If there’s one thing you realize early on in motherhood — it’s the importance of organization. If those early days of nursing ’round the clock, endless laundry, and gazing into an empty fridge at dinnertime don’t reveal your need for basic organizational skills and preparation, your first out-in-public diaper blow-out with no spare diapers sure will.
It should have been obvious — but I for one was completely shocked when my life suddenly became so much more difficult to navigate. Keeping a reasonably clean and organized home. Out of town holiday visits. Not running out of toilet paper.
I’ve come a long way in the last 12 years (and I no longer have to worry about diaper blow-outs!) but I’m always on the hunt for new and better ways to make our family life and my job run more smoothly. That’s why I was so interested in checking out fellow homeschool mom Kristi Clover’s new book M.O.M. – Master Organizer of Mayhem.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for details
In M.O.M. – Master Organizer of Mayhem, Kristi shares tons of organization tips. She’s got organizational systems, storage systems, chore systems, kitchen systems, and laundry systems. But I think the secret sauce to her methods is really simple and she nails it early on in the book when she shares her foundational rules for keeping it all together.
Her first rule, which applies to so much more than home management in my book, is basically to take what works for you and throw out the rest. She calls it the “Glean and Tweak” Technique.
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This is something I struggled with so much when I first became a mother! Everyone seemed to have that perfect method or advice that would solve my current problem. I stressed myself out so much when I jumped headfirst into solutions that didn’t fit our home, family, or sometimes even my conscience. I could have saved myself so much trouble if I had grasped this concept early on. Browse Pinterest. Google. Ask questions in Facebook Groups. Ask Grandma. But make sure you glean, tweak, or even toss away what doesn’t work for you.
The book is divided into three sections, and the first section has 9 more rules that will help you shift your mindset and prioritize your homekeeping.
The second section of the book is all about the framework — the systems that make for an efficient home:
- Decluttering Systems
- Organizing Systems
- Storage Systems
- Chore Systems
- Kitchen Systems
- Laundry Systems
The last section of the book is dedicated to making your home a place of life and beauty for your family and guests. Think personalization and finishing touches. It’s all about creating a home that fits your family.
And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?
