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10 Bright Stars
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Joined: Nov 16 2006
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 5:06pm | IP Logged
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I have always been a bit organizationally challenged. When I was a kid, I used to forget homework, lose things more than other kids and generally just be a bit distractable. My room was always neat as a pin, but I was disorganized on a seconadary level when it came to papers, smaller items etc. So, I can organize on a LARGE scale, but ask me to find the fingernail clippers, scissors, hair ties for the girls, the stapler OR important paperwork for school and I will NOT be in working order. Let's not even mention how often I lose my cell phone, which I rarely use, and which is NEVER charged of course much to my spouse's annoyance.  Praise the Lord for St. Anthony!! 
I really want to start tackling the deeper organizational issues around here as time allows. The first areas will be the school room, specifically my "locked cabinet of supplies" which is sort of empty since the kids always ransack it, and I would like to set up a sewing area in my bedroom. I don't really know where to start. What sort of containers do you use for such projects? How do you go about breaking down the tasks to get organized? I never know where to start, and I tend to NOT follow my own organizational plan that I make each time. (i.e. I always come up with some "new" system that will "do it this time for sure"  and then I promptly forget about it and it falls into disorder. Anyone else have this problem? How do you make yourself follow your own rules when there is no accountability and no one really cares but you anyway.
Another area is the grading for the kids. I grade their paperwork, and my husband does as well, but I am VERY poor at writing down the grades in some sort of organized fashion somewhere. Any thoughts on this for a person "like me". (Maybe a self-discipline issue?) I am also a bit of a perfectionist in that I don't "like" anything I personally come up with. It could always be better and I think it is stupid or something and then I ditch it.
How important do you think "routines" are in daily life? We have a general "flow" to our day but I really can't stand an hour by hour schedule. Is this essential to make it work in a large family? I just really think that it could be better "if only" I could get my act together.
I am just a bit tired of always having a great idea for a craft for the kids, only to find that we are missing the basic requirements such as kid scissors, crayons, heck even somedays PENCILS have to be searched for since someone has run off with them, or the kids do not seem to respect them and they are broken, lost etc. Are there ways to deal with issues like this with so many little ones? Also, if I set up rules for certain areas or systems or "homes" for each item, how in the world can I manage to keep them in their homes with so many little ones undoing it all the time? Does everything have to be under lock and key? Just today I was trying to alter saints costumes. I could not find my seam ripper which I had just used. I was near tears and cried out to St. Anthony, really it was more of a 2 year old tantrum internally, and BAM! just like that I looked in the bandaid box on my dresser (after having torn the room apart) only to find the seam ripper! (My daughter had put it in there for some strange reason.)That sort of thing happens all the time here. Where is the cheese grater "today"? Where is the potato peeler "today"? The kids do the dishes and they are always stuffing things everywhere. Should I label the drawers? But that wouldn't LOOK nice. See!! 
Are there are a few organizational junkies out there who could take me under their wing for a lesson or two???? Or, is it just a personality issue that most likey will never change??  Thanks for pondering my musing of disorder.  Maybe someone out there will have mercy and give some good advice!  I wish I could hire a personal organizer but who has the $$ for that???
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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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JodieLyn
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Joined: Sept 06 2006
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 5:28pm | IP Logged
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I don't have a lot of useful suggestions (you should see my desk ) but one thing I have learned..
You have to look at the problem NOW at getting something put away. For instance if pencils are always left on the desk rather than being put away in the drawer.. the solution would be not to organize the drawer better or to use a different drawer but to put a jar on the desk to put the pencils into. Because that's where you're putting them anyway.
If something is out of place I find that I really need to think about WHY it doesn't get put away as silly as it is (too much work to open a desk drawer to put away a pencil) but being honest about that is what will help you find a solution that will work. I like lots of open shelves with containers.. when you just have to toss it into a container it's easier.
but the hair ties for girls.. forget it.. they come off wherever the girl happens to take them off and odds are high that they never get put away.. we mainly just use the no-metal elastics for hair and they're just part of my budget to buy them every month or so
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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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nissag
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Joined: Nov 23 2006
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 7:11pm | IP Logged
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As for keeping little things in order, I have baskets, and designated drawers for things. Put a label right on them. Train the children to put things back in their proper places. Get yourself a pickle jar for pencils. Mark it "pencils" and know how many you filled it with. Do the same with the other small bits you have. It takes about two weeks of consistent practice to form a habit, so just learn to organize one thing at a time. I find that things don't get put back when we're rushing for some reason. Hurry up and take the ponytails out, get into bed, etc...
Get yourself a little card file, or file folder system to keep papers. You can plan your craft projects ahead and keep those on little cards, or in files arranged by month. Start this year to print things you want to try next year. Put the October crafts in their own folder, etc. Make a list of the supplies you'll need. Then next year all you have to do before October arrives is pull out the folder with your projects and lists... Voila!
