It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

For the past few years, a large office supply store has run a TV ad showing a dad and his kids shopping for back to school supplies.  The dad is happy, pushing the shopping cart and the kids are moping as they walk behind him.  The song that plays in the background is a Christmas carol, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.   This commercial shows exactly how children and their parents feel about going back to school.  For some, back to school is in August, and some September.  My children attend a school that gets out a few weeks earlier than others and goes back a few weeks later.  Summer has been going on for so long for us it starts to loose it’s fun. 

It can be exhausting as the parent to try and keep your kids summer fun.  If you work, you have to juggle your schedule to make sure your children are cared for.  The costs for camps and day care add up quickly.   If you stay home with your kids, they seem to argue with each other more and complain.  Summer is supposed to be fun times for us.  We think back to when we were kids and the fun we had.  But as adults, reality sets in and life gets in the way of all that fun. 

It is important to try and enjoy this time with your family before we go back to our school schedules.  Being organized and prepared for the day will allow us to enjoy as much of the day as we can.  As a business owner and a mother, I know it can be hard to find that extra time in the day.  I think our bodies need to take the down time that summer days offer.  If it is a late afternoon night at the pool with the family or a bike ride to the park for a picnic dinner.  These smaller efforts don’t have to require all day effort, but will still be a change from the usual and give your kids the fun summer memories they deserve. 

It is funny how we look forward to summer.  We can’t wait to go on vacations, spend time in the sun, and enjoy the activities that only can take place in the summer.  We need to remember that feeling and help our kids enjoy this time as well.  It will change before we know it.  We are excited to get back to the routine school offers, but soon enough we will be wishing for the relaxed summer schedule again!

Oh, the guilt…

When you are ready to start organizing an area in your home you realize the emotional value you have put on your things.  There are items you can readily throw away or donate, but then there are the items you have held onto for a reason.  You feel guilty about getting rid of something that was a gift.  Or, you think you may need this someday.  What about the memories that come with the items?  We have seen on many home organization TV shows where people break down crying because they can’t purge the items in their home.  Not until you truly look at the reason you have been saving your items do you understand their pain.  How can we let go?

First, you will not be able to start to dispose of anything if you are not mentally ready.  You can purchase all sorts of storage containers and organizational tools, but if you have too much stuff you will never feel the calm of having your space organized.  Once you have made the decision you are ready for a change, then you are ready to begin. 

Second, determine why you have held onto something.  Did you save it for the memories, the value, the potential value, the guilt?  Once you have figured out what emotion is behind each item you will be more prepared to make decisions.  If you held onto an item because you think it has monetary value or will eventually have monetary value, look it up on EBay to see what it is going for currently.  I was surprised to find that the 1980’s Sports Illustrated Magazines that my husband has been holing onto are going for about $1.99 each.  Not the big bucks we were expecting!  That made the decision to get rid of them much easier. 

Guilt is a big factor in holding onto items.  From furniture and clothing, to nick-knacks and kids items, people don’t want to hurt others feelings for the gifts (and hand-me-downs) that were given to them.  Most family and friends wouldn’t want you to hold onto an item you no longer need.  Those who can’t understand why you need to dispose of an item may need to hear the reason you are getting rid of their gift.  Let them know you will find good homes for the item(s).  If it is a family member who has admired the item or a charity that will benefit from the item, you can feel good about giving it away.  Goodwill and Salvation Army are well know for taking donations (in good condition), but there are also women’s shelters, animal shelters and other smaller charities that can take your items for those in need.  Finding a good home may take time, but if it helps relieve your guilt, and that is time well spent.  Don’t procrastinate on finding a home, or you will never be free of the item.  Be vigilant in your progress!

