• Safety and Sanity: It is so much better than tripping over toys.
• Economy: We save money by being good stewards;  In disorganization things get lost and broken.
• Consistency and Uniformity: It's nice to know what I'll find when I get home. (This is probably his number 1)
• Relaxation: Life is less stressful without scrambling.  A routine "a place for everything" makes it easier 
• Flexibility: We can get children ready for an outing or the house ready for guests without a mad rush.

• When did I last use it?
• When will I next use it?
• Does it make our family more effective or less; energize us or tire us? 
• Does looking at it make me smile or make me weary?
• For whom am I keeping it?/ Is it serving their purpose for me to do so?
• Is it a duplicate?
• Is it replaceable?
• What is it costing to keep it?/Is it paying its rent?
• What is the worst case scenario if it disappeared permanently from my life?

I have a list of questions etched on my brain that I try to apply when determining what to keep.  I'll expound on each one next week, but for now, I'll keep it simple by just listing the questions.  Some of them overlap.  Ironically I couldn't bring myself to "declutter" my list as even where the questions overlap, each brings an element to the "keep or toss" dilemma.

• When did I last use it?
• When will I next use it?
• Does it make our family more effective or less; energize us or tire us? 
• Does looking at it make me smile or make me weary?
• For whom am I keeping it?/ Is it serving their purpose for me to do so?
• Is it a duplicate?
• Is it replaceable?
• What is it costing to keep it?/Is it paying its rent?
• What is the worst case scenario if it disappeared permanently from my life?

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

This week is testing week on the Front Porch!  Testing is a hot topic among homescholers and there are many perspectives on whether to do it as well as when, where, how, and why.

If you decide to test, a little preparation can ensure that it is a positive experience for both the parent and the students.

I found a nice article about testing preparedness, and while it is a  bit general, it provides useful tips and is geared toward homeschoolers. 

Overall, I think the key to approaching tests is in perspective–if you view them as a game and a tool, you and the children will be relaxed and even excited at the prospect. 

Approach tests as a fun game and the scores as interesting and potentially useful trivia. With this perspective you’ll be less likely to over-rate them emotionally, either before, during, or even after the test (when you receive the results). 

A child who views it as a game won’t be devastated to find out their scores are lower than hoped, and they won’t feel like know-it-alls should they score well.  They’ll respond to it as an interesting tidbit amid the grander scheme of life.  Of course, you wouldn’t even have to tell the children their scores, and some advise against it. As a parent, you know your child, and whether they are able to keep a balanced view of the big picture.            

What else can you do to tame the testing chaos?  Planning a fun activity when tests are completed is a great testing-week perk!  Some moms I know have dad test while they take any toddlers on an outing to keep distractions to a minimum.  Check your stash of number two pencils, have sharpeners and erasers handy, and ensure your child is well rested the night before.

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

God's blessings are abundant, if we only look!  

Visit Paradoxology to read Chautona's delightful take on Memories as Unwrapped Treasures!  Mother's Day is a wonderful time to begin wrapping those memories for your parents or for your children.

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

One of the main goals of organization is preventing things from becoming misplaced. For field-trips (or even large family outings), ensuring that no one gets lost in the crowds can be paramount.

Digital cameras, cell phones, designated rendezvous places, identifiable clothing, and a buddy system can all help to keep a group together.

 
As soon as you arrive at the site, have someone take a digital picture of the entire group. Not only will it be a great memento of the tour or excursion, but if someone is lost, you have a picture right on the camera screen that can help identify the missing child and the clothing they are wearing on that particular day.

Cell phones are becoming more and more prevalent and can be a great tool for keeping in touch if part of the group breaks off from the others. At the onset, have everyone carrying cell phones exchange phone numbers, or give everyone the cell phone number of a leader.

Establishing a central rendezvous spot can be helpful as well. Telling everyone at the onset, "If you are lost, we will meet at the waterfall by the front gate" can provide peace of mind.

Identifiable clothing can be a great tool to facilitate head-counting in a crowd.  On a recent excursion to the zoo, my eyes quickly became trained to scan for boys in neon green striped shirts, and girls in hot pink with neon green polkadots. Because it was just a family outing, we could tailor to be especially distinctive.  For a homeschool co-op consider issuing bright, matching t-shirts to everyone. The "uniform" shirts can be paired with denim to allow individuality while maintaining continuity. (Girls can pair them with jeans, jumpers or denim skirts, or even capris. Boys can choose shorts or jeans in a variety of styles.)

