Where do i start..advice please...

floss2

When I was still at home, and I did this with my kids too (and it works!), I was told to "tidy your room - if it isn't done by x (usually 2-3 days time) then everything on the floor goes into the bin".

I have to admit to leaving my sons' rooms to them when they hit teenage, as they had to live in it - i could shut the door & walk away. The only rule was they had to put their dirty washing in the linen bin for me. They would succumb every 2-3 weeks & clear up & sort out their own mess!

We also used to have Lego / Playpeople / Scalextrix out after birthdays & Christmas, but I only allowed a week's grace, then it had to be found a real home to live!

Good luck - it's a never ending task!

angie_loves_veg

I just convinced my 5yo to tidy her room using the idea of a '10 minute challenge' I set the kitchen timer and challenged her to completely transform her room with the [strike]bribe[/strike] reward of a sticker for motivation - to all those who suggested it, you are fab!!:grouphug:It worked!!:T AND she loved every minute of it, AND she has asked to do it again tomorrow:eek: (wonders will never cease....)

The living room has just had the same treatment (from me, not her funnily enough) and whilst not transformed, it is certainly a lot better!

Thanks everyone!

kayjay1809

vanilla wrote: »

Thanks for the replies going to do the 15mins in each room.
I think my problem is everything needs sorted, money ,house ,routine for kids, i'm a disaster. Thanks for the support, just need to get organized.

Hiya Twin

You're not alone, I'm a complete failure at this housekeeping stuff, and I only have the one seven year old son to contend with, how people manage with more than one child I don't know!!

I've steered clear of organisation of anything as my mum was the original flylady but now I'm approaching 40 and living in chaos the pennies are dropping that organisation/routine are not dirty words and I'm trying bit by bit to get on track

motherearth31

i must also confes to having a messy house over the holidays i keep telling my slef only 2 more weeks till they are back at school and i will sort it out, but the first week they go back i usually say to my self i deserve a rest for a few days as been busy with the kids all holidays and never get round to doing all the house work i intended to, i cant wait for them to go back to school but for all the wrongreasons its so i can get back into doing a daily clean, its funny i am good at going to my friends house to help her clean but not good at doing my own i might ask her to come and help medo mine when the kids go back to school thanks for all the links will have to put of the cleaning for another day have to read all of them first lol

lil_me

Little steps, one thing at a time so slow yourself down a little and look at it a little and work out where to start, or you'll just be chasing your tail in my experience.

Think of the most important thing you need to get a grip on, work on it, conquer it, then move on to the next, bit by bit you will get there! Maybe the house first, or the finances, pick one and tackle it rather than trying to be superwoman. We're all only human.

With household stuff, start with what can go, the less rubbish the less to keep tidy, personally I would work rom by room aswell rather than a bit in each all the time, as then you see a difference sooner.

With the littlies as mentioned you could use rewards, I found www.chartjungle.com when working on them wth my boys. They earn points which become pocket money (each point is a penny) but can use stickers, small treats etc to work to for younger ones, everything can be modelled to fit the age. I've known it even working well on messy teens :eek:

You're more than welcome to join us on the Flylady Thread which works slightly different to the original set up, working room by room on levels each day for beginners or those who are busy. Ideas on decluttering aswell as oodles of support.

First challenge is realising that with children you'll never have the 'perfect home' unless either you have staff to do things for you or you ave no life. You're not alone!