In celebration of "The stress-free Mom"

As most women do, I am always in search if the latest trends in home life management. How can I make the most of my day, accomplish teaching, laundry, make dinner and still be fresh and engaging when my husband arrives home...of the information that is available sometimes it can be so overwhelming, and can often leave us as women overwhelmed; either in the thought of not being perfect in accomplishing set goals, or not having or being able to achieve a realistic starting point. Whatever your state in this ungoing journey here is an article/outline of a presentation given at our Regional Marriage Conference in 2006. What I like is the Godly approach that is presented to help us as mothers and wives keep our focus on God's Word and his leading.

A Few Practical Homemaking Tips

Use what would serve you and your family...

Things I try to keep in mind as I approach my day:

1. I can do nothing that glorifies God when I strive in my own strength.

2. I desperately need God's grace to do anything today.

3. Almost everything I do, I've learned from someone else.

4. My life is not my own but I have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus; therefore, this really is His day-- not mine and I am to be at His disposal as well as my husband's.

5. I have the privilege to glorify God in the details of my day and get to set the tone for our home. Cultivate gratefulness and center my priorities around my husband's. Ask myself, "What would he prefer?"

Our schedule during the day:

1. At least one day a week is a "home day" with no errands--many times we just stay in sweats that day/those days.

2. Don't try to do all the laundry in one day. Our adult laundry day is Tuesday and children's laundry day is

3. Thursdays -- Hang clothes immediately. For larger families, a load/day may work better.

4. Daily rest times for mommy and children: one hour/day after lunch to read or sleep. When the children were younger this was afternoon nap time or their "playpen time". Rest time for me makes me fresh for my husband.

Cleaning:

1. Put away what you take out (except ongoing projects like Legos, models...) . For meal prep.: clean as you go!

2. Have a morning and late afternoon "pick up" time. Run through each room and in 5' or less pick up and straighten whatever needs it. Include your children in this activity.

3. Sweep daily.

4. For cleaning, keep cleaning supplies and paper towels in each bathroom and another central location. For bathrooms: wipe counter and sink daily; spray bathtub after your shower (or the children's baths)--clean it up before your next shower. Take ten minutes and clean all of the toilets in your house. Do a 15' cleaning of the main living area (family room/living room and kitchen) as needed, weekly using Swiffer cloths (wet/dry) and Windex and antibacterial cleaner for the kitchen. I clean my kitchen one evening/week after dinner (for only 15'). For vacuuming, train your children to sit and play on a sofa/bed while you vacuum. Or, train older children to vacuum. Include your children in as many cleaning tasks as possible.

Food Prep/Groceries:

1. Develop a shopping "rhythm"--where, when, how often. I find it freeing to shop monthly (except for bread and milk). Typically the more frequently you go, the more you spend and the easier it is to buy things you don't need.

2. Have a set list for monthly shopping. Highlight what you need.

3. If you use coupons, save them in a file and only clip/sort them monthly. Record sales and coupons on your list. The time you spend doing this saves time and money.

4. Plan your meals. Find a system you like. I decide the night before what we'll have the next night and get out the meats from my freezer.

Gifts/Cards:

1. Make and use a master list and look at it the same time each month. Budget how much money per gift you can spend.

2. Trust God for creative ideas within the budget you have.
   

Prepared for Sovereign Grace Ministries Regional Marriage Conference (Northeast) 2006