Finally, almost everyone is familiar with the buddy system.  Pair everyone up with a "buddy" at the beginning of the outing, and have each person keep track of their partner at all times.  I like the buddy system best when used in combination with several of the other strategies, as in a busy crowd sometimes two friends (or siblings) can be as easy to lose as one.

Field trips are fun:  Prevent chaos by keeping everyone together. 

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

I’m excited! For the first time ever I’m going to attempt a vegetable garden. Our growing season is short on Wyoming’s windswept plain, and in past years I’ve felt too busy with growing babies inside to grow produce outside. This year I’m finally at a stage where I’m ready for some dirt digging family adventure.

Because I’m into taming chaos, exercising dominion, and imposing order on things, I want to go about gardening in an organized way. And, as usual, I decided to do a little research first because research can be done from the comfort of my chair, without dirtying my hands or getting blisters. I’ll get to the dirt and blisters soon enough.

In researching gardening styles, the most organized, efficient, flexible system I found is the Square Foot Gardening method.

I love the tidy squares, and the efficiency of being able to grow so much in a small area. As the book mentions, "Square foot gardening... sets forth definite limits or boundaries within which you will garden. It limits the amount of space, and thereby time, you will devote to each vegetable, chore and step in the garden." Indeed we need limits–limits free us, and some structure actually increases, rather than hinders creativity. (Structure in poetry is a lovely example of this.)

We are starting small, and the square foot method appeals in flexibility.  We can easily add on squares each year as our helpers (a.k.a. children) grow, and our confidence increases.

Here’s a great link to Robin  Sampson (of Heart of Wisdom’s homeschool fame). She shows her square foot garden and gives a more experienced review of the method than I’m qualified to provide. (She’s actually done it–I’m just planning to.)

Here's a link to squarefootgardening.com

Here's a link to All New Square Foot Gardening on Amazon.com:

Tame the earth and subdue it, create order from weedy chaos, and enjoy the garden this summer! I’d heartily recommend Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. 
 

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

This week on the Front Porch, the theme is Conventions and Book Fairs!  I've never attended one (though I hope to some day!) and so rather than babble on about things I don't understand (like I usually do) I'll link!

Kim, over at Trust Joyfully, just blogged about this topic a week ago!  Her post  is prayerful, helpful and thoughtful. 

And there's an article over at Sucessful Homeschooling that gives some good advice too.  I especially love this suggestion, "Print a sheet of return address labels for ease in filling out vendor mailing lists.".  Sucessful Homeschooling has a link to a free printable checklist that may prove useful as well! 

It doesn't look like I"ll make it to a curriculum fair or convention this year, but I'm tucking away some ideas, because I'm plotting to zip off to a convention some year soon!


Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

Ah, Rain! I love a rainy day. I like a nice moody sky, the pattern of water drops sliding down the window pane, candles burning cozily on the counter, and cookies in the oven! (I’m not as fond of muddy paw prints on the kitchen floor, or stir-crazy children.) I won’t give suggestions about the muddy paw prints–I’ve yet to find a solution that’s less work than simply mopping them up. Instead I’ll share my simple solution for promoting domestic tranquility when the small folk get stir-crazy.

I’ve found that getting the children, some solid exercise each day is a sanity saver. Without a little bit of physical exertion, a cozy afternoon together can be spoiled by stormy attitudes and rainy countenances.

One huge blessing here, not only on rainy days, but in the long dark days of winter, is a mini tramp. My in-laws found a wonderful little trampoline with legs that screw off so we can slide it under the couch when not in use. The children enjoy taking turns bouncing, each turn lasting until the bouncer is too out-of-breath to continue.

For the active child, some designated wiggle time is almost a must, but even my book-worms have better attitudes when they’ve gotten a little bit of active play each day.

Chinese jump-rope or indoor hopscotch can also provide giggles while utilizing those wiggles. After some time spent in active games, they are better ready to settle into cozy rainy day read-alouds, or a laundry folding party.

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

Spring is here, and it is our theme her on The Front Porch this week!

Have you started your spring fling that I wrote about a few weeks back? I’ve not been as good at flinging as I should be, so that's my own focus for the week.

If you are done with your spring fling, dive into spring cleaning!   My best advice on this is, "Just do it." Sure, there are methods, some better than others, but essentially whatever it takes for you to get it done is a good system!

Sometimes though, the method makes all the difference–especially when we need to get geared up and motivated. I personally enjoy a modified version of Jeff Campbell’s Speed Cleaning. It is a great book for streamlining and speeding up your cleaning routine, taken from studying the methods of professional cleaning services.