I have a log sheet that the kids fill in (the little ones have help). Then they put their finished sheets into their file folders.
I like a schedule, I have to admit. I think that for folks who don't like a strict hour-to-hour schedule, it is helpful to have time containers. From x-to-x is school time. What you do within that is up to you.
Sounds overwhelming, but as I said, do a little, tiny bit at a time. Try to practice it for a couple of weeks, then add something else.
HTH!
Blessings,
__________________
Nissa
Deacon's wife, mother of eleven, farmer, teacher, creator, cook.
At Home With the Gadbois Family
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10 Bright Stars
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Joined: Nov 16 2006
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 7:38pm | IP Logged
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Jodie,
I like the idea of open shelves with the containers since if I can't see where things are I tend to sort of forget about them. I think you are right about slowing down to the very beginning and asking why there is a problem in each area. Time consuming in the short run, but potentially labor saving if I can figure it out.
Nissa,
The pickle jar is a great idea for pencils. I actually have one and trying to make sure the amount that was in there gets back at the end of the school day is a great idea. I could tell the kids to return them at the end of the school day and maybe that would help them respect them more if they had to return them. I think they get bored at their desks, (mainly the boys) and break them, chew off the erasers AND metal part. I DO feed them!!!
The folder idea is a great idea too. My husband files every single piece of paper at work and has recommended that to me in the past. Filing ideas you find is a good idea too. I don't know if I would like the same thing from one season to the next though! I would have to try that and see if I still felt the same way. I tend to have an inspiration and I either fall through on it or forget it!
Thanks for the ideas to ponder. It looks like disecting the issue would not be a waste of time. So, I will try to take one area at a time, define what the areas purpose is, what should be there, what should not maybe. That might be fun to just do as an exercise. It beats going to the mall and spending money. I was also thinking of using creative containers as I don't have the money to spend on a bunch of see through ones. Do you all think that see through containers are a must, or would well lableled boxes and assorted boxes that come into the house from time to time work (i.e oatmeal containers, empty plastic ice cream buckets) or do you think that would look chaotic whereas the see through plastic would be "neater".
__________________
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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JodieLyn
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Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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oh... make your lists and ideas and direction ON THE COMPUTER.. much easier to keep from being clutter than paper ones
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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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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Oct 30 2008 at 11:01pm | IP Logged
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Read Organize from the Inside Out as a quick start to organizing your space. Here's a summary of the how-to to get you interested, but her take on the *why* we are disorganized is totally worth the read.
Organizing time is usually more difficult and is greatly enhanced if your space is in pretty good order. Fine tune routines later.
Praying for you, Kim, and I hope you find just the right help for you. Let us know how you make out, OK? (I love this stuff!)
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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gwendyt
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| Posted: Oct 31 2008 at 9:14am | IP Logged
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Kim - I feel your frustration! I am definitely a perfectionist who's had to learn, I mean force  , myself to relax with each additional child. It's so hard for me to understand why no one else in our house wouldn't want (or even think!) to put something back in it's place right away or not leave a trail of mess behind oneself ! It makes life so much more difficult, don't you think? On the downside, I think it will be a constant struggle, internally and externally. However, over the last year, I've made a consistent and concentrated effort (even at the expense of school time) to declutter and organize AND to really hammer out with the kids how important it is to try to follow some basic rules (one toy out at a time (yikes, this one's really hard!), put your clothes in the laundry basket every time, put things away where you found them, pick up everyday - a couple times even, and always ask before you get something out) and also taking the time to show them how I'd like it done or to look. Each child is different in their ability to do these things depending on their natural personality, so I try to keep that in mind when evaluating how we're all doing. Self discipline is definitely an issue for me - I find I go along great for awhile, then just get tired and let things slide for a day or two - bad news!! With so much going on and so many kids, a day or two can really wreak havoc I pray for Mary's help and St. Zita's intercession daily! Be flexible, force yourself to be reasonable, and take it one step at a time. On a practical note, I have little to no money to spend on containers, shelves, etc., so some stuff, although decluttered, is still not organized the way I'd like. I use Luvs diaper and Huggies wipes boxes for containers (they're pretty sturdy) and watch for baskets and containers on clearance and rummage sales. I've even bought a few cheap, ready to assemble bookcases just to get by until I can get something that looks nicer and is sturdier (if that ever happens! ) Hope this helps a little, if nothing else, know that I'll pray for you too when I call upon Mary and St. Zita for help !
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Wendy
Married to DH Joe 18 yrs., 8 beautiful children - 2 girls, 6 boys (14,12,9,7,5,3,1,newbie born 3/1/2010)
A Little of This, A Little of That
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4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: Calling out to the organized moms: HELP!
