Add This Into Your Daily Routine to Keep Your Home Neat, Even With Kids

Raise your hand (don’t be shy, no one can see you), if you have “things” laying around your home, i.e. shoes, socks, toys, mail, small pieces of paper that your child cut up and dropped on their way to the trash can, cups on the counter because your child needs to drink out of a different one each time he gets thirsty. I could go on and on…

How many times have you walked by this “stuff’ and thought “this need to be put away,”  but you just keep on walking.

There could be reasons why you & I just walk by:

• it’s not mine
• my kids know they are to put their own things away
• I’m going to use it (but haven’t gotten around to it)
• You think, “do I have to do everything around here? Doesn’t anybody else see it?”
• You think if you wait long enough it will magically disappear.

So….since implementing one thing called, In Addition To, to my daily routine, it makes my home appear neater. Having two young kids it’s hard to have a neat home. I still struggle with the reasons above but it has greatly improved.

How to Implement This

Every time you walk by something, pick it up and put it in it’s place. If you walk by shoes on the way to the bedroom, pick them up and put them away. When you finish a task, like laundry, put it away instead of leaving it piled high. After you do this you will feel a weight lifted off you. Sounds weird I know, but it is so true.

This bible verse is what helps me. It helps me to take pride in my work and do my work whole heartedly.

Some ideas you can do, In Addition To:

• do the laundry-put it away
• wash dishes-dry & put away
• wash dishes-clean the sink

I’m sure you have heard the saying, “you reap what you sow.” When you serve others, others will serve you. When you are kind to others, kindness comes back.

“The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.” Proverbs 21:25-26

Doing more, going the extra mile, making the extra effort shows off your character. God will reward you with blessings when you do these things. Work heartily to serve the Lord.

This was a hard topic to write about for 2 reasons:

1. 1. Responsibility should be spread to everyone living in the house. I shouldn’t have to do it all myself.
   2. What am I teaching my family if I do all the work? Will my kids grow up to be lazy and irresponsible and rely on me for everything?

Let’s address those now and see the lessons we can teach.

Lets teach our children to do things, in addition to. Imagine what your home would look like if you got your kids involved? Wow! I get giddy thinking about it.

What Can They Do?

1. 1. • put the toilet seat down after using the bathroom
      • wipe water off bathroom counter after washing hands
      • take trash/toys out of car
      • take their shoes off, have them take them to their room and put away

This will teach them to serve others, help with selfishness, appreciate all you do for the family, and learn to take pride in their work.

Are you already doing this or something like this? Please share what works for your home.