Another book that inspires me that is more about "why" than how (and not strictly about cleaning, but about the many facets of homemaking) is Where's Mom?: The High Calling of Wives and Mothers by Dorthy Kelley Patterson. Here’s one quote that Jumped out at me:

"Homemaking--if pursued with energy, imagination, and skills--has much challenge and opportunity, success, failure, growth and expansion, perks and incentives as any corporation, plus something no other position offers--working for people you love most and want to please the most!"  

Where's Mom? by Dorothy Kelley Patterson

We all have different things we enjoy, and different things that seem drudgerous, but much of homemaking has a nearly infinite creative potential--even cleaning!   Tame the chaos and clean the windows this week: Your outlook will be clearer! 


Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

As Tia mentioned yesterday, our theme on the Front Porch this week is Saving Time. (Inspired by daylight saving time!) I trust your clocks are all changed, and your beginning to acclimate! I’ll give a few of my favorite time saving tips at the end of this post, but first, I’d like to evaluate why we save time.

Today’s culture is rushed and hurried, and sometimes we just assume we must save time, but we don’t stop to define what we are saving it toward. Just as with saving money, working toward a concrete goal increases our motivation to save! Perhaps financially you are saving for a new curriculum, freedom from debt, or for a family vacation. Knowing that financial goal helps keep you on target! Time, likewise can be budgeted to invest in your dreams.

What will you do with the time that you save? Ponder it through the day to come up with some solid answers, then strive to keep those goals at the forefront of your mind as you seek to streamline your work. Efficiency is excellent, but it shouldn’t be an end unto itself.

Time and money are tools and gifts. If my husband is given a power saw, he wouldn’t put it in a glass display case, only getting it out to oil the parts on occasion. No, he would put it to use! It won’t stay as nice and shiny on his cluttered, greasy workbench as if he "saved" it away, but a tool is made to be used.

I’m reminded of the biblical parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-28). The lazy servant who simply buried the talent entrusted to him was chastised, while the two who invested and earned interest were rewarded. Saving time without investing that "savings" is like burying it in the ground.

When time is saved without a purposeful plan for investing those savings, it can lead to both sloth and detachment. There is something rich and fulfilling about doing things in a way that is thorough. When we take short cuts, we can miss out on a depth of experience–often the trade-off is worthwhile, but we should take time to consider the cost. Saving time without a worthy goal can rob us of riches instead of increasing our wealth.

I’m not discouraging time-saving; quite the contrary! The key is living intentionally: Knowing our priorities and investing time accordingly–saving time in certain areas to afford more in those of greater importance, and ensuring that the time saved is invested in something of greater worth than the activity from which we cut "expenses".

Necessity is, they say, the mother of invention. By defining a goal, you are creating a "necessity", and if it is an important enough goal, you’ll find ways to fulfill it. A nebulous desire to simply "save time" won’t really inspire you to come up with creative solutions. If, however, you typically spend a full Friday cleaning, but would like to make Friday afternoon be "park day", you’ll have concrete motivation to find ways to speed up your cleaning routines.

Perhaps you’d like time to read aloud to the children, but dinner preparation takes too long in the late afternoon and early evenings. The desire to spend time snuggling on the couch together with a book can help motivate you as you find ways to cook ahead, prepare crock pots in the morning, or freezer meals in larger batches.

Speaking of making things in larger batches brings me to a few of my own favorite time saving tips (I’ll use meal preparation ideas in the examples, but the principles can be applied to a variety of tasks):

• Do things assembly line style: Instead of browning 1 pound of ground beef, brown 5 or 10 at once. You’ll save time by only cleaning the grease off the stove-top once.  Freeze the extra in meal size bags in the freezer to use out as needed.
• Invest time when you have it: Just as we experience economic changes, our time "budget" can fluctuate. My health is unpredictable, so I’ve learned to cook ahead, shop ahead and plan ahead in the times of plenty to help out in the times when time (or energy) are lean.
• Evaluate your routines. Often we do extra steps simply because we were taught "that’s how it is done." Do you need to brown the roast before cooking? I do think it gives a richer flavor, but it isn’t essential. This is an example of weighing priorities. Sometimes quality trumps efficiency, but sometimes we just need to get food into hungry mouths amid a busy day. Try skipping the browning step and see if you find the extra time worthwhile. Be bold and try skipping the optional. You might like it better with the skipped steps. (My family prefers their mashed potatoes with the skins mashed in right along with the potato! It saves me peeling time, and is more nutritious as well.)

Since I brought up the subject of time-saving and potatoes, here’s a you-tube video that gives another way to save time when peeling those ‘taters! (If you bother to peel them at all.) 

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.