I can’t seem to get our house organized.
We bought the place this past summer and since we moved across the country – we brought lots of boxes with us. We have most of them unloaded but there are about a dozen or so that still need to be unpacked. And since we are in the middle of updating our new home – things are chaotic. Papers are piling up. Toys are scattered about the house. And it seems as if nothing has a place. I feel guilty even admitting this!
After all, I am a stay at home Mom. My child and my house are what I do! I remember years ago – dreaming about being a Homemaker. I had big plans. I dreamt of fixing up large feasts of food for every meal, cleaning the house from top to bottom everyday, baking things for friends and neighbors every week, folding laundry so nice and neat, vacuuming with a smile, playing the role of super Mom, and decorating every room just perfectly. And I planned on getting all of that done with my makeup expertly applied, wearing cute little outfits, and humming a tune.
A little unrealistic maybe.
But still – for some reason I just can’t seem to get it all together! I can’t get everything organized in my head. I can’t get things situated. It is more than a little frustrating. I need help. So I was wondering….
do you have any tips for me? On how to organize things and such? I’d love to hear from you. I NEED to hear from you! How do YOU get your home where it needs to be and keep it that way?
Your advice and wisdom is greatly appreciated 🙂
Hey Katie,
I was just going to leave you a comment about Fly Lady, but see Carol beat me 🙂 Every morning on my drive to work last winter (I was back home) the Christian station I listened to would announce the Fly Lady tip of the day. I really think she is on to something! Check out the site if you haven't already.
I do not have any advice…yet, as we are still living in piles and piles of boxes that will have to wait until we have a place big enough to empty them out. Do not feel embarrassed…otherwise, I'll have to feel that way about my place as well 😉 You are not alone – being a mother and a wife is hard work and I'm sure you're amazing at both roles.
Liz 🙂
Katie, this is Aunt Jenny! As you know, I have been a stay at home mommy for almost 3 years now and I still haven't organized my house the want I always dreamed it would be either! My opinion is that if you can walk from room to room and not trip over stuff, then you good! Love yall and can't wait to see yall next week!!
No tips–just wanted to let you know I'm in the same boat. Only we've been here longer! We bought a total fixer and never got settled right off because so much was going to be torn up it didn't make sense to put it all away to pack it up again when the time came. But the budget ended before the projects did (isn't that always the way) so we've still got boxes that need to be unpacked, sorted, and stashed appropriately. The kitchen is good because it's the one room that we finished and everything has a place. But I really have no idea how to get the rest of the place in the same kind of order.
We'll I hope it helps a bit to know you're not alone!
Thanks so much for your comment on my blog today. I, too, am very particular with my time…which made that season all the more wierd for me. Thanks for sharing how it touched you.
I can totally relate to your post today. I had the exact same expecations of myself before I became a stay at home mom. I'm far from perfect, but I do feel like I've got a pretty good system that–when I keep it up–works well for me.
1. Simplify everything. I'm ruthless about throwing things away. If I don't, things just pile up in days! Clothes, toys, everything. I just get rid of it as soon as I think I don't need it anymore.
2. Treat my days like "work" days. Back when I had a job outside the home, I never would have dreamed of wandering aimlessly around doing a little of this and a little of that. I try to stay on task at home, just like I did at work.
3. I try to divide tasks by a specific day: Like Monday, I usually get the house back in order from the weekend. Tuesday is the day I get a sitter and go out ALONE to run all my errands. Wednesday I start laundry and clean something (like bathrooms or whatever needs the most attention) Thursday, I finish laundry and clean more. Friday I pay bills and take care of all the paperwork.
4. There are a few things I have to do every single day, or it gets insane: run and empty the dishwasher, clean up the kitchen, pick up all the toys from the main living area. If those things are done, I feel like I can breathe.
Of course, some days I just say forget it and take a nap or hang out in pj's. I did that today, as a matter of fact.
Oh…and I love your new fall pictures on your profile and your blog!!
Gotta go work out!
~Sandy
http://www.godspeakstoday.blogspot.com
Well the first thing is to decide whether you are a type A or type B personality. If type A no worries, just make some lists and you'll be organized in no time.
Something tells me you might be like me, a type B. That's more problematic. We have visions of grandure but we are usually a little scsttered and unorganized so these things don't often come to fruition.
I've found that I have to retrain myself to become a type A. this means making lists, and setting goals and READING THEM DAILY! That is what has produced good things in my home life.
Hope this helps! God bless
Sonya
Kate,
Years ago I heard of an interesting website, maybe you have as well. It's called Flylady and is at www(dot)flylady(dot)net – I thought I had better spell that one out to limit spam. Anyway, she is a Christian woman that talks about how to organize and take care of things "15 minutes at a time". The "Fly" in Flylady stands for "Finally Loving Yourself".
I can't begin to tell you how God used this to help me in our family. At that time, He was leading me to homeschool and I knew I needed to get organized and prepared for that journey. I hope that helps.
Ummmmm….I hope we are allowed to leave comments even if we have no organizing tips!!!! 🙂 I could leave you pictures of my own home that would surely make you feel MUCH better about yours! 🙂
Honestly, my home is nowhere near where I want, need, would love for it to be. Be sure you take your expectations of yourself to God and ask Him what He is asking of you for each day. I know I need Him to rework the SuperMom image I have in my head! Of course, I also need Him to help me be more disciplined and organized!
May He give us wisdom on how to better organize but a peace in knowing we are loved no matter what our homes look like!
Blessings, friend!
K 🙂