Making All Those Gifts Fit: Tackling The After-Holiday Clutter

Christmas has passed and that means that there are stacks of new toys, clothes, appliances, etc. hanging around the house. It can look overwhelming, and I know that when my house is cluttered I am grumpy and discombobulated.

Even though it isn’t spring, it is a good time to consider a large “spring cleaning” project with your children while you have them home. It’s the best time to get their help so you don’t have to do it all on your own. If your children won’t help, you can even hold their new gifts hostage until their closets and toy chests are cleaned out and organized.

A few things that can help you organize your children’s closets and your home in general are:

-???????? Make sure there’s a place for each toy. If the toys have a specific home it is easier for your children to stay organized. Shoe box organizers stack neatly and are often clear so it’s easy to know what is inside. Labels are also wonderful.

-???????? Make sure the broken toys are disposed of. If it doesn’t work, it isn’t worth keeping.

-???????? Check clothing for sizes and stains. If there’s no one to pass the clothes down to once they don’t fit – it is time for a trip to the thrift store or a younger cousin’s house. And if the item is stained and your children already have play clothes – the stained items can be gotten rid of.

-???????? Set an example of letting go. Show your children that there’s nothing wrong or emotionally damaging about getting rid of unneeded items. Go through your closets before.

-???????? Look to recycle within your home – then donate.

-???????? “One in, one out” is a good rule to have. For every new toy that needs a home another old toy should be taken away.

Not all of these work for every home, but consider each possibility and find what works for you and your family.

Consider next year doing this before the holidays and disguising it as a service project. When your children get rid of a toy or an article of clothing they can feel good knowing someone less fortunate will be blessed because of it. This may also help motivate them to let go of the things they don’t really care about but keep just in case.

What do you do to tackle the after-holiday-clutter? How do you keep your home organized?

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By Brooke
returntosimplertimes.blogspot.com
writerswriteon.blogspot.com

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Making Family Home Evening Happen

by Malina
Monday evenings are supposed to be Family Home Evenings for Latter Day Saints. "It [is] to be a time of teaching, of reading the scriptures, of cultivating talents, of discussing family matters." - President Gordon B. Hinckley. Traditionally Family Home Evenings involve opening and closing prayers and songs, a gospel lesson, an activity and refreshments.

When children are little, it can be hard to feel like they are listening or learning anything. When you have a large age range of children, it can be difficult to create lessons that accommodate the variance in learning styles. Additionally, establishing the habit of holding family home evening takes effort. This past General Conference again had a message of the importance of holding family home evening.

?"Courageous parenting does not always involve saying no. Parents also need courage to say yes to the counsel of modern-day prophets. Our Church leaders have counseled us to establish righteous patterns in our homes. Consider five fundamental practices that have the power to fortify our youth: family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, family dinner together, and regular one-on-one interviews with each child." - Elder Larry R. Lawrence

If you have ever had a hard time with family home evening, take heart that you aren't alone. But don't give up. Be strong and courageous and keep trying. Sometimes a lesson may only last thirty seconds. Perhaps all you do for a lesson is read a story from The Friend. The most important thing is that you keep trying and doing your best. I think the following analogy is especially effective:

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes." - Elder David A Bednar

To make family home evening happen consistently, it must be a priority. Write it on the calendar and do not schedule anything else on Monday evenings. In my experience it is best not to combine Family Home Evening with calendaring or planning sessions. When you mainly have children under five, a successful lesson will be only about five minutes (or less) and the entire meeting will probably only be 20-30 minutes, unless you have a longer activity. Simple lessons are often more effective than elaborately planned ones.

Suggested resources for variety: The Friend or New Era or Ensign magazines, The Family Home Evening Resource Book, Gospel Principles, The Nursery manual "Behold your little ones", the most recent General Conference edition of the Ensign, numerous websites of ideas exist, including this one from the LDS church. This one contains a large index of ideas on various topics too.

What has been the best thing for helping your family consistently hold family home evening? What positive effects has you seen as a result of your consistent efforts?

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Making Time for Teens

Making Time for Teens

There's a popular song by lyricist and songwriter Harry Chapin that points out how easily time slips past us. The last verse and chorus of this poem/song (see below) drives home a poignant family relation lesson; no matter how good our intentions our actions ply the greatest influence.

Cat's in the Cradle

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me

He'd grown up just like me

My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little boy blue and the man on the moon

When you comin' home son?

I don't know when, but we'll get together then son

You know we'll have a good time then.

Why is it difficult to talk to your teens?

Teenagers, with their growing minds and curious natures are busy exploring their new social, intellectual, and emotional world. In their need to explore, they might begin to "push back" when parents attempt to connect with them. Parents often take this brush off as a mistaken cue to "let them be."

Parents who take them time to "ask" what the presumed brush off means often discover that they are not wanting to push parents away as much as they are wanting to define their own identity. Teenagers want parents in their lives. They may not announce it, but they do want parents to ask about their interests, their activities, and their goals. They want time to feel their parents love and see it in a personal way.

Creative Ways to tune into your teen.

• Leave messages on mirrors with dry erase board markers?
• Text them encouraging words at random times during the day
• Make efforts to arrange your schedule to be home when they arrive home?
• Include them in family discussions and let them feel apart of the solution.?
• Schedule activities together that interest your teen.
• Create family traditions of Monthly Movies, Weekly Wednesday, Terrific Tuesday dates, etc.?
• Post photos of you and your teen around your home?
• Leave notes of encouragement within their text books or game gear
• Attend their games, recitals, concerts, matches etc.?
• Play a game together.?
• Run a race together.?
• Plan a trip together.?
• Work on a common project (repairing a car, sewing a quilt)?
• Post a funny comic strip on the refrigerator that relates to their interests.
• Visit them at work (movie theatre, restaurant, store) etc.?
• Have a yearly school shopping trip tradition (away from your home town)

What other ways can you think of to connect with your teen?

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