written by Sharon Gardoski
Make sure you and your children get the sleep you need. It’s much more difficult to be kind and cheerful when you’re overtired. Go to bed early enough on Saturday nights so your family is in good shape for church on Sunday mornings, even if it means saying no to fun sometimes.
Enlist help with chores. Have your kids work alongside you. Make it fun. Teach them age-appropriate ways to help. Express appreciation. Don’t be a perfectionist. Your kids will learn, they will enjoy spending time with you, and their skills will improve with age.
Create a weekly routine of chores so everyone knows what to expect. Writing individual chores with detailed instructions on colored index cards works well. Organize the cards so some chores are done weekly and some less often. Rotate the cards each week so the children take turns with each set regularly. If you and the kids each do just one chore each day, it will be easier to keep the house in good shape.
Plan ahead. Organization is your friend. Don’t wait until 4:30PM to begin thinking about dinner. Save your errands for one trip instead of wasting time going out frequently. Jot notes to yourself so you remember what needs to be done. Keep a running grocery list on the fridge and teach everyone to add to it when they notice a need.
Don’t get frustrated by comparing yourself to others. You don’t have to do everything your friends do. Find out what is important to your husband and make that your priority.
Teach your children to play by themselves. Incorporate quiet times of play into their schedules from a very young age. Keep toys in boxes. Only bring out one box at a time. After a week or so, put that one away and bring out a different one. Rotate your child’s books in the same way. Bringing out “new” toys will help keep your child’s interest. This will allow you to have some chunks of time to accomplish what you need to around your home.
Pray and ask God for help. Don’t neglect your relationship with Him. Seek wise counsel from women you respect. If you struggle with organization or homemaking skills, ask for help from those who seem to have a knack for it. Read books to learn more about homemaking.