The memories of items are the hardest to deal with.  You feel if you get rid of the item you will never remember the good times that came with it.  There are wonderful things you have saved that are worthy of being displayed. Display items as a collection or in a manner that shows its “value” (to you).  If they are not worthy of being displayed, re-evaluate if you really need them.  Can you take a picture of the item and write a note to go along with it telling the story of why it was important to you?  Many times that will be enough to be able to let go.  For those that are tactile and enjoy touching the item, can you clip a part of it off and save it with the picture and story?  Yes this may destroy the item, but letting go is important. 

Make the decision if you want to live in the past (all your memento’s), in the future (one day I may need that), or live for today.  Living for today will help you to keep clutter down.  Organizing isn’t about boxes and bins to put items in, it is about finding homes for those items you need and love.  If everything has a home, then you will be able to find what it is you are looking for.  Putting things away will be easier.  This will free up your time to spend it doing what you want.  Really look at what you are saving and ask yourself why?  This question will help you in your decision making process to accomplish that area you are trying to organize!

Are you prepared?

Have you suddenly lost a loved one, so unexpected you can’t believe it is true?  You look around as if they will walk up to you and tell you it has all been a bad dream.   When you loose someone so suddenly, you realize how much you need to do in case this ever happens to you.  Sudden loss gives you a reality check of what it is you want out of your life.  It also give you the wake up call to make sure your affairs are in order.  I have seen the devastation of a family who’s mother suddenly passed away.  This mother was my step sister.  She had a will, but not executed in the state she was living in.  She had meant to get around to updating it for the current state she lived in, but like most of us thought she had plenty of time to get it done.   The family is going through her papers trying to make sure everything is handled appropriately, but it is time consuming not having everything in order.  She would never have wanted to leave this work to the family, but never thought it would happen to her.

We are so busy in our every day lives that the thought of any deaths or disasters are so far out of mind.  This is the way we should live.  We should be living for today, not in a state of worry about what ifs!  The only way we can truly live is to know we are prepared.  The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” takes on new meaning in the wake of recent natural disasters.   Between Katrina and other major hurricanes, floods, fires, and earthquakes, you hear of so many situations of families who were not prepared for such devastation.  Preparation will make situations like these more manageable, but what do you need to do to be prepared? 

After a disaster, the media will show so many stories of people having trouble with insurance companies.  The insurance companies must protect themselves from fraud, so they require so much documentation to take your claim.  The best way to protect and cover yourself is to do your part and have a home inventory.  If you have done a thorough home inventory you will be able to make a claim easily.  There are many ways to produce a home inventory.  First, before doing any work for an inventory, check with your insurance company to find out what they require.  It is always better to be over prepared than under, but each company is a little different with what they will accept for a claim. Pictures and videos are the best way to prove the condition of what you have and also that you actually own it!  One product on the market I have found to produce your home inventory is  Anywhere Vault.  I am impressed with their easy to use program to help you get your inventory done as quickly as possible.  The program walks you through the steps to produce a very thorough inventory.  Not only will you have your inventory sealed in an on-line “vault” you will be able to have a hard copy to keep on hand.  For more information, check out their site.

Another way to be prepared is to have your will, trusts and health directives up-to-date to ensure all your desires are met.  No one wants to plan for their death, but it is so important for those you leave behind.  No matter what religion you follow, we have no way of knowing when our time here is over.  As matter of fact that may be, you need to make sure you have made the easiest transition for your loved ones.  Talk to your accountant and lawyer to make sure you have everything in order.  Check with them to see how often you should update your documents.  So often people have done these documents, but have failed to update them.  This makes a very difficult time for those you leave behind.  Be proactive to stay prepared! 

