linen closet.  I want you to know that I really mean it when I say I am not organized. This is really what it looks like and I am not exactly sure what all is in there.

But that's why God had someone invent closet doors.
What I can't see doesn't bother me.

Another BFF tip

Remember I told you my freezer is my BFF when it comes to saving time?  And I mentioned a couple of recipes that are mainstays for me but only shared one?  Well, here's the other one.  This is def a family fav.  I think Katie may have shared it already but since everyone isn't FB friends with her - here it is.  Ravioli Soup.  I found it two decades ago in a book called "Once A Month Cooking". (I tweaked just a few things so if you locate the book and look up "Ravioli Soup", you will notice a few minor changes.  Don't stress - it's all good) This was my introduction to cooking meals to store in the freezer and I've been at it ever since.  I confess to being much too disorganized to pull off an entire cooking day as the book describes but I've been able to survive by adapting the concept to what works for me.  I double or triple recipes and stash the extras.  This particular one I quadruple!


Ravioli Soup

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1/4 cup bread crumbs (I use the Italian flavored ones)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp garlic salt
1 onion chopped and cooked when browning the ground beef
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
3 cups water
3 beef bullion cubes
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Combine all ingredients.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes.  Cool, put in container and freeze. 
To prepare for serving, dump the soup into the crockpot on low 5-7 hours or thaw, heat and simmer on stovetop for 30-45 minutes.
Cook 1 package frozen plain cheese ravioli (without sauce) according to package directions.  Drain.  Add to soup.  Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Be a lazy mom

 I'm lucky enough to benefit from the wisdom of others. Perhaps God knew how lacking I would be so He kindly placed wise women right under my nose. In my own family. So I could watch and learn. Today's tip comes from observing one of my SIL's who was already successfully training three little ones before I ever entered the marvelous world of sleep deprivation.

She encouraged them to be thinkers and doers instead of dependents. I would often hear her respond "I think you can solve your problem" when they came to her with a frustration or dilemma. Such as not being able to reach something or untangling a toy cord. She didn't brush them off and go on her merry way but neither did she  rush in and save the day continuously. Instead she patiently and cheerfully and gently helped them to figure things out on their own.

 At first this will feel like it takes a lot of time and that efficiency would  be better served if you just solve the problem yourself. But think long term. Instead of running to mommy every time a puzzle piece won't fit, the child learns to handle it independently. In the long run, being a "lazy Mom" will save you time.  And then some!  Not that I am writing a parental advice column but surely we all need to remember that our goal is to (eventually) raise adults!!

 Trust me. More than efficiency is achieved. My SIL now has 4 grown independent confident successful adults who all landed great jobs upon graduation.   Apparently employers like problem solvers too. 

Today's tip. Strive to be a lazy mom. Teach kids to figure things out for themselves. 

Works for your list of chores as well. Just sayin 

Birds of a feather....

The things I get to learn from my sisters-in-law!  I could write a book - I should - on the ways they make my life better.  Today's tip came from one of them.  It might sound simple but it's quite amazing how efficient and effective it is.

Group like things together.  Sounds simple, doesn't it?  If you apply it, it's astounding. 

My dear SIL came to visit me after baby #3 arrived.  She not only cooked, cleaned, and played with my children while I rested, she organized my pantry.  Seriously.  (Sorry -she's not available to join your family - she's in mine!)  I had things crammed in my little pantry in an order known only to me.  Well, probably only to God.  I wish I had a picture of it.  No, actually I don't.  Well, my SIL took it all out and grouped like things together.  Canned goods.  Breakfast foods.  Baking items.  Chips and crackers. So on.  Amazing. Not only was it easy to find things, it was also easy for my little helpers to put things back where they belonged! 

When my husband's corporate move necessitated I leave that organized pantry, I made sure I set up my new one in similar fashion.  And although my current pantry doesn't look quite as good as when my dear SIL established mine in NC many years ago, it far surpasses the hodge-podge arrangement I was accustomed to!

Oh, and this principle works great in other areas as well - linen closet, garage, toy areas, bookshelves, etc.  It spreads like good bacteria :)