Eschelle Westwood’s Top 3 Tips for Organization

Posted on July 6, 2012 by admin No Comments

Eschelle Westwood is the writer of Mumfection and is a dedicated young mother to two wonderful (though mischievous at times) boys.  She loves them dearly and as cruel fate would have it they are exactly like herself and her hubby; clearly giving them a run for their money on a daily basis.  On top of all of this chaos she runs a very small in-home childcare – just two kiddos on top of her two boys, but it is certainly enough to keep her constantly cleaning, bending, wiping bums, cleaning more, setting up things, taking down things, trying to wrangle them for activities and all that GREAT stuff.

In our quest, at the Organized Mom Awards, to share the secret’s of moms who juggle 1000 things, we asked Eschelle to share the top 3 tips that help her to be an organized mom.

Here’s what she said:

As a young mother to two boys, plus running a daycare I find being and staying organized a constant battle.  But just because something is a constant battle doesn’t mean it is impossible, believe it or not I manage to keep myself, and my family, very organized… if you exclude my sometimes messy home.  What exactly are my secrets??  Well, I can’t share all of them with you but I will certainly give you my top three secrets.

 

1.      Tidying as you go is a HUGE key element to keeping a tidy, happy home.  When I say tidy as you go, I honestly mean that.  You need to go to the bathroom?  Why not grab some of the kid’s clothes or toys that are lying on the floor and take them down there on the way.  The exact definition of killing two birds, with one stone.  Coming back from the bathroom??  Why not empty the garbage or quickly wipe the mirror clean before leaving?  Again things that only take seconds, but all those seconds really add up.  There you have become an efficient cleaning machine!

2.      Keeping a calendar complete with fun stickers is one of my favorite ways to stay organized!  I put down EVERY appointment any of us has, as well as keep all our daycare activities listed, complete with times and addresses when needed.  This does take a little time but I promise it is fun when you have your little stickers and a glass of red wine!  Another thing that we make sure that we have on our calendar are times for “mommy/daddy time” and even when and what I will be working on that day.  I have to admit I am guilty for having three calendars… one tidy, one super tidy and one horrifically messy for the daycare kids fluctuating personal schedules.

3.      Routine; I have to ensure to keep a very strict daily schedule for my boys and daycare.  Trust me it is more for my own sanity than anything else.  They have the same bedtime each day, same bed time routine, same wake up time (unless mommy is sneaky and sleeps in) and this helps keep everyone on the same page from DAY ONE.  Of course we aren’t perfect and things get in the way and come up but for the most part this schedule is the thing that prevents me from ending up in the loony bin and I am so happy I have stayed diligent with the process.  After all how on earth can you be an organized mom if you are committed right?!  

So that is a small look into a few of the BIG things that I do to keep a happy, tidy and organized home, and believe you-me, with a daycare of all boys and a husband to look after it is a HUGE challenge in this house.  Just don’t look in my room…

Read more of Eschelle Westwood’s writing here…