I Swear I Didn't Write It

And you can tell from the rude comments about me.

"Well, you know how Mom’s don’t always keep their promises? Mine doesn’t always
either."

Read the rest of the story about How A Boy Got Inspired to Play the Piano.

The wierd thing is that I think the piano is something Victor really is interested in. He's not just playing it because he thinks all his friends are. He loves it. He hears piano music everywhere we go and most of the time I'm not even aware of it playing in the background. After a beautiful song was played in Church today he said, "Wow, she's really a good piano player." "Yes, you're going to be that good some day," I replied. "No, I'm going to be better," he corrected me.

It gave me chills.

Updates

"Lazy people do not like to use planners. They would rather pretend that they’re going to remember everything later even though they know very well that they won’t."

I must have planners on my mind because of yesterday's tips and the article I have up at GNMParents.

Thank you Donna for agreeing with me on the ice cubes in my cereal! Who could have known it would be such a controversial subject? You guys were cracking me up! Just for the record I only eat granola and ice cubes are the only way to keep it cold through all that chewing. Besides, isn't milk just as wet as water? I've always thought so! I am willing to compromise with you here though. Milk ice cubes! BTW, go check out Donna's Sunshine Blog to see her uber talented and hilarious son!


Last but not least we've raised $161 for foster kids! Thank you for all your generosity! Of course who wouldn't want a chance to win this gorgeous quilt? We only have $339 to go to meet our $500 goal. Do you think we can do it? And for the last time Amy, NO, you can not buy a ticket and NO, I am not going to fix the raffle so you can win your own quilt back!

Warning! I am not organized. View this website at your own risk.

I need to get out of the organizing business and get into the hair styling business! You people went crazy over my pony tail post. Thank you! I've never gotten so many comments on a post in my whole bloggy life! Here is another photo for you pony tail maniacs. I tried this one after K at Family Historian left a link to photos

"At my house everyone can and will help but what do we do when we have company? Well we put them to work of course!"

Find out how in my latest article for GNMParents.

In other news, I don't think I've ever claimed to be organized and if I did I was lying. My only claim is that I try really hard. Really. Do you know anyone who tries harder than me to get organized? I didn't think so.

When I saw this comment about my website at Stumble Upon I laughed my head off for a few days...

"I like this site - interesting, useful tips on organizing your home life. There are useful photos, good details, blah, blah, blah. HOWEVER, I don't find the site all that well organized. I mean . . . is that ironic, or what?"

and then I thought that maybe I could get my website a little more organized for all of you since I love you so much. I decided to start with my Flickr photos since they're not even really part of my website but... you know. That took about three days and then I got a brain cramp so that's as far as I got. Maybe someone else can humiliate me into organizing the rest of my site. Maybe not. But there are new photos over there at Flickr and they all link back to the original post where I used them. That was a lot of work so I hope I get lots of credit for it.

Did you know that you can subscribe to my Flickr photos? I just discovered that! I hope someone else will subscribe to them so I'm not the only one. It's kind of sad when I see the little "1 Subscriber" up there on bloglines and I know it's me. Not that you guys aren't looking at them because, wow! I have a lot of views on there. I had no idea anyone really looked at those. And this week I even got my very first comments. Thanks Rowiegrl!

Ok, I was in bed but then I had to come to my studio to get a ribbon for a little emergency purse organizing idea (I'll show you later) and I got distracted by something shiny. It was my computer and before I knew what I was doing I was writing this post. Good night!

I’ve Felt Your Pain

"You mean I’m supposed to be enjoying all the dirty diapers and the spitting up and never getting enough sleep and being stuck at home all day with little people who can’t speak English but babble in their cute little voices until I think I’m going to lose my mind? Let’s get serious people. And honest."

Look at me, I'm quoting myself. And only a week late. Find out more about The Pain at GNMParents.

I'm Famous!

Guess what happened this week? Michelle at Scribbit interviewed me for her blog! Can you believe it?? She is amazing and so sweet and we all know she is taking over the world one blog at a time! I am not kidding about that either. When she runs for president I am going to vote for her. Do you think she'll let me come and be the official White House Organizer?

Last month Michelle asked me to be the guest judge for her Write Away contest in June, which is the coolest name ever for a writing contest, don't you think? She is an amazing writer by the way. People are always asking me if I am a writer or if I want to be a writer which always makes me snort but if I could write like Scribbit then I would be starting my fifth book by now. Have you Michelle? Let us know where we can buy your next volume.

