Life. It can be so unpredictable and frustrating. Heartbreaking. Annoying.
It seems like every time I attempt to get my life organized something has to come up and force me into a proverbial game of 52 card pick up.
I am still determined however to find a system that works. To keep trying until I find a routine that works for my family!
So in review, here are things that are working and a few that didn't pan out.
#1) my dry erase weekly board is doing well. I like being able to scribble things up there that are not on my printable cleaning calendar-whether its just flat out not on the calendar anywhere or if its something that can't wait until the specified day. I can even jot down phone calls I need to make or a bill I need to be sure to pay.
#2) I went out and purchased a vinyl black dry erase calendar so that my family and I could have a good glimpse of what the month holds for us. I prefer the dry erase method to a regular paper calendar because it is much easier to remove or change things and is reused every month. I am able to use it for things I don't mind every one seeing and I since I put it on teh wall right above my computer screen I am sure to see it on a regular basis.
#3) In general my JustMommies.com housekeeping schedule has been kept. I recently experienced some health issues that required surgery so I fell behind a bit but that is how life works sometimes and I find that because things are spaced out well (and catch up days are written in to the schedule) it won't be too difficult to catch up.
Things that have not worked so well...
#1) My kids chore charts. Originally it was a success. Printing out the fill able charts for my two older boys and hand writing the chorse in and adding star stickers for each day they completed them. The problem-constantly having to reprint the chart and there is not a lot of room for everything-so you have to chose the "important" things to list while leaving off stuff like brushing teeth, making bed etc. I also think that having it on my fridge is not the best location since we don't allow the kids access to the kitchen without permission.
My solution: I am on the hunt for a chore chart that gives me room for everything I expect the kids to do everyday. I also need to find a place to put it that the kids can see it and perhaps even mark the stuff as done on their own. I would like to make it so that the younger ones cant destroy it either! I also would like to find a way to incorporate their reward/goal onto the chart so they can see what they are working towards.
SO far things I have seen are:
Putting the printed chart in an photo frame and using a dry erase marker to mark them as finished.
I like this idea because the frame can be an 8x10 which gives me plenty of room and the frame can be done in a way that allows each child to have their own. I like that while it uses paper it does not require reprinting because you are marking on the glass. I could even add pictures for the younger ones who can't read.
What I am leery of is the dry erase marker part-I don't want the younger ones getting a hold of it and marking up my walls, floors etc but the older ones need to be able to check things off as done. I also don't like how if I want to add or change a task I will have to reprint and change out the papers every time.
Using a magnetic premade chore chart
This is something I am actually going to try. I bought the Melissa and Doug Magnetic chore chart. It was $17.99 on Amazon and it will be here in a couple days. The downside to this is that it is only for one child and the magnets can get lost-so we will see if it was worth the money. I am hoping that perhaps I can find a way to use it for my two older kids at once-but it is mainly for my 6 year old.
I am still trying to find a routine and a way to have that schedule set up for my kiddos. So far I found a pocket chart for $10.99 on Amazon that allows for the name of the activity, the time in numerical form as well as on an analog clock face. I am excited to see how this works for me as well as my kids since they will be able to SEE the chart.
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