Clutter Crazies!

Same problem here, girl! Slowly learning, and flylady.net is helping. I love the little 15 min. jobs she gives me, my house isn't perfectly clean, but it's a heck of a lot better than it used to be and less stress with the cleaning. I also use the box-file system from a book called Sidetracked Home Executives. It's wonderful!

Hi! I am right there with you fighting the pile-ups that come with a life of busy mothering. . . . I, too, really like Flylady's philosophies but I found her Web site too. . . cluttered! I got a lot more out of her book, "Kitchen Sink Reflections." Her real name as the author is Marla Cilley and you could find this book cheap on amazon.com or powells.com. I also appreciate books about de-junking from Don Aslett, particularly "Clutter's Last Stand." It's been around for awhile but it always gets me pumped up to say goodbye to extra stuff that is crowding my family's life. There's also an excellent book by Merilee Boyack called "The Parenting Breakthrough" that talks a lot about motivating children to help with housekeeping and how to teach them to help. It's an LDS book (I don't know if that applies to you) but the philosophies are helpful for anyone of any faith who is working to manage a home and family.
Finally, the very, very best suggestion I have is to schedule a session with the organizer/housekeeper I found this summer. It has changed my life. I am no longer mad at my home and I am able to take the time to teach my kids how to do things without feeling like I'm falling even further behind. "Jen the Organizer," as I call her, runs a business called "In Harmony," and the slogan is "Restoring harmony to your home and life." She is a whiz. She will do basic cleaning like any other housekeeper if that's what you want, but her organizing skills are second to none and she is happy to work alongside you sorting things out and then she will take the unwanted itens with her and donate then to the D.I. or wherever for you. That's a help for me because I often would sort things out but then forget to donate them and they'd still be hanging around in a box or bag or in my car and I'd still have the same cluttery feeling. You can also give her perimeters for sorting and de-junking and she'll whip through a junk drawer or closet for you in just part of an afternoon. She helped me sort out maternity/summer/fall/winter clothes from my closet and without her help, I'd STILL be rooting through maternity shirts even though the baby is four months old now.
Jen is a mom and is great with kids--I have been *thrilled* that she is willing to work with my older children (two boys, ages 3 and 6) and help me show them how to scrub toilets or put laundry away or go through their toys and decide which ones they'd like to give away to kids who don't have so many toys. As the mom, it's important to me to teach my kids how to do chores so they are not lazy slackers as they grow up, but I also have a 4-month-old baby so it's trickier for me to multitask then it used to be. Enter Jen and I am relieved.
She's not cheap at about $18 and hour but worth every penny. You could use her for just a one-time thing or set up a regular appointment, but I can guarantee you'd feel like you had a jump-start on a clutter-free life with her help. She was able to see several "hot spots," as the Flylady calls them, where junk was piling up too quickly and help me find better ways to keep things cleared off. She's in South Ogden but she has clients in Bountiful so I'm sure she'd come to Farmington--message me if you'd like her number.
(BTW, I'm not Jen's sister or anything--I only know her through her organizing work. I'm just a satisfied client.)
Don't be too hard on yourself. I got tired of people telling me to lighten up and lower my housekeeping standards, but it is true, to an extent, that you can't do it all, at least not all the time. Decide what matters most and then enlist your kids and a peppy CD and make it a game and part of your routine. And don't be afraid to ask for a catch-up help once in awhile, whether from a pro like Jen or from your hubby and kids or from a neighborhood teen-ager who'd like to make a buck. Keep us posted and best wishes!

Hi J. - that is my life! I have boys 6 and 2.5 and I feel the same way. It's been better though since I started decluttering - the only way to do that is to get rid of things, either selling them or donating them. We still have way too much stuff but it's better. Our big issues are toys and paper. My 6yr old has to clean up the toys off his floor every night and put them away - that's made a huge difference! I've found that if things have a place, then they are easier for kids to clean up. I have a bunch of smaller bins on shelves in their closets for toys and games rather than one big toy box. One for playdo, one for cars, one for hungry hippos, one for potato heads, one for Rescue rangers, etc. The expectation is that we clean up one toy box before pulling out another one.

I'm totally clutter-challenged but hopefully I helped a little!

HI J.

I think we all understand your situation as Mom's. I found a FREE site www.flylady.com that had really helped me to get rid of the clutter. I actually think the posting was here at Mamasource. Give it a try and best of luck in 2009.

C.

Hi J.-
I really like menus4moms (I think that is the website-or google it!) but it gives you daily/weekly tips to keep your house clean on the surface and deep clean under the surface. My other goal is to always pick up the house or toys, etc before lunch, dinner and bedtime so at least it looks and feels clean! I feel like I am constantly picking something up and I am going from room to room. Last, I have been teaching my 4 year old to pick up after himself. It is a challenge at time. This includes taking his dishes to the sink, taking clothes to the hamper/drawers, etc. I have tubs of different toys (one for his cars, one for his blocks, etc) and he helps to organize that way. I also have a chore chart that helps too! Good luck!
Lisa

Hi! My really good friend is a professional organizer and is AMAZING!!! I used to cringe when I would walk into my office and after her help I absolutely love it and the best part is, it only takes a few minutes to pick everything up because EVERYTHING has a place:) You can check out her website www.organizedbyevelin.com

I'm a clutter bug and my kids do the same. I found it helps to get bins. Lots of bins. The kids each have three and I have four or five. The big trick is to make them use it. When they play with one thing and then get tired of it, make them put away the first item before they get out a second item. I found that helps. I also have a chart for their room to follow each night before they go to bed. My youngest does better with this list than the older one. Good luck and Happy New Year!!!!

Look at www.flylady.net for some really helpful, useful hints. Also www.housefairy.org can help motivate your children.