Home Management Binder: Task Manager NOT Task Master

The other day I gave you a little glimpse at my Home Management Binder and my favorite page, the Daily Checklist. In theory, if I do everything on that page perfectly, my house will be kept in a constant state of order and cleanliness. However, I don't actually expect that will ever happen.

Having 4 children means I have to be organized yet flexible with my days. If I'm not thoughtful and organized then not much will get accomplished. I will fall way behind with housework and will quickly become overwhelmed. If I'm not flexible then I will become too rigid, get irritated when my children and unexpected circumstances interrupt my perfect schedule and will generally be a busy, cranky mom.

Its all about balance. My Home Management Binder's Daily Checklist is more like a goal sheet than anything else. It is a Task Manager not a Task Master. I use it to remind me what needs to be done each day and to exhort me to press on when I'm feeling lazy about doing housework. However, I must refuse to let a checklist rule my day. Most days don't go perfectly. Life, especially with 4 children, is unpredictable. Some days my children need me more than others. Some days we have activities that mess up our schedule. Some days I need to just let myself be lazy. When those things happen and all my little boxes don't get checked off, I need to remind myself to not feel discouraged or guilty.

Checklists and home management systems are a great tool! A good system can make life so much easier on us moms. We must also keep in mind though, that these tools are not our masters. Let's not be so focused on having a perfectly clean and organized house that we forget to stop and play, read, sing, talk, teach, dance, discipline and love our children.

Song for a Fifth Child 

Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.