I've shared that one of my summer goals is to teach my boys to cook. Nothing fancy. No chef hats or complicated techniques. Just survival cooking. The kind that will keep them alive in their bachelor years. They are seven and nine, and they've helped me in the kitchen in the past, but I want them to gain some independence. I had each … [Read more...]
How I Limit My Kids’ TV/Screen Time
It’s summer. And because it’s summer (and summer is fun), I haven’t written this post that I’ve been meaning to write . . . since summer began. A big part of success in any endeavor, especially one where I’m trying to maintain routine in the midst of a lack of routine, is preparation. A few days before summer began, I realized that I hadn’t … [Read more...]
I Wonder Where She Learned That?
As my daughter and I worked on her room, I noticed that she headed to her door to immediately hang anything hangable that she came across. I wonder where she learned that? Hmmm. … [Read more...]
Daily Checklist/Chore Chart for Kids – Now With a Printable Version
It's officially Back to School time. Moms everywhere are taking a deep breath and resolving to be more organized and teach their kids to be responsible. How do I know this? The number of people finding me by searching for "Kids Chore Charts" or "Daily Checklist for Kids" has at least quadrupled. So, since I'm working on my "Get Started!" … [Read more...]
Daily Checklist and a Boys’ Room Decluttering Report
The majority of my hair is still attached. It has not been completely pulled out. My head, while it came dangerously close, did not explode. For these two reasons, I'm calling today a success. Today I: Cleaned kitchen. Swept kitchen and outer edges of wood floors in dining room and living room. Picked up random items from floor … [Read more...]
Relieved by Rules
As a mother, I am a leader. Sometimes I lead by force. Sometimes I lead by encouragement. But always, whether I like it or not . . . I lead by example. We have had a new addition to our home in the last month. My son, who is 8, bought a DS. If you don’t know what that is (like I didn’t a year ago), it’s a hand-held video game system. I … [Read more...]
My Sure-Fire Cure For a Messy House
Here it is. My most profound and life-changing revelation (in the area of housekeeping) to date. I know the cure for a home that is always messy. A home with clutter everywhere you gaze. A home that causes its owner to despair. Ready? Clean it. Now if you happen to be landing on this post as your very first experience with my blog, … [Read more...]
I’ll Take Any Motivation I Can Get
Aaaaahhhhh, our bathrooms are clean(er than they were yesterday)!!! It's Tuesday, which is bathroom-cleaning day, but we missed the last three Tuesdays due to vacation and VBS, both valid excuses. But I didn't want to clean bathrooms today. I mean, if they've gone that long without being cleaned, what's one more week? My sole motivation … [Read more...]
Vocabulary Lessons from the Summer of Clean
Elbow Grease – Cannot be bottled or purchased, must come directly from the elbow of the person using it. Varying degrees of pain may be involved. Toilet bowl – The part of the toilet that looks like a bowl. Fairly self-explanatory, but a hilarious mental picture to a 6 year old boy. Unwieldy – Difficult to carry due to shape, size, etc. Used … [Read more...]