Sunday 30 June 2013

Taking Time to Recharge

Do you feel okay from taking some time out from your lists, chores and commitments to recharge?
 
I find this very hard to to. I feel guilty, especially since if I recharge during the week it is whilst my husband is working hard, and shouldn't I be working hard too (unpaid work). And if it is during the weekend I feel like I am stealing time from my children and being a 'bad mother'.  Guilt is a tough feeling to manage... here are some thoughts I find helpful when I am resisting the growing urge for some "me time".

1.  Fit your own oxygen mask first.
I've heard this analogy a lot.  On the plane, during the emergency demonstration, they advise adults to fit their own oxygen masks before assisting their children.  You can imagine why - afterall you cannot help anyone if you are blacked out!  So it is in life that we need to make sure we keep our own energy and enthusiasm tanks full so we can really be there for our kids, instead of being an automation, and perhaps a resentful one at that.

For more on this concept I recommend the book
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting (Paperback) By Laura Markham

2.  Think about your working conditions.
If you are a stay at home parent, your working conditions probably read something like this:  no annual leave, no weekends, on-call 24/7, no sick leave, no pay.  I try not to dwell on this, except when I am resisting my own urge for some 'me time'.  I am usually resisting because I feel guilty taking a break.  This ranges anywhere from a quiet cup of tea (aren't there always jobs to be done instead) to something more wild like a movie night with the girls.  So at those times I find it helpful to realise that my time off is not built into my employment contract and I need to find and take the little opportunities as they arise, so that I can refresh and renew and truly be there for my family.

3.  Take mini-breaks
Listen to some music, watch birds in the garden, go for a walk (something you can do with a baby in a buggy!), enjoy a hot cup of tea, call a friend, read or watch something funny, browse the library...... there are many ways to take a little break.  Although what you might really be hanging out for is a long weekend somewhere tropical without the kids (or partner), these little breaks can be enough to help restore some sanity and humour to our lives.

4.  Think kind thoughts.  When you are feeling like you need a break, be kind to yourself about it.  You are doing a tough job and need to treat yourself with the love and kindness with which you want to treat your kids.  Choose love, including for yourself.  If your kids see you taking a moment they are learning a valuable lesson in self management.

Go well, and go easy on yourself.  Be organised, wonderful and sane! 

Sunday 23 June 2013

Kids Stuff - Organising Kids toys etc

Yesterday I was out and about at the shops when I saw a Mum trying to juggle three large plastic crates and a toy box with her buggy... thank fully she had someone to help her.  The occupant of the buggy looked around 9 months old, which took me on a trip down memory lane to that moment with your first child when you realise that not only are the toys (and clutter) here to stay, but that they are gradually taking over your home!!!  I wonder what we did before plastic crates??!!??

Now that my first born is six and a half, I've had plenty of time to grapple with this one, and here are some things I have learned.  Real photos from the real world mean some mess!  Styled photos just leave me feeling a bit frustrated (on a good day) or inadequate (on another day)

1.  Join a toy library.  Seriously this is the key.  This way you borrow toys, your kids get new and exciting toys, and you don't have to store them!  We don't buy many toys, and limit them to Birthday and Christmas.  The Toy Library is fantastic.  So find one and join it today!

2.  If you are lucky enough, and have the room, limit the toys to one room, and organise it.  Here are some photos of our family room toy organisation.


Plastic crates, tubs and buckets make excellent storage.The kids soon cotton on to what goes where.

An inexpensive table with little crates can be used for lots of things.

Kids desk - note little drawers and desk organiser, along with shelves for organising desk supplies   

Make a lego table from an old coffee table,  a raised edge helps keep little bits on the table.
Kids soon learn where things go, and will help tidy up.  You can ease this learning by making it fun, putting on music or having an incentive as to what fun thing will happen when the room is tidied.

Lego has so many little bits and costs too much for me to want to hear it rattle up the vacuum cleaner.  Hence the Lego Table which I made out of an old coffee table.  It was a glass topped coffee table.  I replaced the glass with MDF and added a shelf below as well.  I like the raised edge (reason why I chose a glass topped table) which helps keep little bits from sliding off.  An old tea tray helps with this too.  We are currently experimenting with colour coded storage... not shown in picture.

