I thought it might be fun to start a new little series on some practical homemaking and parenting tips I have been learning over the past few years! I am not an expert by any means, and what works for our family may not work for yours. I always try to take all homemaking or parenting advice to the Lord and try to determine if it is something HE wants me to do.
So … with all that said … here are three tips (in no particular order) that are helping save my sanity during this busy season!
– I never stand around in the kitchen
Anytime I am in the kitchen, I am working on something. When I’m waiting for water to boil, I wash a few dishes or sweep the floor. Even if I’m reheating my coffee in the microwave for 30 seconds, I use that time to wipe down the countertops or put away some junk. My laundry is in the kitchen too, so I really never run out of tasks to do when I’m in the kitchen! Just by doing this tip every day, I am able to keep our kitchen pretty clean.
– My girls carry backpacks
Instead of carrying around all the girls’ stuff in a diaper bag or my purse, each of my girls has their own personalized backpack that they got around the time they started walking. It holds their sippy cup, wipes, diapers, and an extra outfit. They take these to church and pretty much anywhere we go. It’s nice that I don’t have to carry all their stuff in my bag, plus they have what they need in their classes at church.
– We do a house pick-up every evening
The girls help pick up their room each night before bed. When Tad and I put the girls to bed, we go through the house and pick up for 10-20 minutes (depending on how messy the house is). We just “surface clean” … no vacuuming or anything “hardcore.” It really helps to start the day with a clean* house!
*by “clean,” I mean “picked-up” … my standards are much lower than they used to be 
Do you have any tips to share?
great tips! every day before nap and bedtime, we turn on a song from “Hide ’em in your hearts” cd and clean for the length of the song. We also do a quick pick up before daddy gets home. it helps so much to have an orderly home.
my standards of “clean” are different now as compared to before children. my mom cleaned constantly when i was growing up (which i loved, by the way), but she assures me it wasn’t worth the effort. she wishes she would’ve been on the floor with us more often.
wisdom…
I love that wisdom that your mom shared with you! It’s always a good reminder to keep a “long-range” perspective!
Is vera still using her bird bag?
My latest thing is I pack a backpack for Reed and all my stuff and I make Caleb wear it LOL!! works out well and its a back pack that fits him really well. If I dont have a pack he will carry my purse, but hes told me he prefers a back pack
Now for church we do make the boys each pack a bag with their bible, pencil, for owen a few match box cars to keep his hands busy in church, a sippy of milk and maybe a small bag of cherrios or something. Otherwise my diaper bag would weigh 50 pounds
– the older two are in charge of packing their own bags too, I dont do that any more.
Yes! Vera loves her bird backpack and I got one for CC that is a different pattern but the same kind. They hold up great! I love that Caleb is helping carry stuff for Reed. I also love that you have trained your older ones to pack their own bags! That’s a new (future) goal of mine, lol.
Thank you for these amazing tips! These advice are really useful. I love the backpack idea Aliesha! I used to put all their stuff in my bag and it really adds to the weight. Plus the mess too! Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for your sweet comment, Janet!
Okay the bags are a great idea, I already let Gideon and Tirzah each take a bag in the van wherever we go, especially to Church but never thought to put diapers, change of clothes or snacks in there. That is great! Thanks!
I think that the backpack Ideal is a great ideal. It will surely help them learn to keep track of there things and how to be prepared. I also like to write you should check out my children’s book series The Adventures of Kid Humpty Dumpty available on amazon and for kindle