Precious Moments is sad to announce that we will will be closing down Precious Moms on October 30th. Precious Moms was a wonderful outlet for news and information of dedicated moms and the decision to close the site was not an easy one. If there is any information or content you wish to save, please copy and save the information to your computer by October 30th. We appreciate your past support and input on the site.

 

by Molly Gold, founder of GO MOM !NC

The current economic environment is changing families’ lives in sweeping ways through job loss, relocation, or stay at home parents who are now returning to work as a result of such events.   January is the perfect time to put strategies in place that create order for both you and your family, no matter what changes are in store.  Compare your supportive role as Mom to that of your home’s foundation and use the following pillars to establish a strong foundation for a well organized life in 2009:

•    It’s so Much More Than Just a Planner! – Your planner is your blueprint for life, allowing you to map your family’s schedule and know exactly what you need to do and where you need to be.  The simple act of having an all inclusive planner will impact how you proceed through the year, committing time for both your family and yourself.  Consider this blueprint the key tool to point you in the right direction, providing tracking for all family members’ schedules.  Make sure it’s portable and user-friendly for your personal style of time management.  Support your planner with organizers that will help you manage paperwork in areas where you need it most.  Think menu planning, school paperwork, bill paying, and more.  Use tools that will maximize your efficiency in these areas and you’ll find you spend less time checking them off on your daily to do list.

•    A Bag for Every Occasion  - It doesn’t matter what stage of motherhood you find yourself in today, the right bag can make or break that day!  Evaluate this item just as seriously as you did your first diaper bag.  Find the best bag you can within your budget that has the features most important to you.  Consider these critical areas:  manageable size, strong straps and closure, organizational features that maximize its use (such as storage pockets to carry your planner), waterproof materials to protect your contents, cell phone and wallet features, and storage for any specific items unique to your current family needs, such as diapers or medications.  Take it further and introduce your family to packing different bags for each activity.  Think music lessons or soccer, scrapbooking or youth group.  Each activity has unique needs and if you show your family how to create a tote system designed to grab and go, reloading when they return, everyone, including you, will be all set when the revolving door in the garage starts spinning.

•    Open, Act, Forward, and File – A well-organized desk saves you both time and money, every day of the year.  Outfit your desk with a place for your planner, a bill paying center, files for important papers (such as  school communications), a communication center for your phone and notepad, and miscellaneous supplies such as pens and scotch tape.  Also consider adding a magnetic memory center to display a few favorite photos or handmade treasures from your little ones.  Save money by placing pending bills in your bill paying center sorted by due date so you never pay late fees again!  Save time by following the one touch rule as you handle mail and school papers as they come in.  Touch it once and make a decision right then to either act now or file.   Save yourself stress by streamlining the business of life so that when you find yourself dealing with unexpected challenges, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.  You’ll be able to focus on solutions and not scour the corners of your house for key documents or other items you need.

•    Which Way Did They Go? – The doorway is where it all comes together or falls apart as you take your family in and out of the world we love.  Teach your kids both responsibility and independence by giving them a process to follow.  Start with hooks for backpacks and wall mounted in/out boxes for important papers to review and return.  If you have the space, provide every family member with a cubby for everything from coats and boots to clean sports uniforms.  It’s a smart solution that clears the clutter and confusion all at once.  If space is limited, create small storage locations near your entryway for forget-me-not items such as keys, library books, videos, lunch money, and mittens.  Keeping must-haves within sight makes last minute, “Mom I forgot…!” a thing of the past.


Molly Gold is a 42-year-old mother of three and the creator of The GO MOM!® product line.  She is a Family Balance Expert and blogger at www.PreciousMoms.com as well as Family Scheduling Expert at www.BlueSuitMom.com.  She was the 2007 Family Time Management Expert for Time Makeover on Fine Living Network, www.FineLiving.com, and served as the 2007 Home Management Expert on www.Kenmore.com.   The GO MOM!® product line is produced via license partnership with Mead Westvaco Consumer and Office Products and sold at OfficeMax stores nationwide.