But what’ more frustrating than painting is the inability for things to be done.  I am not a very patient soul and I’ll admit it.  So waiting on the drywall guy to finish the upstairs and the carpeting to get installed.. I am pacing the floors in anticipation.  I have been fully reassured that I will truly be able to begin moving into the new house in TWO WHOLE WEEKS!  Words cannot even express my excitement!  My little family of three will be moving into a home that I was able to purchase without help.  A home that I have not gone ass over elbows deep in debt to renovate.  While it may not be the most glamorous home to some, it is my home and I’m proud.

Internationally recognized parenting expert, Amy Kossoff Smith, revels in “tips and tools for the business of motherhood” through her website, The MomTini Lounge . “We can take the ‘spring cleaning’ cliché a step further this year, by applying that same enthusiasm and fervor to our family, house, kids this year,” she says, adding of course, that she doesn’t mean spraying Windex on junior!

“We all know that an oil change helps our car run more smoothly. Imagine the benefit of investing in a family/house/kids tune-up by applying some simple principles to organizing our life,” she says.

The key benefit, according to Smith, is that Mom’s (& Dad’s) “energy deficit” at the end of each day can dramatically decrease and make them feel more confident, satisfied, and “uncluttered.”

TEAMWORK IS KEY

Too often, it’s easier to do the job ourselves than to engage the help of others. We promote teamwork through sports, put our kids in uniforms to celebrate the “membership” with their peers, but too often, Smith says, we forget to implement teamwork at home. “Consider a “team” meeting where the family sets aside a certain time each week to put together a game plan. After dinner, put on some fun music, and tell everyone it’s a clean-up party until the job is done,” she suggests.

MAKE CHORES WORK

One of Smith’s favorites, “What a Chore to Make Chores Work” says just that. It does take some work to set up a chore system, but the paybacks are endless. She advocates giving chores creative titles to increase compliance and enthusiasm with the kids. For example, the “electrician” turns off the lights; the “Assistant Chef” helps at mealtime. It takes a little bit of effort to set up a chores system, but imagine the relief when half of your “to do list” is being done by others! Plus, Smith says, “You’re helping your children not only develop a work ethic early on, but you’re showing them a healthy dynamic in a family where everyone makes a valuable and necessary contribution.”

POST RESPONSIBILITIES, AND VARY THE TASKS

Smith recommends posting a chore chart , especially when kids are young, so they see what is expected of them. “Think about
age-appropriate jobs for everyone in the house, and consider varying the tasks every so often to prevent ‘chore fatigue,’” she suggests. “Kids can help at any age; little ones can sort laundry; big kids can DO laundry,” she says. “Guaranteed, our kids’ electronic games and consoles are more complicated than a washer/dryer, but we’re hesitant to get them to help, or we’re tired of asking over and over again. Just do it! You’ll be glad you did, and your kids will feel satisfaction after a job well done.”

You can use a write on/wipe off chart where kids can check off completed jobs, or any system that works for your family.

CHART IT!

Smith is a huge fan of “charting” tasks, to-do’s, and important information. Her favorite is the importance of “Tracking Medical History” where you keep track of each family member’s major illnesses (sniffles, step aside, but track whenever you go on
antibiotics or have major medical events). “This gives you a reference point, and also helps your doctor prescribe the most effective path to wellness, especially if you keep notes about what works, what doesn’t, what gives you problems when you take it,” she says. “This same philosophy can apply to carpools, birthday party RSVP’s and gifts, and more,” she says.

This can apply to any task you have; if you organize it in categories, you’ll be able to accomplish (and track) it much more easily.

DE-CLUTTER CLOSETS

The change of seasons is a perfect time to prescribe the “out with the old, in with the new” spirit. “Plastic bins can be your best friend;
they let you store things neatly, and you can see through for quick access later on,” Smith says. Buy a variety of sizes & styles, and store out of season items by category (hats, gloves in one; winter sports uniforms in another; and so on). Plastic bins can also stack to store in-season items you’ll need to find quickly. Think about some categories you’ll need frequent access to, and store them in a container that will close and stack, so you can find it when you need it (sunscreen, swim goggles, flip flops, for example).

“Also, kids grow year to year, so think about going through each kids closet and storing for your next child or, when you’re done with that size, donate it!” Smith says. “I keep an empty box in each kid’s closet with a post-it note that says ‘too small’ so they can dump as they go rather than putting that tight pair of jeans back into circulation in their own closet week after week,” she shares.

DE-CLUTTER GARAGES AND COMMON AREAS

De-cluttering is really the “heart and soul” of a spring clean-up, Smith says, so it deserves some more detail. “The garage becomes a dumping ground for so many things, that we joke about the ‘dance’ it takes to wedge yourself between the car and the wall just to get inside,” says Smith. “Let your kids play on the driveway if they’re old enough while you attack the beast more affectionately known as the garage.” Think about other areas (foyer closet, powder room cabinets) that could use a purge, and trash or donate unused items to make space.

So, even if your spring clean-up turns into a summer activity, you now have a game plan and some easy tactics to get the job rolling.

Related Articles You’re Welcome to Quote From – We ask that you provide excerpts only and link back to the full article if you publish:

* Planning Prevents Chaos
* Track Medical History: Save Time & Hassle
* Start the Year Clean; Engage Kids, Repurpose Old Items
* Home Maintenance Checklist

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ABOUT THE EXPERT:

Amy Kossoff Smith is Founder of The MomTini Lounge (www.MomTiniLounge.com), a site dedicated to teaching parents “tips
and tools on the business of motherhood.” Smith is a nationally recognized source on parenting and has appeared on The Today Show, FOX, NBC, CBS, and ABC News. A national wire columnist, Amy reports on parenting topics and is published in newspapers nationwide and has a successful public speaking platform. She authored an essay called “Stumbling into Cyberspace” in Knowing Pains: Women on Love, Sexand Work in our ’40s.

In addition, Smith owns the PR firm, Write Ideas, Inc., and is a social media guru and leverages new media tactics to add a powerful viral marketing component to many of her clients’ PR campaigns and consults companies on powerful, creative, targeted ways to reach the $3 trillion Moms’ Market.

Personally, Amy is MS’97 (Mom Since 1997), and she and her husband manage the busy lives of three active boys. She drives a heavily populated minivan and is active in the school and community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL PARENTING ARTICLES, PLEASE VISIT WWW.MOMTINILOUNGE.COM.