25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids

xoxoxoBruce · 03-29-2008, 01:15 PM

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

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?

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

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."

03-29-2008, 07:04 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Indians? I thought it was Gypsies. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-29-2008, 07:11 PM	#5
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Duct tape isn't even mentioned? What a crock... __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

03-29-2008, 07:13 PM	#6
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	exactly. Although wetwipes are... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-29-2008, 08:31 PM	#8
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I do see that, but i still feel it's not necessarily simplifying them. Have more "family time" -since when is that simple? 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 __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-29-2008, 08:35 PM	#9
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	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. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-29-2008, 01:35 PM	#2
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	or, just sell'em to the Indians . . . as my mom threatened. ETA: good article! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

03-29-2008, 10:12 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	But in Monster's house, everything revolves around her. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-30-2008, 01:38 PM	#12
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	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. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-30-2008, 02:49 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	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. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-30-2008, 08:25 PM	#14
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	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

03-30-2008, 09:56 PM	#15
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I'm surprised they didn't list #26, "don't have them to start with."

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