How Do You Do It???

I've been sick recently with Shingles (ugh!) and haven't had the energy or creativity to come up with a blog post. I didn't want to leave you all hanging, so I asked my friend Tracy from Baby Spit is the New Black to fill in for me while I recover. Thanks so much Tracy!!!

One question I get asked a lot as a mom of 4 kids with a husband who travels is “How do you do it?” The “it” in that sentence can refer to any number of things. They can mean keeping my house clean, or staying organized, or just plain keeping my sanity. Since the overall “theme” of Modern*Simplicity is to help lead a better, more organized life (at least that is what I get from it) I thought I might address a little bit of “how I do it.”

1) Utilize technology: I’ve got a Roomba, a Scooba, a bread maker, a crock pot, a washer, a dryer, a dishwasher, automatic toilet bowl cleaners and probably more that I’m not thinking of. All of these things work without me having to monitor them or do anything past the initial button pushing or installation. It makes it easy to get some things done without having to actually do much of anything. I especially love setting them off at night, so when I get up in the morning, my family room is vacuumed, the kitchen is mopped and the bread is made. Not all of it has to cost as much as a dishwasher or a Roomba...my bread maker was FREE from Freecycle!

2) Schedule, schedule, schedule: I have very specific days that I do things. Every Wednesday, for example, is when I wash the clothes for the 2 oldest kids. Wash, dry, fold, put away. Every Friday I clean the downstairs bathroom. Every Sunday I grocery shop (when Husband is home so I can go kidless. Whee!)

3) Routine, routine, routine: We’re pretty predictable around here and it works to our advantage. Home from school, snack and relax, homework, playing, bath, dinner, goodnight show and bedtime. Bedtime routines are pajamas, brush teeth, stories, songs, interesting facts from the day and lights out. We start early and we don’t hurry. I find that rushing makes the kids dig their heels in in protest. Taking our time leads to smooth sailing.

4) Keep my humor: I try very hard to remember that in 20 years, most of it just won’t matter. Heck, most of it won’t matter next week! If I don’t put the cushions back on the couch, it won’t matter. If I don’t make my son pick up his blocks, or make my oldest daughter put away her Barbies or make my toddler eat her dinner, well, tomorrow is another day. And, like my baby, I try to find the humor and laughter in the small things. Remembering to enjoy my life while I’m living my life makes it me a happier mom/wife/person.

All those things together, while they may not make life easy, they do make it easier. And easier is something we could all use!