In One Door,
Out the Same Door
The biggest challenge for most households is to get everyone fed,
dressed and out of the house each day. While it’s important
that children learn responsibility, parents should aid in this process.
The key to avoiding the last minute rush is successful
organization, which can begin with a quick trip to the nearest store
to pick up plastic bins, drawers and other organizers.
Remember to make a place for daily necessities.
So much time is wasted hunting for library books, gloves, pencils,
sneakers and other things—just when you’re heading out
the door. Therefore, a successful exit depends on the right entrance.
As soon as everyone enters the house, he or she should place cell
phones and keys in a designated spot, shoes on a rack and coats
in the closet. Try an organizing unit in your coat closet, garage
or another convenient location. Sonal has plastic bins by the door
to hold gloves and hats that can be dropped in or grabbed at the
last minute. Jyoti, a mother of three, has cubbies for each child
and a place for their athletic gear in the mudroom.
‘Twas the Night Before School
Parents who have it together start the night or even the week before
school. A compartmental closet organizer is great for holding a
week’s worth of outfits. Let the child be involved in the
selection so there are no morning power struggles over outfits.
While most parents prepare lunches the night before, Ayesha takes
it further by writing a detailed lunch menu for the week. That way,
she or her husband can refer to the plan and make the lunches accordingly.
What about your lunch? For salad eaters, precut mixes are helpful
or make your own by storing chopped veggies. Also, tackle the fruits
for everyone. Put a handful of grapes or berries into plastic snack
bags for an easy and healthy ‘grab and go.’
When your child comes home from school, review notices and homework
assignments immediately. Make sure there isn’t anything special
that needs to be done in advance. I admit I’ve searched and
found “show and tell” items in my car in front of the
school. When the paperwork becomes overwhelming, I drop every paper
into a folder to be read while waiting at my daughter’s activities.
Don’t forget Pajama Day or Purple Hat Day at school by having
everything spelled out on a calendar. Find what works best for you.
Some families hang a bulletin board, large calendar or dry-erase
board in a central location like the kitchen so the kids can make
notes themselves. Other mothers rely on their own planners, Blackberries
or other PDAs to keep track of all the activities and task lists.
It’s in the Bag
We always had diaper bags stocked with the essentials like pacifiers
and wipes. Now we can do the same with bags for school, sports,
dance and other activities. Make sure every item is placed back
properly in the bag after the activity is finished.
We have knapsacks for library books, CDs and magazines. All these
bags have designated spots, so bags are not floating into the garage
or guest room. Steps like this can save you a trip home to pick
up the other ballet slipper or can prevent you from wasting time
looking for library books and homework folders.
Kitchen Duties
My parents always insisted on fresh and traditional meals every
night, so cooking took a lot of time. There’s a significant
difference in my generation. We enjoy traditional meals but are
equally happy to make cheese quesadillas. Our parents needed fresh
rotis, but we find whole wheat tortillas sufficient. If
rotis are a staple in your house, it’s easy to make
a batch and freeze small quantities (packs of eight) and simply
toast before serving. To cut preparation time, the dough can be
made a day or two in advance, plastic wrapped and refrigerated.
Then the fresh rotis can be made as needed. Don’t
forget to explore the frozen section at your location South Asian
grocery store; many offer good selections of rotis and
parathas, as well as other shortcuts that will make dinnertime
easier.
Regardless of the menu selection, many people prefer
to cook in bulk and freeze into portion size containers. Ayesha
suggests having one multifunctional item. For example, a chicken
is served roasted, and leftovers used for kabobs, sandwiches and
chicken pulao. This also works for vegetables and leftover
rice, which can be stir-fried and re-seasoned. Never underestimate
the power of a good masala.
Minutes Here and There Save Hours
Breaking large chores into smaller tasks can save a lot of time.
We’re spinning now: I tackle the laundry by sorting
laundry the night before and starting the washer early in the morning.
I toss clothes in the dryer before leaving the house and fold the
clothes in the evening while watching TV. I prefer to do it this
way than spend a weekend of marathon laundering.
Soaping it up: Yasmina recommends each bathroom be kept
fully stocked, which means buying multiple cleaning products. Take
a few minutes to clean when you’re in the bathroom. For example,
if your child is bathing independently, disinfect the bathroom sink
while keeping an eye on the bubble flow. Again, it’s the five
minutes here and there.
The mail mania: It’s easy to let the mail pile up
until you’ve forgotten you have counter tops. Sonal hired
a professional home organizer, who advised her to sort mail using
accordion folders with labeled pockets. For example, all the tax
documents can be filed in one pocket so each important form is readily
available on April 14th. The organized person’s mantra is
“touch each paper once,” so upon opening an envelope
decide whether to keep, toss or act on it.
Millions of little pieces: Sometimes even inanimate objects
tend to take roots. Oddball items become permanent fixtures if they’re
not put away immediately. So, take a few minutes to put away items
like toys and tools.
Speaking of cleaning up toys, use your kids. When my daughter was
in preschool, the play area covered with small toy pieces with hardly
a square foot left open. I said to the aide, “Wow, you have
your job cut out for you.”
She said nonchalantly, “Oh, I get the kids to put it back.”
I was surprised that toddlers could put toys back, especially mine.
Yet they did. The preschool teachers (and Barney) use clean up songs
to motivate them. Since then, I’ve enlisted my daughter in
all toy clean ups through song, competitions or simply by negotiating
the division of labor (I put the clothes away and she puts away
the dolls).
Make(ing)up is not so hard to do: I was surprised how
much a simple three-drawer organizer changed my morning makeup routine.
I used to rummage through baskets, picking up the wrong things.
Now, I pull out one drawer, which holds my daily basics like eyeliner
and foundation. Another drawer holds all the lipstick and the last
one has the eye shadow.
Time’s Up
Keep in mind that these are all suggestions from different people,
and it’s up to every member in the house to do his or her
best. We can’t be perfectly organized all the time. We may
still show up fifteen minutes late to birthday parties or drive
to the art supply store the night before a project is due. But small
changes can make your lives move along more smoothly.
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