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-   -   25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=16937)

xoxoxoBruce 03-29-2008 01:15 PM

25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids
 
This article lists, and explains, 25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids.
Quote:

Anyone who has kids knows that any life with kids is going to be complicated, at least to some degree. From extra laundry to bathing and cooking and shopping and driving and school and chores and crises and sports and dance and toys and tantrums, there is no shortage of complications.

You won’t get to ultra-simple if your life includes children … but you can find ways to simplify, no matter how many kids you have.

Of course we all know about the best laid plans, of parents with children.... but it's worth a shot. ;)

Cloud 03-29-2008 01:35 PM

or, just sell'em to the Indians . . . as my mom threatened.

ETA: good article!

xoxoxoBruce 03-29-2008 07:04 PM

Indians? I thought it was Gypsies.

monster 03-29-2008 07:10 PM

I think there some common sense in ther (which has nothing to do with simplifying your life -e.g. "have toy bins for kids to put their toys in. Well who doesn't do this? simplifying your life is not trying to sort the toys into different bins.)

And this:

Quote:

Simple clothing. It’s best to buy clothes for your kids that will match easily — choose a similar color scheme, so that you’re not always digging through their clothes to find stuff that matches. Go through their clothes every few months to get rid of stuff that doesn’t fit (kids grow so fast!)
NO! Simplify your life by having them choose their own clothes and not caring if they match or not.

This way you avoid the rummaging the matching and the shouting that ensues when they don't want to wear what you've picked out or you hate what they've picked out. Don't buy clothes that need ironing or have lots of buttons until the kids can deal with those issues themselves. And don't waste time going through their closets (how does this "simplify"? -it's another thing to do) -they'll tell you when stuff is too small. Or make a note of it when you see it and pull it when it gets to the laundry.


etc.



grrr
why did this make me so verbose?

simplify your life by not wasting time writing articles like this. ;)

Simplification is more about attitude than actions.

jinx 03-29-2008 07:11 PM

Duct tape isn't even mentioned? What a crock...

monster 03-29-2008 07:13 PM

exactly.

Although wetwipes are...

xoxoxoBruce 03-29-2008 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster (Post 442586)

Simplification is more about attitude than actions.

So you feel it's mind over matter... if you don't mind, it don't matter?
I'm with you on not worrying about the dumb shit, but the article is for people that feel it does matter, to the point it's making their lives hectic.

monster 03-29-2008 08:31 PM

I do see that, but i still feel it's not necessarily simplifying them.

Have more "family time" -since when is that simple? :lol:

Don't schedule back-to-back. great. simpler still, schedule nothing. One diary, that's a good tip -but is there anyone who doesn't do this? I guess there must be. Round here, if it's in the diary in my purse, it happens. If not, it doesn't.

Most of these are tips for a "better family life", rather than a simpler life. But there are a gazillion articles along those lines.... /cynic

monster 03-29-2008 08:35 PM

OK here's a tip for a simpler family life. Buy identical socks for all your kids. Pick a color they all like and go for it (suggest blue). No fighting over ownership, no matching task, only ever one odd sock at most......and no one ever sees socks anyway so they won't get teased about all wearing the same.

SteveDallas 03-29-2008 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster (Post 442603)
Don't schedule back-to-back. great. simpler still, schedule nothing. One diary, that's a good tip -but is there anyone who doesn't do this? I guess there must be. Round here, if it's in the diary in my purse, it happens. If not, it doesn't.

We use Google Calendar. Each of us has our own calendar, shared back and forth (the kids can't actuall change their calendars though). It's worked fairly well.

xoxoxoBruce 03-29-2008 10:12 PM

But in Monster's house, everything revolves around her.

monster 03-30-2008 01:38 PM

What do you mean "in my house"? Since when is it limited? Everything revolves around me, period. Bacause I'm so fat, mostly. It's called gravity.


Thanks for the reminder that no-one can criticise an article you post a link to, though, Bruce. I had forgotten that rule.

xoxoxoBruce 03-30-2008 02:49 PM

You can criticize all you want, but don't expect to go unchallenged, if I don't agree with you.

Do you feel my assertion that, "But in Monster's house, everything revolves around her", is untrue? That you're the one who organizes and coordinates your family's daily routines. Making sure everyone remembers when and where they are supposed to be, and makes sure they get there.
It wasn't a criticism, just an observation from your posts.

skysidhe 03-30-2008 08:25 PM

Good posts of useful suggestions monster. If one put your posts together you'd have an article no body would refute. Oh and it is defo better than the original ;) I didn't get the identical sock thing until mine was 16. lol

SteveDallas 03-30-2008 09:56 PM

I'm surprised they didn't list #26, "don't have them to start with." :angel:


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