Proud Momma Organizational Tips

I don’t know about you – but I spend the vast majority of my downtime trying to think of ways to get/start/stay organized (and re-organized, then re-re-re organized…)

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I’m certainly not organized all of the time. I’m a busy mom with 2 kids under 5, and I work full-time – there are most certainly times when balls get dropped and things surely get forgotten/lost in the shuffle/left under the bed/stuffed under a rock….you know the drill.

That being said, here are some simple tips to help reign in the chaos:

Online shopping: Life. Saver! I do almost all of our grocery shopping online. Imagine going shopping with no kids in tow, from the comfort of your own home, in your sweats. There’s no one screaming for Paw Patrol gummies, Oreos, these-not-those crackers – you know what I’m talkin’ ’bout. It’s incredible, guaranteed to save you time, money, and calories.

Keep a ‘Planning Center’: This should be somewhere visible to everyone in the house. Think kitchen, mudroom, shared office/homework space. In whichever area you choose:
Your Planning Center Should Include:
- A monthly calendar, so everyone can see the month in full view. This one is fun and gets the kids involved in setting expectations.

Next to your calendar, have a board for weekly meal planning.

Also within your planning center, include a cork board + magnet board for things like school flyers, party invitations, sports brochures, etc. This one is great as the magnet side is also a dry erase board for last minute notes.

Birthdays, Boo-Boos, Thank You’s, and Yahoo’s!!: No more running to the store for the last minute birthday card, Thank You Card, Sympathy Card, Baby Shower, Engagement, etc. Buy in bulk every month or so so you always have something on hand for whatever occasion should present itself. It’s not a bad idea to have a birthday gift or two on hand that is general enough that most kids would love to receive! If you’ve ever seen the mom wrapping a gift in her trunk with two screaming kids in the car….it’s me. Feel free to stop and say hello. Also, drop in to Amazon and pick up this handmade greeting card pack – you’ll look like you’ve got your stuff together!

Meal Planning: I mentioned this one above, but Whoooo Doggie this is my weak spot. Given this is an area I need the most work – we tend to feed our kids the same thing every night. Sounds weird right? Our kids get: some kind of meat, two vegetables (usually raw like carrots or broccoli w/ a dip) and a few slices of cheese. Sounds boring – but it has REALLY helped the dashes to the grocery store, complaining from the kids because they know what to expect, and I am not throwing something together that I would prefer they don’t eat. I’ve created a meal-planning document in Excel as a fall back so I have ideas at the ready and that has most definitely helped in a pinch. I add to this doc every now and again when I see a friend post something that looks too good to pass up! I also always try to have something frozen, like a lasagna, in case someone drops in who would otherwise think our eating habits are completely odd 🙂

Setting Clothes Out the Night Before: This came about after SO MANY arguments from my son who had about 3 things he wanted to wear out of a ba-jillion. If those things were dirty – LOOK. OUT. I am NOT (let me repeat – NOT) a morning person and I feel way more battle ready in the evenings. He and I started this ritual about 5 months ago and I honestly thought it might help SOME – but it drastically changed our mornings. My daughter is only 3 – but she sees my son and I picking out clothes and she wants to do it too. B.O.N.U.S. Please, please, please let this east spill into the teen years… If you want to organize outfits in advance for a week or a few days, these cool day of the week hanger tags can help keep things on track.

Getting a Pro to Clean Your House: I know this is a luxury for most of us – but once a month I do have someone come in and clean ALL the cracks. I TRY to keep up with the tidying but honestly – when it comes down to wiping down walls, doors, really getting down into the tile grout (which is such a disgusting thing…who invented grout?? It’s so porous!), moving beds to find all the lost snacks, vacuuming under couch cushions….like getting nitty gritty – there aren’t enough hours in the day. So, once a month this angel comes to my house and does her thing and I worship her amazing skills and gaze in wonderment at the way everything looks and smells after she leaves. It is about this time I want my kids and husband to live in a tent in the backyard for 48 hours so I can relish in the sparkle!

Share your tips in the comments and let us know how you stay above the fray!!

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