So go read how Michelle and I "met" and all about my craziest organizing philosophy. Can you tell from my photo what a goof I am? Probably not. See how I have you all fooled?

Thank you for the interview Michelle and thanks to all you kind commenters over at Scribbit.blogspot.com.

I also have an article up at GNMParents today. It's all about how people should stop moving so much, especially people I know because it is too much work! Let's all just stay put and be happy where we are. Deal? Let's say it together, "We are never moving again!" Deal.

In case you were wondering that was not a Couch Potato Pact we were just making. Be sure to leave me a comment and tell me how many times you have moved in your life. I was going to make a poll but I'm feeling too lazy tonight so now you have to do all the work.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Visit GNMParents to find out how organized I am in the kitchen and then use the poll below to tell me how organized you are.

1. My kitchen is perfectly organized. I iron my dish towels every Thursday and the veggies in my crisper are not only alphabetized but they are also crisp.

2. My kitchen is pretty organized although it's true that I may own one to many sets of Christmas dishes but who can resist that festive Rudolph and all his cute little holiday antics?

3. My kitchen is partly organized. I can always find the eggs when I need them (unlike some people I know) but I regularly stash dirty dishes in the oven when company comes.

4. My kitchen is hardly organized. I know I own a blender but I haven't seen it since the great liquid diet of the 1970's and I think I would have to take a one-year sabbatical to locate it.

5. My kitchen is so unorganized that I have keep the blinds shut and pretend I'm not home when I hear the door bell or someone might report it as a biochemical hazard. The most we can hope for is a vigorous grease fire.

How organized is your kitchen?
My kitchen is perfectly organized.
My kitchen is pretty organized.
My kitchen is partly organized.
My kitchen is hardly organized.
My kitchen is very unorganized.
Poll starter: Lazy See Results

Do you want to feel loved?

I know there are more of you out there that have sweetly linked to my blog. Don't forget to send me your links so I can add them to the Love. Thanks!

Do you know the difference between a turtle and a chipmunk? Read my article today at Grasshopper New Media Parents to find out if you're right.

* Oh, and as my Dad pointed out, turtles live a lot longer than chipmunks. The good side of that is that I will live longer than my mother. The bad side of that is that I have to take better care of my teeth.

Presenting the Gallagher Boy

I know I said I wasn't going to write anymore articles on teaching your kids to work so I didn't. At least not this week. Instead I asked my nine year old to write one for me! Isn't he so sweet?

Teach Your Kids to Work, Part VIII by the Gallagher Boy

We didn't want to disappoint his fans so we produced another video for you. Don't pay any attention to his flatware washing technique. Ewwww! Let's just say he was a bit distracted with all the filming and questions, ok?



Part I, Whose Job is It?
Part II, Getting Rid of the Clutter
Part III, Let Them Help
Part IV, It Takes Time
Part V, Work Together
Part VI, Learn to Practice
Part VII, Make it Easy
Part VIII, by the Gallagher Boy

Teach Your Kids to Work, Part VII

Look how much fun it is to hang up your own clothes!

Check out GNMParents for my latest installment. Can you believe I am still writing these things? I think I've got it out of my system for a while though and will be moving onto new topics unless anyone has any specific questions for me about teaching kids to work. I've had you ask what jobs specifically that my kids do and about all I can say is, most things terribly and few things well!

It's my nine and seven year old we are talking about and here are the jobs they do.

Daily
They clean their own rooms
Feed, water and clean up after animals
Do laundry for themselves and the whole family
Iron their own clothes, they're still not very good at this
Pick up after their little sister and themselves
Wash, dry, and put away dishes
Clean bathrooms
Clean out the van
Cook meals and clean up, we all do this together
Carry groceries in and put them away
Change diapers and feed, clothe and take care of their two year old sister when I ask

Weekly
Vacuum out the van
Sweep the front porch
Mop floors

Monthly
Clean walls

I'm sure I have forgotten some things but you get the idea. What do I do you ask? Plenty! Just supervising and teaching these activities is a full time job. Plus I do all the organizing, the deep cleaning and trying to make sure things are running smoothly. I can't tell you how much help my kids are to me though. For instance, when we come home from the store the kids bring the groceries in and put them away while I get dinner started. When they're done with the groceries they help with dinner.

