Guest Post...On Homemaking

Well, I'm trying to get back to my Fridays postings in the homemaking department. Today's post is one of two installments from my good friend, Rachael, who gave me much to work with when I asked her to share tips on efficiency in homemaking that she's gleaned over 20 years (besides being a daughter in her father's house) of keeping the home God gave her to tend. I was blessed to read them and maybe, Rachael, I'll be more efficient in my homemaking now that you have given me such wonderful stuff to think about! :-)

"Marcia....

 

I by all means do not have this all together. And I for sure could have made different choices when my people were little. But usually if I have something in my life that I don't really like, I look for a solution to change it. Okay, don't ask why I still have a weedy barn hill when I could plant phlox there as ground cover. :)

 

Here are some things that I have done or have heard of (I will not differentiate between the two....if it seems really smart it was probably something I heard of after it applied to me :)) that can help make a mother's/wife's day go more smoothly. And sometimes it saves money too. Bonus!

 

~Having a structured routine (a must for home schoolers!) Try to get the children up every morning and down for naps and bedtimes near the same time every day. Children thrive & feel more secure when they know what to expect from their day. Some people even tell their children to stay in their rooms in the mornings until a certain parent-approved time. The parents know that even though the children are awake they will not come out to Mom & Dad and disturb quiet time. Same with evening bedtime......they can go to their rooms before lights-out to read or listen to tapes so that Mom & Dad can have some quiet to discuss their day.

 

~Structure to the weekly jobs/chores that most housewives have on their list. It's amazing what all gets done in a week and usually more 'little' things i.e. cleaning out junk drawers, corners, closets, dresser drawers, book shelves, cupboards, etc. get taken care of if the 'big' things i.e. laundry, cleaning, groceries, baking, ironing, etc. have a regular day.

 

~A certain cup for each family member so that the kitchen counter doesn't get littered with drinks every time someone is thirsty.

 

~Cleaning up toys or games before starting another project. (This is a personal favorite of mine!!) Looking around a room when you leave it and taking any snack bowls or cups out to the kitchen, throwing trash away, picking up books, etc. just makes sense.  

 

~Having a set time (or more than one) to tidy up the house. Some people clean up before naps, before Dad gets home from work, & before bedtime. It is courteous and shows respect to at least have a path for Dad to get to his desk or favorite chair without having to step on any toys. And who likes to come into the family room in the morning and there are dolls & card games & CDs littering the floor because Susie didn't feel like cleaning up last night? Our homes are to be a haven and clutter isn't part of that picture. Okay, so that is a personal pet peeve of mine. But most people will tell you that if a place is reasonably clean they feel at home. However, clutter detracts from the restful atmosphere that most of us wish to portray to those who enter our doors.

 

~Having toy sets in totes and only having a few totes out at a time or bringing out the Legos only on Thursdays or when it rains. That way every time you pick up toys you are not picking up the entire toy box. Some people use this idea for the preschoolers and they are only allowed to play with one tote at a time while the older ones are in school.

 

~Having a set time that an older child watches a preschooler so that Mom can help another sibling with a class.

 

~Buying sneakers that have Velcro or stretch with out having to lace up every time you put them on. A real time-saver when there are a lot of feet to stuff into shoes and you are in a hurry. It might cost a bit more but what you will save on sanity will be worth it!

 

~Using hand-me-downs and buying clothes from thrift stores. 

 

~Assigning even the small fry to help with age-appropriate chores. Even the 3yr old can set the table (with supervision by an older sibling) or dust things that we moms don't normally get.....the kitchen chair legs and heat radiators and the bottom of the fridge where all the fuzzy dust bunnies have their family reunions. Children helping with family chores is a good thing for various reasons. It helps them to learn to work, of course, helps them to see work and do it without being told, and hopefully, if it all goes well, creates a servant's heart. 

 

~Sewing girls' dresses with a pleat or two near the hem to be let down if it needs more length. Instead of sewing a deep hem, letting it out, and sewing it up again. And using simple patterns, especially for little girls.

 

~Motivate less-than-enthused children with 'honey' rather than 'vinegar'. You might need to go pray or take deep breaths before this one if it's been a rough day. But children do better if they are rewarded for good behavior rather than threatened about the bad. However, good behavior should be it's own reward for the majority of the time. But children have bad days too where they just want a listening ear or a caring hug. Sometimes all they need is a tea party with milk & crackers or 15 minutes to look at the new library book or a squeeze on the new baby.   

 

~Having set chores that each child is responsible for the week, preferably written down so that all can see it daily. Taking care of all the trash, keeping the living room tidy, emptying the dishwasher, wiping the table after meals, etc. That way Mom knows that it's getting done and children don't get discouraged (too badly) because they know in a week it will change up and they'll get a new job.

 

~Teach children to put their dirty clothes in the hamper every day and the night before laundry day they should set the hampers where Mom can get them. Or if they are big enough take them to the laundry for Mom. Sort laundry the night before and if you have a timer on the washer set it to go so that the first load is washed by the time you are up. Sometimes people switch a load if they are up in the night to go to the bathroom or feed the baby. Then there are a few loads done till morning and they just need to be hung out. Score.

 

~Try to be careful with clothes so that you are not spending needless time scrubbing them in the laundry. We want our children to have fun but they don't need to wear the program attendant's dress that they wore to their aunt's wedding to play in the sand box.

 

~Have a place for everything and everything in it's place. A little trite but it saves so much time if you know right where to look for something. And it's good stewardship to keep our possessions organized and not neglected.

 

~Make enough supper to have leftovers to feed your family lunch the next day.

 

~Make 2 or 3 of the same casserole when you make supper and put the extras in the freezer so that when something unexpected comes up you are prepared.

 

~Have quiet time (meditation on the Word, etc) as often as you can, preferably daily but God understands our busy mom schedules. Even if all we can manage for a day is the meditation on our perpetual calendar and a prayer while we do the dishes or rock the baby, that little bit of time with God is so important! Singing is also a day brightener and can sometimes set the mood for the whole family when Mom is singing at the stove or when she's scrubbing bathrooms.

 

~Praying for our dear family members also helps days to go better. It's hard to snap at someone you just thanked God for.

 

~Having a regular time in the afternoons for quiet time for Mom to rest/recharge a bit. The younger children are napping and the older ones are doing something quiet in their bedrooms or the family room or whatever room Mom isn't in. :) Just so Mom can make a phone call, read a chapter in a book, prop her feet up and doze for 20 minutes, or do some sewing in peace.

 

~Simple not elaborate meals work best when you have a lot of little people and not much help with meal prep. If you are creative and like to experiment in the kitchen wait till the weekend when your husband can be there to help you or keep an eye on the children while you whip up something more than hot dogs or PB sandwiches.

 

~Clean up the kitchen after supper and try to have the laundry folded, if not put away, by bedtime so that the next morning you can start on that day's work. It can feel hopeless if we are starting our day with yesterday's leftover work."

to be continued...