Are you sneaking in some reading time while your kids are occupied? Perhaps you’re tucked away in the nursery, pretending to work on your phone while scrolling through social media, even though your baby has already dozed off in your arms. Or maybe you’re taking a moment to hide from a preschooler who is currently turning every puzzle piece into a colorful floor display instead of napping. With meals to prepare, deadlines looming, and storybooks to read, you might have found yourself googling “how to be an organized mom.”
While I wish I could offer you some sage advice on maintaining calm amidst the chaos as a busy, multi-tasking mom, I’m right there in the trenches with you—juggling three rambunctious kids, serving peanut butter on artisan bread for dinner, and responding to endless demands with a resigned, “I’m doing my best!” Yet, I often ask myself, am I truly doing my best?
I can’t promise you “10 Tips for a Perfectly Organized Week,” but I can share what not to do, which might help you carve your own path to peace and satisfaction:
- Don’t toss clean laundry onto the couch in a messy pile. Just kidding! Go ahead and do this, but remember to wash your own clothes too, or you’ll find yourself rummaging through a mountain of laundry for clean underwear when you least expect it.
- Don’t yell in frustration about stains on baby sister’s blanket. Or ask, “Did the Lego from the toilet fall in before or after it was filled with poop?” Trust me, mentioning poop will only spark a chorus of giggles and jokes from your little ones. And always check that your windows are closed before expressing your exasperation.
- Don’t rely on a diet of chips and salsa. Mix in some healthy ingredients like coconut flour and hemp hearts—if you can figure out what to do with them! Just remember to blend them into a smoothie that you’ll likely forget to drink while navigating your child’s oatmeal meltdown.
- Don’t assume you can finish all your work during nap time. Your children have a sixth sense for this, and they may conspire to skip naps just when you think you have a handle on things.
- Don’t think setting your alarm will give you extra work time before your kids wake up. They can sense your confidence and will promptly wake up earlier than usual.
- Don’t stay up all night to meet deadlines. While this might occasionally work, it’s not a blissful solution. You’ll wake up exhausted, scrambling for clean clothes and trying to manage the morning chaos.
- Don’t try to take a quick nap on the floor. Ninety seconds is just long enough for your kids to take this as an invitation to jump on you or unleash their artistic talents with markers in the living room.
- Don’t take all your kids to the library and plead for waived overdue fees. It’s probably not going to work, even if you think it might.
- Don’t meditate on a public toilet. It may feel like the perfect moment to center yourself, but your crafty toddler might just unlock the stall door and leave you exposed.
- Most importantly, don’t underestimate the freedom found in embracing imperfection. If your kids only had three baths this week, remember that it’s all part of their natural development. Breakfasts of Cheerios and Rice Krispies? They’re still getting calcium from the organic soymilk! And laughing and playing together is more valuable than any Pinterest-perfect project.
So what’s the secret to achieving a calm and happy week? It’s all about embracing your unique chaos, loving your little ones, and letting the rest of the mess slide under the rug—though that rug could definitely use a vacuuming!
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Summary: Embracing the chaos of motherhood is essential for maintaining joy and sanity. By avoiding common pitfalls, moms can find their own unique paths to a fulfilling family life, all while accepting that perfection is not the goal.