Nothing Will Work Unless You Do

I have to be the first to say, I saw this on Pinterest and tweaked it a bit to fit the Anderson Posse. That would be the posse that wants to help mom but it just didn't happen on a consistent basis. There was too much fussing and arguing over housework help and at the end of the day, this mom who spends many hours working outside of the home, was getting bitter.

Enter the Project: My kids clean...period.  They have jobs they do daily and then weekly.  The do chores because they live here.  I don't pay them for their chores.  No one pays me for mine or dad for his.  These are things we do because we are a part of this family; this team, if you will.

Our son asked for "allowance" one day.  I looked at him and bit my tongue as I considered how to respond.  Of course, as is mostly the case, I spouted off too soon with......"mama doesn't give allowance, dear.  Allowance is welfar.  I do not give welfare.  You can work for commission jobs AFTER your regular chores are completed.  Those extra jobs, I will pay you for.  It has worked well.

Pics below!  They weren't happy with the idea at first but I sure have enjoyed the help!!!

Lesson #2.....Back to School is Cool!

Lesson #2

Back to School Tips

Getting ready for "Back-to-School" tips that I have found make my life easier!

I will begin by saying this is actually from an old blog in 2010 so some of these ideas may sound familiar.  Being prepared is half the battle....forget half.  It is 99% of the battle.  The rest is just cause you show up!!  Here is this mom's plan for reigning in chaos at the most chaotic time of the year.

1.  Two weeks before school starts go through the kids closets and clear the clutter.  Get rid of what doesn't fit and make a list of what you need to put back into the closet and get that shopping done.  I find it better to buy the minimum of clothes for the first month of school simply because we now start in the middle of the summer and it is blazing hot.  Shorts and T-shirts are perfect.  I like to buy school clothes (nice, new ones) during the Labor Day sales.

2.  Purchase school supplies slowly throughout the summer (different places put them on special at different times) - may sound silly but on some items, it can be the difference of several dollars per item if you get them at the right time.  Better yet, purchase mass quantities of supplies when the deals are good and pull from a supply you already have.  Some things are "specialty" items specific to that grade level, but you always know you are going to need notebook paper, pencils, pens, etc.  And go ahead and buy at least 3 white poster boards - saves you a lot of last minute running when your child tells you at 9p.m. that they have a project due the next day and need markers and a poster board.

3.  Get a calendar and put it on your refrigerator.  (I still need to do this since ours ran out in June)....It is a life saver for our busy family.  The kids can look with a glance in the morning as they get their milk and they already know what is going on in the house that day. 

4.  Plan together - I let the kids help me plan what we eat so that we eliminate SOME of the arguments at the table.  The more "say so" they have in household operation, the more ownership they have and they will defend it.  Put your meals on that calendar that is on the refrigerator.  Let them help you hunt for coupons and clip them.  If you are really brave, let them help you shop.  I personally find this to be one of the biggest forms of torture so I leave them with their dad.  I know - I am working on it!

5.  Chores! - Divvy up the responsibilities.  I am also working on this.  Being a control freak and perfectionist, it is taking some doing to let the kids do some of the housework and cooking, but (as my husband daily reminds me) it prepares them for life and once they get the hang of it, it will be one less thing I have to do.

6.  Pack the night before.....we all have heard it and most of us do it, but take it to the next level.  Pick out AND IRON the outfits for the next day, including socks and shoes BY THE DOOR and the completed homework, signed agendas, and stuff to send to school with them in their backpacks by the shoes that are by the door ready to roll in the a.m.  - Pull lunches from the refrigerator and toss an ice pack in them as you are getting breakfast out and put it with everything else BY THE DOOR....And for heaven sake, if they forget something at home, let them lose recess and learn the lesson.  Don't try to fix it by calling their teacher at home or running back up to the school to bring something.  They will not die during the day....just saying.

7.  Invest in a small umbrella for each child - I have a hair issue myself in that, if it gets wet, I look like a member of the Jackson 5 so I am a little selfish with my umbrellas.  This way, I don't have to share with short people and unintentionally entertain people later.

8.  Set the coffee the night before. (I personally stumble into the kitchen only being led by the scent of my freshly brewing coffee with chickory)  Lay out the cereal bowls and spoons and put the cereal boxes on the table so all they have to do is walk into the kitchen and pour it.  Also, put milk in a smaller pitcher that is easier for your child to pour from so that you eliminate as much chaos as possible at the breakfast table.  Who hasn't had spilled milk at breakfast on an already dressed child - Not Cool - prepare for messes ahead of time.

9.  Take the time to pray with them before they walk out the door OR, as my husband does, in the car rider line just before it is your turn to let them out.  It sure makes the day go better.

10.  Listed as number 10, but actually my number one - start YOUR day (Mom) off right in prayer before you even wake the first little person.  I have to get up at least an hour and a half before I wake the first person (which makes for an early start, but it is MY time with God).  This is HUGE.  When I oversleep and don't get this time, my whole day is off.  

Have a wonderful school year 2010-2011.....I can smell the crayons and pencil shavings now (love it)!

Lesson #1 - Mom and Dad are not always rights

Mom and Dad are not always right but they are the people God put in charge of you. Decisions they make are thought out and often hurt their heart. Many times I make decisions for my kids that are not fun or popular but it's the best I can do.

I love my kids!

Cooking, Freezing, and Getting Merry Like School Time

I am cooking up a storm. Freezing junk and organizing pantry/freezer/ and fridge. WATCH out!

So, here is the deal. With the back to school season starts the crazy season. Also, I have a ridiculous amount of strange ingredients left over from this 'n' that. So, I am getting it all focused together to, hopefully, work to some good.

Some things I am doing that you might find helpful (cause people always ask).

1. I have an over abundance of random hot dog buns, hamburger buns, bread, and etc from summer time grilling out and entertaining. They have been in the freezer (cause I freeze everything for "later"). I have pulled them out and am toasting them lightly on 250 degrees and am tearing them to pieces and dumping in parsley and season salt for seasoned bread crumbs. It is into gallon ziplock bags and back into the freezer to use in fall recipes.
2. After a trip to the grocery store, I am back armed with potato chips, pretzels, premade cookies, and other junk that my kids like in their lunches. I am pre--bagging them up and putting them into the freezer so that all I have to do to pack lunches is grab stuff already bagged. This was a trick of mine for some time but I am finding that one of two things happens. First, my son will eat it all in the course of one day and secondly, he rummages around until he finds what he wants, totally destroying the order of my pantry and crushing all the goodies. So, they are in the freezer (the large upright) that is off limits. So, there ya have it.
3. Boiling chicken and putting it into ziplocs already for some future recipe that calls for cooked chicken - there might not be time later.
4. Making up an enormous batch of cookie dough with the left over ingredients I have here and there. Freezing them in already rolled out balls for cookies sometime later.
5. Finally, I am making sandwiches in advance and placing them in the sandwich containers (we use plastic box sandwich holders rather than ziplocs not because we are "green" but because I am cheap.

And that, is what I am doing today. Have a happy day. I have a need for organization and ease. Do you?