Streamlining The Morning Routine

(found in September 2009 issue of Parents magazine)

Here are some ways to help make mornings before school (or preschool) run much smoother, without chaos following you out the door:

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THE NIGHT BEFORE

Make sure homework is done and all papers are signed.

Have the backpack ready to go and sitting next to the door.

Choose an outfit, all the way down to socks and shoes. Let your kids get involved with this.

Get the next day's "gear" ready to go (piano lesson materials, soccer gear, etc) so that you can just grab it and go.

Pack lunches (refrigerate over night if necessary).

Have a calming bedtime routine. Make sure your child gets enough sleep.

Plan a nutritious breakfast for the next morning (set everything you will need out).

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IN THE MORNING

Be the first one up so that your head will be on right when your kids get up.

Allow time for the slow riser or poky eater.

Have a "no electronics" rule before school. Turning things on like TVs, video games or computers only will add to the frenzy.

Stick to a routine every morning, but keep it simple.

Make sure the last moments with your kid are loving ones - give attention, a big hug, a kiss, a smile.

Stay-At-Home Moms Need A Schedule, Too

A common area overlooked by stay-at-home moms is not having a schedule on which to operate. For a preschoolers, not having anything "definite" to look forward to in any given day or week can result in the discipline issues or just sheer-out boredom. Moms suffer from lack of a schedule or routine as well. It's easy to become stressed or unmotivated without some skeleton of what a day or week is going to look like. Having a routine in place helps everything run smoother and more efficiently, and your family will appreciate knowing what to expect.

If you don't have a routine, or are struggling with your current schedule below are some examples of real moms who live by a routine to get your started:

• Creating a Weekly Routine
• Routine With Kids (includes 20 practical pointers for having a routine for your kids)
• Monday-Friday Schedule
• Daily Schedule
• Fall Schedule

Does something work especially well for your family? Share with us!

Downloadable Resources for Women

Check out this extensive database of resources for women. Topics include:

• abortion
• being a godly woman
• church
• devotions
• forgiveness
• christian living topics (topical)
• God
• gratitude
• holidays
• marriage
• mentoring
• modesty / sexual purity (single or married)
• parenting
• prayer
• priorities
• relationships
• revival
• suffering
• women in ministry
• women of the bible

to view details for each topic, or to download resources visit the Revive Our Hearts website

There Are No Mundane Tasks In Mothering

from "No Mundane Tasks," part of a 31-day series on Revive Our Hearts (a radio program for women), hosted by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

to read the entire transcript or to listen to the broadcast go here

Remember

... as you’re cleaning - as you’re ironing, sewing, picking up, as you’re painting, as you’re beautifying your home, as you’re doing things to make your home attractive, remember that you’re painting a picture for your children—a picture of God. You’re demonstrating to your children in ways that penetrate deep into their hearts, the heart of God, the ways of God, and you’re increasing the likelihood that your children will grow up to love that God and to want to be like Him. You’re demonstrating parables of spiritual life to your children as you work with your hands, as you serve in your home.

... when you prepare food for your family, you’re demonstrating to them that God is a faithful provider.

... when you’re being quality conscious in the things that you purchase, you’re showing your children the excellence of the character of God.

... as you are orderly, you are teaching your children that God is a God of order.

... when you clean things up in your home, when you keep a clean home, you’re showing your children the importance of purity, holiness of heart, of being clean and washed before God.

... when you’re disciplined in your life and habits and schedule and the time you get up and the time you go to bed according to the way that God has directed your family, you’re teaching your children that the Christian life requires discipline. You are teaching them that you can’t just stay in bed and become spiritual. It requires effort and cooperation with God’s Spirit to develop godly habits, patterns, and sanctification in our lives.

... when you reach out your hands…to the poor and the needy and you’re ministering to the needs of others, you’re showing your children the heart of God for those who are poor and needy and oppressed.

There is indeed NO mundane task! Every task assigned to you is spiritual and paints a picture of God to your children.

Hosting Overnight Guests: How To Create A Welcoming Environment

You don't have to have a gigantic house, or even a perfectly-decorated one to have overnight guests feel welcome and comfortable in your home. Check out these 10 tips for preparing and hosting visitors in your home:

1. Be yourself. Truly. Most house guests aren’t expecting a perfectly immaculate house, and if they are, there’s no point in loading your shoulders with the pressure to try. The best kind of guests are there to see you, not you on stage.
2. Let your guests be themselves. Really mean it when you say, “make yourself at home.” If you’re willing to have guests, be willing to let them put their feet up on your coffee table ... {click here to read more}

Spring Cleaning for People With Allergies or Asthma

Check out this short article about how to spring clean your home when someone in your house has allergies or asthma - from the seventh generation blog

Menu Planning Made Easy

What is menu planning?

Planning in advance what you will be cooking in a given period of time (week, 2 weeks, month, etc).

Benefits of menu planning:

• it's efficient: you can create your grocery list from the ingredients lists of your recipes. Gone are the days of staring blankly into the pantry or frantically rummaging through the refrigerator in search of what to eat or what to shop for.
• it's budget-friendly: Less food is wasted because you buy/use only what you need.
• you can have variety: You keep track of how often you eat what, so you can plan in new dishes or family favorites.
• it's healthier: Eating at home is healthier than eating out. You know exactly what goes into your meals, and can even alter the recipes to certain health needs or caloric requirements.

Creative Meal Planning Ideas

• dedicate each night of the week to a different type of food {soup, salads, crockpot, one-dish, ethnic food, seasonal favorite, etc}
• create a theme night once a week {a great resource for ideas can be found here}

Resources for menu planning

A Basic Guide to Meal Planning - simplemom.net - all you need to do to get started

7 Tips to Simplify Meal Planning - workitmom.com - basic guidelines to helping meal-planning run smoothly in your house

Family Nights - whittakerwoman.typepad.com - fun and creative ideas for making family nights special for everyone

Menu Planning Resources & Ideas - simplemom.net

Family Nights

Here is a great resource for creating memorable family nights with your family. This mom has three children - two biological and one adopted - and is married to the worship pastor at Buckhead Church in the Atlanta suburbs.

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Check out this amazing woman's ideas and perhaps use one in the next week!

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Whittaker Woman Blog - Family Nights Archive

Tennis Balls + Down = Fluff

Are your down coats, vests, etc in need of a cleaning but you don't want them to end up all clumpy after a wash? Try this:

1. Wash item(s) in a detergent such as Woolite, Woolite Dark (for dark colors like black, brown, navy, etc), or Woolite Color (for bright colors).
2. Remove from wash immediately after final spin.
3. Throw item(s) in dryer along with 2-3 tennis balls, more if you have a large load. It is recommended to dry only 2 or 3 items at a time to achieve best results.
4. Remove from dryer immediately.
5. You coat, vest, etc should be clean and fluffy ... just like new!

How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

Do you ever wonder how companies can pack those fitted sheets so nicely into such small packages? When you try to fold your fitted sheets at home do they just end up in a crumpled ball in your linen closet? Martha Stewart has graciously shared how to (finally) get those sheets folded where they will lie flat in your closet! Click the link below to get step-by-step PHOTO directions!

How to Fold a Fitted Sheet - marthastewart.com