Oh, I've been reading bits here and there and have come to one conclusion! Either I am lazy, or everyone here is more organized than I!! So, to that end, help! How do you all stay organized and get things done? Especially the everyday, mundane things that I hate like dusting -- where does all that stuff come from anyway? And vacuuming -- if I just did it yesterday, why does the living room floor look like a pigsty?

For a little background, I stay at home, but have just recently began substitute teaching for our local school system, with an eye to possibly taking the certification test to teach (going back to school for my master's first, which would take a couple of years). My husband and I have two boys, ages 5 1/2 and 3 (next month). I get very little help with housework from my husband, but try not to complain; we own a lawn care service in addition to his firefighting job, and I feel he works to hard already supporting us. Besides, you know how men are: they think you are supposed to start cleaning house in the garage!

Anyway, any helpful hints would be appreciated! God bless, and good organizing!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), November 23, 2001

Answers

Christine, Those kids are big enough to do chores. Simple ones, especially for the three year old, but chores none the less.

Make charts, assign duties, stick to your guns. I have SO many students who do NOTHING at home and get offended by adults in authority at school. Please don't raise 'em like that.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), November 24, 2001.

Hello Christine, Meli and I believe in cleaning as we go instead of letting it pile up. We have been building our house for the last year and I have found the best way is to just stop one or two times as day and clean up everything. Trying to put everything that one uses back in its orginal place is a good practise. That way we know exactly where the nail clippers, keys, remote, etc are. I do not believe that cleaning starts with the garage....I don't even have one! Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), November 24, 2001.

I agree....cleaning as you go really helps. Of course since the other 4 members of this household (all male) don't do it as much as I do, its sort of still up to me. I do things like..while the teakettle is heating..I get one small thing done...like put in a load of laundry, or make the bed or spray cleaner in the shower to scrub off an hour later. Or..while I am getting ready to go to bed..I make sure things are picked up as I leave the living room....I am always the last one up..so thats not as hard as it would be for people who go to bed first....It sure is nicer for me in the morning. I tackle one room each day. If I miss a day...I just stay on my own "schedule" and deep clean that room next week. Then just a quick once over is enough to keep things pretty clean. I do daycare and have usually 6 little kids under school age here all day and have to stay on top of it all the time. I sort of make deals with myself....I can't sit down to knit until the kitchen is clean..or I can't go outside and work in the garden (a treat) unless I clean the boys bathroom first. I don't have a garage either. Sure miss that!! My husband is home 24/7 right now. Had back surgery earlier this year. It is nice to have him around...but hard to keep things organized..and I just havn't ever got him used to helping much either. Good luck!! I guess what this all boils down to..clean as you go.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), November 24, 2001.

I try to stay organized because I can not stand clutter. That is hard-wired into my brain. I have a friend who is somewhat disorganized. That is hard-wired into her brain. Her solution has been to follow the FLY Lady method. There is a whole website dedicated to this method. I don't know the address, but you can do a google search if I can't get up with my friend to find out first.

-- Jo (mamamia2kids@msn.com), November 24, 2001.

I enjoyed the fly lady site. Am going to give it a try. I always seem to be rushing and getting nothing done. Wish me luck.

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), November 24, 2001.

I am pretty organized. I follow a few of the methods already described here. Like put everything in its place,and think ahead. If you know you need to do something, plan it out ahead of time. If I wake up in the middle of the night, and can't get back to sleep, I don't fret, I think! By doing this, I can plan the best way to accomplish something in the least amount of time. For example, I can cook a whole Thanksgiving dinner, set the table and everything in less than 2 hours. (Not counting time for the turkey)

Sometimes lack of organization is simply lack of planning. Like I have friends who don't think about buying their kids winter coats, hats and gloves until it snows. I know by the end of summer, what my kids need in this department, and can keep an eye out for sales.

Another great tip is to never go to bed with the house a mess. While my kids are getting ready for bed, I am constantly on the move, picking up and straightening as I go. The key to keeping things clean is to never let them get dirty!!! Easier said than done sometimes though!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 24, 2001.

I found this recently and want to explore more:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), November 24, 2001.

I used to be organized. Thank you for the organizing websites, I will be spending a lot of time there relearning what I used to know.

My one surviving organizational success is the "toy cubbies." Those inexpensive particle board bookshelves with particle board dividers added in the center, then stacked, one atop the other sideways. Add plastic tubs and baskets to hold and organize toys. Some cubbies can hold books and a couple can be used as a small dollhouse for doll furniture if their is not room or funds for a "real" dollhouse.

When the kids are young, I think it is easiest to assign one room the sleeping room, even if it is a walk-in closet and the other a playroom. Complicated snaplock lids and high shelves can keep little kids out of the more mature toys. Even babies in a playpen enjoy being with the "bigkids" during playtime and big kid enjoy teaching the little ones new things.

My kids are so spread out in ages, I've had constant in home preschool for almost 17 years. Now I need to figure out how to change over to a system that meets the needs of older children and their bigger toys that can't be shoved in a cubby!

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), November 24, 2001.

I don't, please help!

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), November 24, 2001.

Make a list of what chores you need to do that day and don't do anything else until they are done! That doesn't include changing diapers or making meals though. Think ahead and don't clean the kitchen only to mess it again putting a meal in the crockpot. Put things away. Declutter. Get rid of junk. Make the children do the same. Organize your week and know what jobs have to be done on what day.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 25, 2001.

Christine, I have a routine and I do not stray from it. I write down everything that HAS to be done in the week. Then I divid it up-exp- Monday I always I always dust and vaccum, Tuesdays I always do the mending, sewing etc, Wednesday is always Laundry day and so on. Then I write down things that I want to accomplish extra that week, Christmas presents, clean out animal pens, etc, Assign them a day and do it. I always use my list and if I get done I will start on the next day, If I don't get done thats what I start with first the next day. I never go to bed with a cluttered house. My 5 yearold has a small round laundry basket at the bottom of the stairs, throughout the day if something needs to be put upstairs or up I put it in the basket, when it gets full or he's going upstairs, he has to take up and put up.The key is to keep in a routine and try not to stray.I have a lot to do and get a lot done this way!God Bless

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), November 25, 2001.

Wow, I've been gone for a couple of days (final clean-up on our pecan grove), and I had more e-mail than you could shake a stick at tonight! I don't have time to look at the websites right now, but I will sure check them out in the next couple of days (I'll use that reward system -- when I have my chores done, I'll go play on the computer!).

It seems like there are a lot of good ideas floating around, and I'm anxious to try some of them. Oh, and by the way, hubby doesn't have his garage anymore, either. He wants to turn it into a game room, and to that end, he has put some carpet he salvaged from the dumpster at the fire station, and our old living room furniture out there. He tried to keep me out, but I told him until he's done and I have my sewing/ironing room, he has to share, and I put my sewing machine out there also!

Thanks for the advice, and I'll let you know if I am any good at implementation!

-- Christine (cljford@aol.com), November 25, 2001.