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10 Bright Stars
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Location: Virginia
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| Posted: April 29 2010 at 12:23pm | IP Logged
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Hi all,
My whole family is recovering from the flu. So, of course, the house is a complete wreck. I feel overwhelmed in even thinking about how to get it all back in order and lesson plans accomplished to jump back into the real world. If every room is a mess, do you all have any suggestions as to how to get things caught up after a week-long illness when your energy is still low from being weak etc. Unfortunately, even with so many little ones, it seems as if the older boys aren't quite capable in the house as in outside of the house. So, that leaves me with one helpful 8 year old girl. I know a "just get up and do it" approach is probably what it will have to take, but I find myself just putting junk back constantly and then having to re-visit the same junk the next day too. Is there some underldying order I am missing or maybe I just have too much stuff? I probably throw away 2 trash bags of stuff or give something to the thrift store every Sat. Our kids don't have a ton of toys, so it's not that. It's just misc. toys though. I am looking around and there are torn pieces of paper everywhere and just general misc. stuff that the little ones seem to create each day. Getting off topic.......Thanks for any "ordering" help someone more gifted in this area can offer!  I just think I need 4 of me and then I could possibly do it. 
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 29 2010 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
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Kim,
Right off the top of my head, I'd say ignore everything but one room - the kitchen - or even a corner of the kitchen! Spend a day tidying the kitchen or your corner so that it's nice, pretty (enough), and functional. Step back and take a deep breath. You did it. Keep plugging away until you're done. Don't look at the paper and mess in the hall and living room - just focus on the kitchen!
Next, move to a bathroom. Only look at the bathroom. Clean it top to bottom. Step back and enjoy your bathroom...and then go spend 15 minutes maintaining your clean kitchen.
Keep doing that until you're content with the state of things. They're never gonna be perfect! Your rooms are always going to be lived in - and that's ok!
It seems overwhelming right now as you're staring down mountains of laundry, paper avalanches, and junk that multiplies like bunny rabbits. Be gentle on yourself as you recover. There will be time to attack this...later! Get your strength back and then focus on one space at a time. I wouldn't even CONSIDER starting up on lesson plans until I had my home in some kind of workable order - but that's just me! I tend to self-destruct otherwise.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 29 2010 at 12:44pm | IP Logged
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Welcome back, Kim. I'm just picturing your family weak in the knees like newborn calves.
Be gentle on yourself. I have to admit how in the "olden days" convalescence was taken seriously. You need to gradually get back to normal, don't expect too much at the beginning. You know you're getting well when you can see more clearly what you need to do, but still keep the brakes on.
I would be doing skeletal schoolwork, the basics that you would feel are the minimal. For me, that's math, phonics and reading, some writing (that's for 1st grade).
As far as the house, I would also start in small spots, the hot spots, like FlyLady has. Get your kitchen clean -- at least around you sink to get you enthused. Get the main areas done. Clean all the sheets, catch up all the laundry and bathrooms, then tackle the clutter one small corner at a time, when you are feeling much better.
That's just my two cents...that's how I do it when we get sick or I'm incapable of a full load. Tackle as much as I can that's "visible". Don't worry about decluttering or anything extra, unless you have a way to just throw it in a bag as you pick up and keep it out of sight in the main area.
Visual aid is very important. I feel better if the clutter isn't squeezing me in, so my kitchen, eating table and family room have to be clean.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 29 2010 at 12:45pm | IP Logged
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Okay, Jen, you said it much better. Crossposting!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 29 2010 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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Yeah.. what they said
Just remember.. it took time to get that way and you need time to get it back to normal.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: April 29 2010 at 12:55pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
| I wouldn't even CONSIDER starting up on lesson plans until I had my home in some kind of workable order - but that's just me! I tend to self-destruct otherwise. |
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This is me too. Focus on getting things under control, and THEN start up with lessons again.
Also, use any time after the kids are in bed or nap time...even if it's only for 15 minutes....getting things set up for the other kids to do. I spent 20 minutes yesterday setting up our downstairs area for all the clean clothes to be DUMPED, waiting to be folded. Now we are not looking at laundry baskets all over the house....and after every meal, everyone goes down and folds for 10 minutes. That was a very good use of my time yesterday.
You should be doing ONLY those things that ONLY YOU CAN DO. If someone else in your family is capable of doing "task X" then they should do it....NOT YOU! ESP in survival-recover-mode....I/you should be delegating and putting things away....but only things where no one else can get to or knows where they go. If you come across ITMES in your office area that your kids know where they belong....dump them in the CHILD-PUT-AWAY-BASKET and they can do it later.
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: April 29 2010 at 1:03pm | IP Logged
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Eight Wonders wrote:
| Unfortunately, even with so many little ones, it seems as if the older boys aren't quite capable in the house as in outside of the house. So, that leaves me with one helpful 8 year old girl. |
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Kim~even if your boys aren't quite as capable inside as out, this is the perfect opportunity for them to get capable!
How about a team meeting with them and rally them? Be honest, tell them this is really hard, and you need their help. This is a GREAT opportunity to develop charity, perseverance, helpfulness, and to model great behavior to their younger sibs. This is PRIME TRAINING GROUND for fatherhood, husband-hood, priesthood, and adulthood. You've GOT to engage them, no matter what! Give them an area to tackle or specific lists, if that's what's more helpful to them...ask them what they'd prefer. Get those muscles and energy put to work!!!
FWIW, I employ a 15 year old boy to come "bail me out"....from time to time....he's very fast and efficient because he'd rather be doing other things 
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: how to catch up after an illness