Having all your important documents in a safe place that is ready to grab and go is important in the event of a disaster, natural or accidental.  Fire proof safes are a great way to keep your documents good condition in the case of a disaster that you are not home for.  If your home were to catch on fire and you are not home, you can feel confident that your documents will still be intact when you need them.  There is a wonderful product on the market that is recommended by the American Red Cross called Portavault.  It is a binder that helps you gather the important documents you need for any disaster, injury or death.  There are other products on the market, but this product is well planned out including a canvas case that is water-resistant.  Documents that should be kept in this or any ready-to-go case are:

• Emergency plan
• Family communication plan
• Health history
• Emergency contacts
• Household inventory, including valuables and collectibles
• Financial Data, including tax returns, bank account information, stock information, and credit card information
• Home ownership information
• Car information
• Insurance information
• Wills, trusts, health directives
• Children’s up to date photo and fingerprints

Schedule time to put these documents together.  You don’t want to be caught without this done. 

After you have put your documents together and have all your documents up-to-date, you will need to have your emergency kits put together for the home and your car.  These should include a first aid kit, water, and food.  You can find many companies that have these kits for sale on-line.  I highly recommend looking into what you need for the size of your family.  If you have pets, make sure you research what you need to keep them safe.  Also, put together a family plan on what will happen if there is an emergency.  You will give your children peace of mind knowing what to expect when something happens.

Preparation for the unexpected is hard work.  But once you have done this, you will have peace of mind.  You can relax knowing you and your family will be taken care of should anything bad happen.  Here’s to getting this done, and hoping none reading this will ever need to use the things they have prepared!

What happened to my house?

The last day of school is what kids look forward to as early as the first day of school.  Summer is a time for relaxed schedules, fun and sun.  No homework, no tests, no teachers.  Summer is a great time for parents to have relaxed schedules as well.  Vacations, holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day), and beach/pool days make for a great family memories.  But to be able to really enjoy yourself, your family, and your friends the house seems to fall to the wayside!  You might look around and think “what happened to my house?”

When we are in the school year it is easier to plan and schedule our days.  Also, the kids are not home for most of the day!  I am amazed at how fast a room full of boys can eat your weeks worth of groceries and make a clean room look like a tornado blew threw it.  As fast as the kids come in, they are right back out the door to play, and behind them is a path of destruction.  As parents, shuttling our kids to the next great activity seems to keep us so busy we barely have time to do our normal house keeping routine.  How can you get the floor mopped when you are shaking sand out of towels and hosing off sand toys?  Our schedules seem to be more hectic just to have a “relaxing” summer.

Holding our children accountable is the first step in controlling the tornado path.  Set limits, rules and mini schedules to keep things under control.  Hold your children responsible for cleaning up after themselves.  Because your kids are home more, this is a wonderful opportunity to teach them how to laundry, dishes, and other chores if they aren’t doing them yet.  Yes, it is easier and faster to do it yourself (who wants to nag their children), but what does that show your children?  I myself would love to have a cook, a maid and a butler, but the budget just doesn’t allow it.  So why should my children have them for free, all rolled into one, that they like to call “mom”! 

Next, put your chore schedule on a summer break.  If you have had time in the past to do laundry every day, but you are finding that in the summer you are falling behind, re-evaluate when would be a better time to do it.  Maybe this means doing laundry three days a week.  Make sure your family is involved in chores.  I always tell the family we are a team and there is no “i” in team! 

Plan ahead for your week of activities.  If going on vacation or just a busy week of activities prepare for these activities as early as you can.  Make lists for all the items you will need for each day.  This includes keeping up the laundry, the grocery shopping and errands so you will have what you need for your activities.  Set all the items you will need out the night before so you will save time in the morning (especially if you have children sleeping in).  Of course it goes without saying, you need to make sure the whole family is involved.  Have the kids make lists, set out their clothes, pack lunches, and help around the house.  I let my kids know that if they want to do all the fun activities, they need to help me get my work done!  How can I alone do the laundry, cook, clean, chauffeur and still sleep?  I can’t go without sleep – a scary mom takes over my body and I am no fun to be around!

Keeping on top of the chores and errands will help you enjoy the long, lazy days of summer.  Having the family involved will make them more enjoyable!  If you have any great summer ideas to keep your family involved, I would love to hear from you!  Happy summer!