My dear friend Lainie is back with another household tip. This time, she discusses how she gets her kids involved with preparations for a special occasion. Her tip about Teaching Kids to Clean with Lines (HERE) has made a huge difference in our house. I can see her suggestion about a Post It Note Wall being equally effective (especially once both of my boys can read!).… Continue reading
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Simplify Saturday: Post a Weekly Family Calendar
Recently my 7-year-old has started voicing concern over our schedule. During his free blocks of time, he has been building complex machines out of Legos, and he wants more time to engineer his creations. He’s worried that on any particular day he won’t have enough time for his own projects.
In order to help him to see how we allocate our time each week, I’ve started making a Family Calendar that I post on the refrigerator. … Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Drop Perfectionism
There is a lot of value in doing things well. And often throughout our lives, and especially as children, we’re admonished to “Always Do your Best.”
I think this is great advice. Except for when it’s not.
Some of us have walked away from a lifetime’s worth of such encouragement with the notion that every single thing we do needs to be representative of our best work.… Continue reading
Wash Stress Down the Drain with Homemade Bath Salts
This last month has held a fair share of stresses. It’s taken me over a month to recover from the severe concussion that occurred as a result of a fainting spell (see HERE). Add to the stress of injury and recovery the fact that life does not stop so I can recover, and that as I’m feeling better there are seemingly mountains of things that need to be done, and the pressure grows.… Continue reading
Teaching Kids to Clean with Lines
This post comes from my long-time dear friend, Lainie. Her ideas about practical ways to help a household run smoothly even with small children underfoot (as well as so many other things) have encouraged me over the years. I hope you find the idea she writes about here helpful as well. I certainly plan to give Lines a try with my boys.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Revisiting the Importance of an Auto-Pay Master List
Our credit card number was just hacked for the third time in the last year. While this isn’t a problem for our day-to-day purchases, it’s a huge inconvenience for all of the bills we have set on auto-pay with this card.
The last time this happened, I made a list of all the bills we pay automatically along with their contact numbers (see HERE).… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Leave Early
When you’re running late or barely on time, every little hiccup feels stressful. The fact that your child wants you to help him with his shoes, the need to run back upstairs to grab your reusable shopping bags, or having to slow down on the road due to road construction or a biker taking his time riding down the hill can all feel frustrating.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Put Clothes Away Immediately after Removing Them
A conversation I had with my son this week struck me as something that might benefit more than him.
My son frequently takes off his clothes and then leaves them in a pile on his room’s floor. Then, he feels irritated when I walk past his room and remind him to pick up his clothes and put them in the hamper.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Adopt a “One In, One Out” Rule
Decluttering and getting rid of stuff is great, but it can be easy for stuff to accumulate again if you’re not diligent about it. In our house, I find this to be especially true of books.
I love, love, love books. I love to read them. I love to hold them. I think they make fabulous decor. They bring me great joy.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Clean Out Kids’ Belongings
The winter holidays are upon us. And if you’re like most families, this means there will be an influx of things into your home, especially for your children.
Over the years, my husband and I have done a good job of reminding our loved ones that we don’t need more stuff. Instead, we ask those who live far away to save their money and spend it to come and visit us (or those local to us to join us for a special meal or a cup of tea or fun nearby trip together).… Continue reading