What Was I Thinking? Household Systems

I like routine and schedule and being able to anticipate how my day is going to go. Although I am not so good at executing it most days. I am a crazy nut who likes trying system after system to see if it is effective and will make my day and my life run more smoothly. I'll tell you this now, what doesn't make things run better is constantly trying new systems. I still haven't gotten it through my head though. Some systems I have tried to no avail include:

In the Laundry:

• Attempting a washing roster. How on earth do you start? I did all my washing so I could start fresh but then I had to wait for washing to pile up and then the washing I had waiting for me was not allocated to that day. It was such a dilemma. It's not a towel day but they are there, it's Andrew's day but there is 1 sock. I honestly freaked out about this.
• Washing clothing by person rather than separating. I thought for a little while it was going well and it was, sort of. But my whites were dulling and I wasn't comfortable with not separating my loads and I ended up not wanting to share the washing line with another persons clothing. 
• Freeing up cupboard space by putting all my cleaning stuff on the laundry bench. My cupboard was empty, the bench where I sort the washing was covered in cleaners and rags and power tools. That was just silly.

Kitchen

• I decided I didn't need the wonderful dishwasher and that I could wash all dishes as I went throughout my day. Yep what the dickens was I thinking?? My sink was always shiny though I'll give you that but what a time killer.
• Bye Bye utensil pots. While I do enjoy a clear bench top my utensil drawer is a huge mess now. I'll get on that eventually ( I really will!! honest)
• Keeping the kettle in a cupboard when not in use. That lasted all of 30 minutes.
• Plants. They died.
• Keeping my crockery in the pantry and the food stuffs in the cupboard under the bench. That just confused everyone. Even me.
• right now I need tea and coffee storage. My herbal teas are on display and the tea coffee and sugar are in a basket in the pantry.

Living Room: I have 2 living areas ( I know lucky me) But I seriously miss our old unit that was like a cottage with 1 massive living area, I loved it.
 The dilemma was how much of it do I give to the kids? How much is for adults? Here begins my never ending quest of shifting the furniture again and again to find the perfect configuration. I swear my husband is going to nail the furniture down one of these days. Either he comes home from work and the house is switched around or we will be cosy on the couch it's nearly 10pm and I have the urge to move the furniture. This urge cannot be stopped. I have inherited this from my Mother and it will never leave me.

Bedrooms:
Toy storage. Need I say more? I have come to believe it's not how you store your child's toys it's all about the education of packing up. Oh I hear you laughing at this one. It is that never ending battle isn't it. I love how very young toddlers think packing up is the best thing ever. With enough enthusiasm you can have a tidy bedroom in no time. We need to bottle that stuff! We need to pinpoint when the enthusiasm for packing up leaves us in childhood and put a stop to it!

I always make the bed. At some stage. I know when I am on an organisational roll when I have the bed made first thing. I get up make the bed and get to it. I know when I am in a slump when I completely forget that I had stripped the bed that day and it's almost midnight I am struggling to get to my bedroom and I flick the light on and I see the horror that is a naked bed that I have to dress. Just the worst! I cannot sleep in an unmade bed either. I have actually made my husband get up so I can make the bed before I get in it. *crazy*

I am not saying systems are bad. I have some that work great for me. But the point is sometimes they just don't work when we want them to. There is no one size fits all. Admit defeat, try something else and don't obsess over it. You will get there.

What systems just didn't work for you?
Tell me your success story!

Lets Stick Together Ladies!

It has come to my attention lately the impact of positive support among women.

Is the bond becoming stronger between our peers ?

I hope so, because while I have noticed the competitiveness among mothers and one upping on who has it harder, I am feeling more and more inclined to support my peers rather than compete. I also find it weird that hardship is something you want to be best at. You know what, we all have bad days no matter how good or bad our situation is we get days where we feel like we have been dragged through shit and back again and that is OK.

I have been fortunate enough to be on someones mind as they were worried about me. I have truly been OK but they saw I wasn't my "usual self" and asked me about it and also had a bunch of flowers (not necessary but lovely and as a new flower opens each day I am reminded how lucky I am to have such a caring friend).

A few articles have crossed my path recently highlighting our attitudes towards one another. One about forecasting harder times ahead when you merely pass a comment about a current mothering hardship, does Facebook help or hinder new mothers, and the "anti bitch revolution" over at Life Love and Hiccups . I am getting on that "anti bitch" bandwagon! Now I am not perfect and have definitely put on my judgy jumper and bitchy boots from time to time but maybe as I get older and wiser ( he-he that's funny), I see no use in it. This negative attitude is draining and gets you no where. I try to see things from a more positive perspective. If I say something can it have a positive outcome or will it leave that person feeling worse? So I want to be positive.

Keep an eye out for each other, listen to your friend if they need to get something off their chest. Allow and appreciate when someone is having a bad day, don't make it about you, but if you can, see eye to eye and relate.

Let's support our Mothers' in Arms, we all want the best for our kidlets and go about it in different ways and that is OK. We all have our strengths, some mums keep a great house, others can cook with kids in the kitchen without breaking a sweat, some are absolute superstars at the park and some can handle a temper tantrum like a boss, admire your friends strengths, learn from each other and balance out the equation.

How do you keep things positive among the women in your life?
What examples can we set for our children?
Who are your wonder woman role models?

Fi
x