The last time I had a friend over for dinner all the kids were running around playing when my nine year old came in the kitchen and said, "What can I do to help Mom?" My friend was dumbfounded and probably wondering how much I had paid him to say that!

Put this on your to-do list: Teach my kids to say, "What can I do to help Mom?" It is music to a Mother's ears!

I just want to say one more thing. My kids are not any different than your kids. They would rather be making messes that cleaning them up. Teaching them to work without complaining has been hard. I have spent many days yelling and frustrated but I am learning patience because the yelling does not work. I have seen amazing results over time as I consistently work with the kids and you can too.

Just because you are the Mom doesn't mean you have to do it all alone. Are you ready for your promotion? Then get busy and start teaching your kids to work!

Part I, Whose Job is It?
Part II, Getting Rid of the Clutter
Part III, Let Them Help
Part IV, It Takes Time
Part V, Work Together
Part VI, Learn to Practice
Part VII, Make it Easy
Part VIII, by the Gallagher Boy

Teach Your Kids to Work

Teach Your Kids to Work, Part V

That's all I have to say about that.

Teach Your Kids to Work, Part V

How many times should you beat a child for refusing to do chores before you give up on them and kick them out to the barn? I recommend one spank for every year of age. If you have a 27 year old mooch living on your sofa he is going to have one sore bottom. Maybe by that point you have realized the beatings aren't working and you should try something else.



Before its too late, try reading my articles at GNMParents on teaching your children to work. This series is turning out to be a lot longer than I thought it would be. I guess I have a lot to say! Read my latest installment, "If Momma's working, everyone's working!"

Teach Your Kids to Work

Life is messy. Did you know? And the messes are never as easy to clean up as they are to make. Hmmm, I wonder if there is a reason for that? We spend hours cleaning every day so you would think our home would be spotless wouldn't you? I don't want you to be disappointed when you stop by for a visit and see dead bugs sitting on the window sill so I will tell you right now that it is not. Not even close!!!

But we keep working on it and look how much fun we're having! Can you think of anything more fun than doing laundry? How about watching someone else doing laundry?



In case you haven't read enough of my controversial opinions (you can't get enough, can you?) I offer my latest article at GNMParents, It Takes Time.

Teach Your Kids to Work, Part III

I have noticed that large families, families that home school, and families that run businesses together are especially good at working together. It seems to me that they have to because parents in these situations can’t do it all themselves and they know it.

I used to try to do it all myself. I used to pick up my kid's toys quite often because it seemed easier than trying to get them to do it. (See how they train us? Don't try to tell me they don't know exactly what they're doing!) Then three years ago I hurt my back so badly that I physically could not do it anymore. Surprise, surprise, my kids were perfectly capable of picking up their own toys and I haven't done it since!

Decide today that you will no longer try to do it all and you will be well on your way to that promotion I promised you!

Read my latest article at GNMParents about teaching kids to work.

Teach Your Kids to Work

Introducing Homeschool Hat

Victor– Mom, I like doing dishes.

Mom - That's great!

Victor - I’ll do Persistence's dishes when it’s her turn if you’ll give me a five cent raise on my allowance.

That is five cents a month we are talking about! I had a very difficult time turning him down! The kids take turns doing dishes every other day and they do them by hand so it is a big job.

Mom - Well, that doesn't sound very fair to you but if you want to do dishes more often then you could ask Persistence if she would like to trade jobs with you.

They decided that he would do her dishes every other day and she would clean his bathroom every day. I told them they could switch for one week and see how it went. I have a very strong feeling that it won't last more than a week but I will keep you updated!

If you are struggling with your kids to get them to help around the house then check out my articles about teaching your kids to work. This week's article is pretty radical. I know most people are too attatched to their stuff to take a step like I took but just think about it and see if it might work for you. It is not a punishment. It's a way to help your child become responsible and happy. What would you being willing to do for your child's happiness?

Part II, Getting Rid of the Clutter

Part I, Who's Job Is It?

No, I am not an expert on this subject or any other subject for that matter. I am just sharing what has worked for my family. Stay tuned next week for part III. I have no idea what it's going to be about because I'm not that organized!!!

Story about Homeschool Hat - Homeschooled children look goofy. If they don't then their Mothers aren't doing it right. It's pretty much a law that if you homeschool you have to take your children to garage sales, let them buy Billy Bob hats and then let them wear them everywhere they go.