1. How do you keep up with household organization and cleaning without getting overwhelmed and just not doing anything at all?
Start with a book!
Some of our favorites are:
Declutter Like a Mother
A Mother's Rule
Pray Like Mary, Clean Like Martha
First, figure out your priorities! Is a clean house your #1, then schedule your day for it. Is playing with your kids the most important to you? Then plan for that! (All of us have different priorities and that's OK!)
Then, figure out what makes you crazy! Is it the laundry? Dishes, the kitchen? Is there a small thing, that you can turn into a habit that will make you FEEL like your home is clean?
Next, what can you do to be kind to tomorrow's you?
Finally, understand that having help that isn't exactly up to your standards is better than no help at all. . .not all help will be exactly what you want, and that's ok. Opportunities for growth exist here-both for us moms (in learning to let go a bit) and for kids (in learning to be proud of the work they do). Just know that you will have to repeat yourself over and over again.
Sidenote: In Brittany's home they practice mastery. . .
First time-you show by doing.
Second time-you show them by having them help you.
Third time-they show you and you're there to monitor and ask good questions.
Fourth time-they do it all by themselves, and you come back and check.
(The above steps can be applied to MANY different situations-not just chores and meal mastery!)
2. What do you do when your kids are asking for snacks all day long?
In Brittany's family, the rule is one piece of fruit and then vegetables (carrots are always available), and as soon as dinner prep starts there is no more snacking.
In my family, it's free reign. I get cereal bars and chips and my kids quite often refuse to eat the delicious food I cook (this isn't always the case-but it isn't a battle I pick currently).
It really comes down to what battles you are willing to fight! If you want to snack all day and that's your thing, that's fine! If food is really important to you, fight that battle mama-and just know there will be things that you will make that your kids don't like!
On the planning side, you need to figure out what your priorities are. If you want snacks every day, plan it out! Hungry kids will eat eventually! You don't have to turn to Mac n' Cheese-unless it is for you, and you need to let it be easy.
If you need some help with meal planning, check out episode 9 (season 2) AND head to https://www.deliberatedayjournal.co
Find the complete podcast notes on our website.
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