By Stacy DeBroff

Starting a big cleaning project after you've let things go for months can overwhelm you. This time, take extra time to develop an overall structure that will help you restore and maintain order throughout the season.

It may feel like you are too far behind already to spend time making files and reordering drawers, but it's an up-front investment that will pay off with less work and more organization in the long run.

As inspiration, keep in mind the results of feeling less harried, as well as having time freed up to enjoy your child and do things for yourself.

Hire a babysitter to come in for two hours while you reorganize. You'll have a time limit, and since you're paying someone, you're likely to use the time well.

ASSIGN EVERYTHING IN YOUR HOUSE A HOME.

This way everyone in your family knows where to find what they need, and more importantly, they know where to put it away. You probably use this principle to organize your china cabinet or dresser, with clearly defined places for plates and cups, or drawers for socks or underwear. Bring this thinking to the broader aspects of your home to save many hours of searching for things. It dramatically cuts down on the clutter of items left out "for now" or "until I find a place for it."

CLUTTER MUST BE DEALT WITH DAILY, A LITTLE AT A TIME.

Accept that some degree of clutter with a child in your home is inevitable, but a little clutter can build up fast.

Don't wait for a big block of time to tackle it.

Before you buy any household item, consider the time it will take to maintain it, the space it will take up in your house, and where will you store it.

Make it a general policy to try to get rid of one old thing for every new purchase that enters your home.

If you have stairs, never go up or down them empty-handed. Always bring stuff with you that belongs to upstairs rooms and put it away.

IT'S EASIER FOR YOUR CHILD TO KEEP HER BEDROOM AND TOYS NEAT IF THEY START OUT WELL-ORGANIZED.

When it comes to organizing your child's toys, you may eventually find yourself dealing with a toy flotilla that seems to acquire a life of its own, movingfrom room to room in your house.

Resist the urge to wade into the mess alone with a garbage bag in tow. Instead, consider the organization process a learning activity for your child in which you gradually begin to play the role of consultant. Get her in the habit of cleaning up toys every night.

Make it as easy as possible for your child to put away her toys without help. Ample low shelf space and plenty of crates, buckets, cork boards, and boxes will make cleaning up toys easier, as there will be a home for each type of toy when the time comes to put everything away. And the next time your child will be able to find what she wants without dumping everything out into a pile on the floor.

ANTICIPATE AND PLAN FOR REPEAT ACTIVITIES, AND ESTABLISH DAILY ROUTINES THAT HELP ALLEVIATE STRESS FOR YOUR FAMILY.

A key stress point for families is mornings, when tempers start to flare, leisure time disappears, and grouchiness prevails.
Designate a space for each family member, such as a cubby, cabinet, or a spot in your mud room, for whatever your family needs in order for each person to get out the door in the morning.

By changing your routine in the evening to include laying out clothes, getting backpacks and briefcases ready, packing and refrigerating lunches, setting the breakfast table, and setting up coffee to go, you eliminate the mad scramble of the morning.

CONVENE FAMILY MEETINGS AS A REGULAR PART OF YOUR WEEK TO PLAN THE COMING WEEK AND TALK OVER HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

Meetings encourage your family members to come together, learn about each other's week, sort out collective priorities, understand what's expected of one another, and air topics of concern.

Use your meeting time primarily for building communication and support. When your child is very young, set aside this time to compare notes with your partner. Begin to include your child starting around age four, even if she only participates by listening.

MAKE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO YOU.
NO AMOUNT OF ORGANIZING CAN FIX AN OVERCOMMITTED HOUSEHOLD.
Prioritizing, while it seems obvious, often falls by the wayside in the midst of everyday details.

Get comfortable saying no to commitments that don't interest you or that you don't have time for.

Drop unimportant and time-consuming obligations from your family's schedule to reduce the burdens on your time. While being organized will help you accomplish more, it is no panacea to overburdened schedules.

TAKE TIME TO NURTURE YOURSELF.

You need to replenish all the parenting energy that goes out to your child, all the work energy that your job consumes, the effort you put into your household responsibilities, and the spiritual energy needed to build and maintain relationships with family and friends.

Carve out time for yourself and your interests, so your role as "Mom" doesn't consume you, especially since there's no official time off from the work of parenting. You risk profound frustration by completely subordinating your own needs and interests to those of your family.

When your own leisure time deteriorates, stress spills over to your family.

MAKE SURE, IN THE MAYHEM OF MANAGING YOUR FAMILY, THAT YOU AND YOUR PARTNER SET ASIDE ENOUGH TIME FOR EACH OTHER.

It's difficult to work on your relationship with your partner when you feel exhausted.

Establish a date night every week or every other week with your partner and without your child. Make it a real date, with time for conversation, intimacy, and reconnection. Talk about your family and work-related issues for twenty minutes and then make that an off-limits topic for conversation.

Taking care of your relationship ultimately preserves the family life you strive to create for your child.

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