I'm an organizer. I think it's because I'm not naturally organized that I've built all these systems to help keep me on track. I know which days I iron, and which days I do my husband's billing. I know which days I write my columns and which days I teach history. Everything has its time and its place.
But it's hard to keep track of all of that! So I've created a couple of household organization charts that keep me going. There's one that lists kids' chores; there's one that lists all the chores that need to be done in the house, both daily, weekly, and monthly, and there are two special ones.
 One is just for me. It's my "New Priorities" chart, based on chapter 4 of my book To Love, Honor and Vacuum. Basically, here's my philosophy: one of the reasons we women often feel so ragged is because we don't concentrate on what we need at all. So we skip our private devotions, we don't take time to ourselves, we never exercise, and then we're exhausted! So I have a chart that makes you schedule in these important things first, before you add housework and making dinner and driving kids around!
And the second is just as necessary. It's a Family Meeting form. And here's the premise: housework should not be entirely a mom's responsibility. The kids should be helping, as should the dad, depending upon his work schedule. But to get them on board you should talk about it. So I've got instructions on how to host a family meeting, how to brainstorm about how to divvy up all the chores, and then how to do it. It works, it really does! And then the kids take ownership of some of the housework.
I use them all the time, and I finally made them into .pdf files so other people can have them, too, FREE! All you have to do is go to my To Love, Honor and Vacuum charts page !
And please investigate my book, To Love, Honor and Vacuum. The charts work wonderfully on their own, but they're much more effective with the book explaining the philosophy (and so much more!). You can learn more here.
Thanks for stopping by! Why not stay a little and look around? I've got lots of otehr posts on marriage, parenting, and even a video on how to cure the hiccups!
 Labels: charts, organizing, To Love Honor and Vacuum, Works for Me Wednesdays |
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This looks like just what I need. Thank you for posting them, and I'm going to go check out your book too. :)