| te the merriment we all experience at the beginning of | | | | Inbox and Outbox |
| the back to school season, there seems to be a rapid | | | | With all the paperwork going through your house it is |
| decline in our moods the moment the dreaded | | | | probably very hard to keep track of important time |
| paperwork begins to appear in our houses. The | | | | sensitive documents. There is nothing as horrible as |
| countertops, dresser tops, table tops, and back seat of | | | | your child getting to go to his class swim party |
| the car all seem to grow their very own pile of papers. | | | | because you never got around to signing his |
| All of those school supplies that were purchased at | | | | permission slip. Designating a specific box or basket in |
| the beginning of the year have now made their way | | | | the house as the “inbox” for all school |
| back into our homes in the form of school projects, art | | | | related papers can drastically cut back on life |
| projects, mobiles, and dioramas. Not to mention that | | | | shattering “mommy mistakes”. Every |
| fact that all the teacher supplies we so generously | | | | night before you snuggle into your bed, go through the |
| donated to the school have also returned to our | | | | inbox and file, sign, toss, or display whatever needs it. If |
| homes in the form of field trip slips, progress reports, | | | | something needs to be signed and returned, sign it and |
| graded homework, and report cards. Where does all | | | | put it right back into their backpacks to be returned the |
| this stuff go? How do we get back our houses? | | | | next day. If an important date needs to be |
| Everything in its Place | | | | remembered, write the date down on your family |
| In every home there seems to be a “junk hot | | | | calendar and toss the paper. You can de-clutter your |
| spot” where everything not nailed down ends | | | | living space and still be on the ball with your |
| up. Backpacks, flip-flops, keys, hats, coats, and leftover | | | | kid’s important school stuff. |
| lunches all seem to end up in the same spot in your | | | | Home Art Museum |
| kitchen. Why not make that “hot spot” | | | | All those school supplies and classroom supplies you |
| the dump spot? Actually designating a place in your | | | | purchased at the beginning of the year have made a |
| home where you and you kids throw their everyday | | | | triumphant return as a beautiful piece of art. Paper |
| things will actually help cut down on clutter elsewhere | | | | Mache snowmen, multi-colored paper chains, |
| in your universe. Make sure that you have set up | | | | painstakingly drawn pictures of the family standing |
| specific bins for things to go into. Have a special | | | | around a large pumpkin. When all those amazing |
| hanging hook where you and your kids put your keys. | | | | pieces of imagination come flowing through your door, |
| Have a shoe rack where you and your kids can put | | | | you will want to display them proudly for all to see. The |
| your shoes. Have a coat rack where you can all put | | | | fridge might not be big enough to hold so many |
| your coats. This doesn’t just sound simple, it is | | | | wonderful works of art, so set aside a wall in the |
| simple. | | | | family room or kitchen where you can display with |
| School Supply Storage | | | | much pomp, your child’s newest achievement. |
| With all the money you spent at the beginning of the | | | | Let the artwork hang there until the next great |
| school year, you aren’t just going to let all your | | | | masterpiece graces your abode, and switch them, |
| children’s school supplies get lost in the mess | | | | leaving the new artwork hanging and putting the old |
| that is your house? If your kids don’t need | | | | away in a storage container for later. |
| them at school, you should set aside a place in your | | | | With your schedule already super crammed, your |
| house where you can store school supplies when they | | | | shopping list already overflowing with school supply |
| are not in use. Buying baskets or storage bins and | | | | needs, and your brain exploding with important dates, |
| labeling them with the appropriate item, will help you | | | | being able to find space, peace, and order in your own |
| sort and store all those special items for their special | | | | home may just save your life. |
| projects. | | | | |