Drawing and Craft supplies - these are kept at the writing desk.  An Ikea desk organiser is great for storing paper.  We reuse paper that is only printed on one side.  The kids are used to this and think it is cool.  Pens, crayons etc are kept in little drawers which can easily be taken to the main table when bigger projects are underway.  A cardboard box on the desk is used for creations that my son wants to keep but not do anything particular with.  When the box is too full we go through it, making a pile for recycling and a pile for keeping and gluing into a scrapbook.


Sunday 9 June 2013

The Fortnightly Blitz Clean

Here is the deal.  I used to have a cleaner (in a past life, when I worked in a career outside the home).  She could clean my house in three hours once per fortnight and I paid her for it.  She did a great job, and I was sad to see her go.  I always felt lazy and guilty having a cleaner, although it was pretty much a necessity at many points in my career.  So at some point I decided that I would be the cleaner.  I allocate myself three hours once per fortnight (it is in my diary) and I pay myself to do the job.  I like the challenge of getting the job done within the timeframe, which helps me stay focused.  I like being paid too.  To put the three hours in perspective: this is a big house, three bathrooms, five bedrooms and two living areas.  I do well!

It helps to be organised!  This is a mission in efficiency, and good exercise too.  So here is how I go about it.

The night before:
The kids have to tidy up the family room and get all the toys away and off the carpet.  They get ice cream on Sunday nights, so there is a sweetener!

Everyday:
I keep the kitchen clean and appliances and benches wiped.  Once a week I give the sinks and fridge special attention.  Thus the kitchen does not need a special clean.
Keep surfaces clear of clutter and floors reasonably clear.
Use a portable hand-held vacuum to clean mess around dining table, and wipe these floors with floor cloth as needed.

The day of The Clean:
1.  Assemble cleaning gear.
I use a large mop bucket and have the following all ready to go in it:
Small bucket containing: 3 chux clothes (one for each toilet, see my entry on toilet cleaning), 2 old tea towels, enjo bathroom fibre, tea tree oil, old toothbrush, enjo marble paste.
Old napisan container containing enjo bathroom maid
Bicarb in shakeable container
Spray bottle containing white vinegar and lemon essential oil
Enjofil mirror/glass cloth

I carry it all with me as I go, hence the bucket.

Keep aside and ready: mop, spray bottle containing water. 

2.  Dust.
I use a telescopic handle electrostatic duster.  I used to shun this kind of thing on the basis it just moves the dust around.  But I figure technology has moved on and so have I.   It does the trick.  I dust
skirting boards pictures door frames furniture and stuff on it, books and book cases, Appliances, Light fittings, bathroom fans, Window sills, Blinds. I lift and move stuff, dusting the stuff and under it. I minimise the amount of stuff! I dust 

3.  Vacuum
To me it makes sense to do this after dusting.  I take off the tube and just use the nozzle to do along the skirting boards, and then put the head back on to do the carpets and hard floors.  This is good exercise!  Put some music on and get a workout.

4.  Bathrooms
Now for the cleaning gear in the bucket! Next I do the bathrooms, using my bathroom enjo to do the basins, showers and bath.  I use the enjofil for the mirrors and glass.  Marble paste is handy for the soapscum on the bath (from Bubblebath I think!) and shower.  I have discovered some brands of showergel do not leave this build up and I love them!!  (Try Health Basics!).  I also do the toilets per my post on bathroom cleaning!

5.  Wiping
Time for banisters, handles and light switches.  I use the Enjofil cloth (now pretty damp) to wipe my metal door handles and light switches.  This is good hygiene.

6.  Mopping
I love my Enjo mop.  It is amazing.  All I need do is wet the mop head, squeeze it out slightly, attach it and away we go.  Apart from using a spray bottle with water (and sometimes some essential oil) to wet the floors after the initial couple of rooms, I do not need to wring, squeeze, rinse or anything like that.  It is simply awesome.   I start with the kitchen, then family dining, then hallway, then bathrooms and finish in the laundry.  The floor is really clean and I am done.
Check out these youtube videos on the Enjo Mop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy7RTOhn7C0 - You have to watch this through and see the difference between the Enjo mop and regular mopping, amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjF9bV5bD8I

7. Extra Jobs per rota
I have a cleaning rota of jobs that don't need to be done every fortnight, and I schedule them in a to-do list in my phone.  I check which job is due this fortnight and get it done.  Examples include: wiping screens and monitors, tidying up the spare room, cleaning the high areas (skylight void) in the bathroom, wiping the outside of the front door, etc.