Family Corner
By Krystle J Bailey
Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl are behind us, which means spring has almost sprung. According to Phil, it’s coming sooner than usual this year. The smells of spring can only mean one thing: cleaning. It’s time to start removing the clutter and making room for the vibrancy that a new season brings.
I’ll be completely honest here: I’m not a naturally well-organized person. The part they never told me about parenting is how often you’re forced to declutter your life and get rid of old clothes, toys, books, and more. It’s my least favorite task out of all the adulting tasks. Deciding what to give away, throw away, sell, keep, or tuck away in my box of things I just can’t get rid of is too much for my brain. Yet, spring reminds us that not everything can stay. The kids grow and the seasons change. In order to make room for the new abundance headed our way, we must make space.
Here are a few tips to make the job a little easier this year:
- Create a digital artwork album.
Let’s face it: throwing away your kids’ artwork is one of the ickiest jobs of parenting. You know you can’t keep everything, but something about dropping their lovingly designed projects in the trash just doesn’t feel right either. Instead of keeping everything, consolidate it with digital albums. Use a service such as Staples or Shutterfly to create beautifully crafted photo albums of your children’s artwork. Now, the art gallery of their youth can take up less space in your home and live on forever.
- Use designated clutter buckets.
My kids are notorious for leaving odds and ends all over the house. Designated clutter buckets are a way to encourage them to get their stuff put away while deciding what is important and what can be gotten rid of. Fill each bucket with the things left out of place and put a timeframe on the bucket. If the things aren’t put away with care within 24 hours, put the items in the “giveaway” bag instead.
- Speak their language.
When it comes to getting the kids involved in the cleaning process, if there’s one thing I’ve found to be productive, it’s the importance of speaking their language. I’ve learned that my oldest really enjoys checking off a long list of chores. It makes her feel accomplished. My son seems to only handle 1-2 tasks at a time. However, he finds joy in letting me know he’s completed the job and is ready for another one. Paying attention to how they’re motivated and assigning tasks accordingly for a little more peace during the cleaning process.
- Set habit alarms.
I’ve never been good with making consistent chore charts in the home. However, since technology has been introduced and I find myself paying for cell phone bills I never intended to, I have been using that to my advantage. In working with my teenager to instill better habits, I’ve been having her set alarms on her phone as a reminder to do things like play with the dog, make her bed, and clean her bathroom. If the phone is going to exist in the house, find all the ways to put it to good use.
- Incentivize everyone.
This includes yourself. Spring cleaning isn’t fun for most of us; just one of those things in life we find ourselves having to do. Incentivize everyone in the family to power through the job as quickly and efficiently as possible. Collect the change and take it to the bank, or plan a yard sale with everything you decide you don’t want to keep. Plan a family game night in the clean living room or make plans for a sleepover with friends after the house has been cleaned. Find something that brings you joy as a means of keeping the family motivation turned up enough for the job.
However you spend time cleaning for the season, remember that there is much to be thankful for. Try to find joy in each moment and gratitude for the little things along the way. As my dad often reminded me growing up, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.”
