K.I.S.S. - Keep it Simple Sweetheart

For years I have had discussions with my husband regarding certain points of stress that come up such as, organizing laundry, finding shoes and clothes for the day, planning meals, the list goes on. I have times when I am on top of these things, and they're working like clockwork but other times they most certainly are not.

One thing he has told me during some of these times is "do less". I don't comprehend that well because I am a go-getter. I like to plan things, see them happen, and before it's done, see the next vision of what could be done and how the current thing can be done better next time.

Although I don't always listen quickly to my husband, especially when it's a sensitive topic and I so want to be right, I have been pondering these words of his.

I am seeing the value of doing less, during this summer break from school. Each week my calendar is full of potential play dates, free movies, library crafts and clowns, and each week lately I have been crossing half of it out.

As a surprise to myself, it has felt really good! The end of my day is much more peaceful and I am much more intimately acquainted with my kitchen! The closer I am in relationship with that place, the more I want to keep it clean. Consequently, that sink I thought could never shine each night has actually been shining because I am in there much longer after a meal. In the months immediately prior, we would eat a meal and be out the door speedier than Mr. Gonzalez. Upon returning home, everyone would be yelling for food so I didn't have time to clean from the last meal before everyone was piled in the kitchen and pantry begging for food and I frantically prepared it.

I've even saved lots of money, as I've kept it simple, because we haven't taken a trip in the car in 2 days!

Now that I'm seeing the beauty of this, I pray I can keep it up, or at least some very close resemblance of it. The school year is fast approaching, so as I make my schedule I pray I will stick with this success story and make it work to our advantage! Reminds me of this other good day.

Family Schedule

Here's a new schedule I'm working on to help keep my life prioritized and in order as we exist in here together all day!! It's difficult to do with so many opportunities to get off track and having a large (or larger than normal) family; and one with littles who can help some but not nearly as much as they will some day!

I started by prioritizing each area of life and the jobs I have to do throughout the day, then detailing out the tasks under each area (without being anal and putting everything down to a T). The ones listed below are somewhat in order by priority. My desire is that this will also help me focus on the things I should be doing with the children (teaching and training) during times that i could be distracted by the phone or the computer.

I also included the chores that I do each day of the week.

That used to just be a list of chores by day, but now I'm including the times of the day I HOPE to get them done!

(The hour-by-hour schedule is on my computer in a nice format with tables, but I haven't worked out how to get that format displayed here on the blog).

Oh one more thing, the children have a different set of chores. I'll post that one later. When I'm on my job of management, they do chores that last 10 minutes or so, and those are done every hour except during lunch, naptime, and dinner/family time.

Morning
A. Prayer with Jeoff
1. Personal – hair, nails, eyebrows, lotion, etc.
2. Children's grooming - baths, brush teeth, etc.
3. Children reading
4. Cook breakfast
5. Eat breakfast
6. Cleaning the home
7. Daddy's clothes (help with preparation, cleaning, ironing)
8. School – Bible principles / heart shepherding :-), reading, memorization, teaching, crafts, etc.
9. Dance practice time (children)
10. Field trips (as scheduled)

(hourly schedule coming soon)

Afternoon

1. Cook (prepare) lunch
2. Eat lunch
3. Personal – prayer, Bible reading
4. Cleaning the home
5. Phone calls
6. Read to kids
7. Nap time
8. Husband requests – admin / projects / check mail and file it
9. Personal email / blogging / etc.
10. Planning - homeschool, family calendar, children's activities, shared community of believers
11. Service to Others – mail cards, take gifts, etc.
12. Field trips - as scheduled
13. Field trips - as scheduled

(hourly schedule coming soon)

Evening

1. Cleaning the home – declutter family room
2. Cleaning the home – declutter kids room
3. Cleaning the home – declutter school room
4. Cleaning the home – declutter kitchen counters
5. Finish dinner preparation
6. Eat dinner
7. Personal – jogging, exercise
8. Piano and voice practice time
9. Family talk
10. Children's grooming - brush teeth, etc.
11. Prayer with children
12. Children’s story time, bed time

(hourly schedule coming soon)

Night

1. Prayer with Jeoff
2. Husband requests – admin / projects
3. Cleaning the home (dishes for the night)
4. Cleaning the home – declutter master bed room and bathroom (if necessary)
5. Daddy's clothes (help with preparation, cleaning, IRONING)
6. Personal – shower, lotion, brush teeth

(hourly schedule coming soon)

List of Weekly Chores - work in progress

Sunday
Clear kitchen counter (including the bar)
Clear dresser

Monday
Clean toilets
Clean kitchen cabinet doors
Clean bathroom sinks and counters
Wipe walls and baseboards in bedrooms
Clear school desk

Tuesday
Clear kitchen counter (including the bar)
Clean kitchen counters
Clear coffee table
Clear dresser
Wipe walls and baseboards in halls

Wednesday
Sweep/Mop Floors
Clear school desk
Wipe walls and baseboards in family room

Thursday
Clean toilets
Clear kitchen counter (including the bar)
Clean kitchen cabinet doors
Clean bathroom sinks and counters
Clear coffee table
Clear dresser
Wipe walls and baseboards in bathrooms


Friday
Clean shower with amonia solution
Dust
Clear school desk

Saturday
Clean toilets
Sweep/Mop Floor
Clear kitchen counter (including the bar)
Clean kitchen counters
Clear coffee table
Dust
Clean shower with amonia solution