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Clutter. Mess. Piles. Do these terms sound familiar to you? Often, the difficulty in home educating our children is not in teaching, but in keeping the clutter at bay. We all know families that manage better than us, and we spend unnecessary time in self-condemnation. "How will Johnny ever be a functional adult when I can't even find my car keys?" The temptation is to dive in and get to work, using the latest product or system that hits the market. We spend hours and dollars we don't have, on things that do not match our long-term needs, and it is no wonder we experience repeated discouragement. So, rather than renting a dumpster to toss it all away, or buying out the storage aisle at your local superstore, take some time to listen to some helpful advice from Vicki Caruana, author of The Organized Homeschooler.
Vicki has spoken to crowds at homeschool conventions and knows how many of us need encouragement. She provides excellent questions, and some practical suggestions, encouraging us to know ourselves, and the needs of our family, before we embark on any physical reorganization. Beginning at the heart, and heading toward those tottering piles, Vicki is a delightful source of wisdom.
TOS: Vicki, your book The Organized Homeschooler is filled with practical information on getting organized. But, you don't start with the physical changes that are needed. Where do you suggest we begin?
Vicki: It is more of a heart issue. Before you actually put something into action, you need to figure out what kind of person you are. I have four groups that people tend to fall into. There are naturally organized people, those who are the "wanna be" (people that want to be organized and tray and fail), those that are at home amongst chaos and see no reason to become organized and, finally, the person who is normally organized but some sort of life change has thrown them off the track of normal orderliness. Knowing who you are is an important first step.
Getting organized is very similar to dieting. We go in for fads that don't last. It is the same thing with being organized. So often we hear about possible solutions, but it is a quick fix; and it doesn't last. We think something is wrong with us, but it just means we chose the wrong system. So ask yourself, "Why do I want to get more organized?" Is it because it is something you value, or is it peer pressure? I really want you to look at your own life, your own children, your own desires and goals, your own priorities and your own styles, before you decide how to become more organized. You have got to look at those heart issues first.
TOS: What part does our use of time play in getting our homes more organized?
Vicki: It takes more time to get things done if you are not organized, and I don't think any of us has time to waste. In the chapter "Organize Your Time", I suggest you write down how you are currently spending all your time. It really is like concentric circles, and if that part isn't taken care of first, it is really hard to organize the rest of your life.
TOS: So, once we are ready for the physical organization, where do we begin?
Vicki: Take a room-by-room approach. Go into one room, starting with whatever is driving you crazy, and then take out of that room anything that does not belong there. Take those things out, and put them in the room where they belong. You don't have to organize them there yet; just put them there. Then go to the next room, and do the same thing. Just doing that makes a big difference. Get the worst one out of the way. You have got to make sure that everything in that room is supposed to be there, because why build shelving for things that don't even belong there?
TOS: Do you have any other suggestions for helping people through the room-by-room process?
Vicki: Yes, sometimes my expectations and my children's expectations are very different. We have to make sure that our expectations are matched, or we are setting ourselves up to fail. Make sure children understand what you expect and that they are able to do what is required.
The other thing to remember is this: we live in a world where everything breaks down. That is the nature of the universe. So, even if you get everything the way you want it, it is going to break down. Your priorities are going to get out of whack again, and you are going to have to reevaluate what you have done; that is just part of the game.
Also, if you have been doing things one way for a very long time, it takes a while to break old habits and establish new ones. You are trying to form new habits, not only in you but in your whole family. That does take time. But remember, everyone benefits from it. The stress level goes down tremendously, your children are happier, and they are learning what it takes to be an organized worker.
TOS: What part do our children play in this process?
Vicki: Well, again, this is training ground, and we are so blessed as homeschoolers to have the opportunity to train our children to be more organized. In actuality, we don't have an excuse. WE have the time, and we need to grab ahold of it, and every child in your family needs to be involved in your system. If it is too hard for your 5-year-old to maintain, then it is too hard. Being more organized in your thinking and your actions is going to translate into success for them later. I talk about organizing your family in the book, and we talk about what is age-appropriate for kids so that you don't overwhelm them. And again it comes back to knowing your own children and what they can and cannot handle.
There are a lot of reasons why people don't train their children to be orderly, such as "If I want something done right, I will do it myself". So, keep in mind, you are probably right; they are not going to do it like you would but they are never going to learn if you don't give them the opportunity to practice. People also think their children are too young to help. A 15-month-old can pick up clothes off the floor and put them in the hamper. A 3-year-old can carry his plate to the kitchen.
TOS: With the particular trouble spots of paper and books, do you have recommendations or ideas on storage and what to do with big projects when they are done?
Vicki: One of the things that we have done is maintain portfolios. Every Friday, my children would go through their papers, choose what they thought was their best work, three-hole punch it and put it in the binder. So, by the end of the school year, we have a binder of their best work. That cut down on all the papers I was keeping for the whole year.
TOS: What about the realistic replica of a California mission, or something equally large?
Vicki: Well, we decide together, usually right before the next time we start school. We can put it in a box and hang onto it, or we can get rid of it now. I let the child decide because sometimes I am more ready to have it gone than he is. Then, the next year, if it is still in the box, I will ask, "What do you think now?" Usually, that second time through, he is ready to let it go. I also keep any two-dimensional art they do in an artist's portfolio.
TOS: In terms of equipment and furniture, what is worth investing in?
Vicki: I really believe that shelving is all that you need. My files, art supplies, curriculum, and resource materials are all on shelves. Families in different economic situations will deal with that differently, but even if you have clear bins with covers, they are going to go on shelves. I don't think you need a whole lot more than that.
TOS: What do you recommend for families with small spaces?
Vicki: It seems that everyone struggles, no matter where they are, because the bigger the space you have, the more stuff you accumulate. When your space is limited, it helps to say, "What are we doing right now?" Those are the only things you need out because if everything is cluttered, then your brain is cluttered.
TOS: Do you have any final words of encouragement, Vicki?
Vicki: I want to make sure that people understand that we have a God of order and purpose. If He has called you to become more organized, then He has already equipped you to do it. You can rest in that. He is not going to call you to something that He has not already equipped you to do. And if we are made in His image, then it is already there. That is really encouraging.
Vicki Caruana is an educator, writer, and speaker who lives with her husband and children in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She homeschooled her children and strives to help parents secure a quality education for their children. Her books include The Organized Homeschooler and The Homeschooler's Guide. For more information, visit her website at www.applesandchalkdust.com
Diane Wheeler is the Senior Staff Writer for TOS Magazine. She resides in Placerville, California, with her husband, John, their five children, Diane's mother, plus one dog, four cats, and twelve chickens. Strong coffee, good books, morning glories, and rainy days are a few of her favorite things.
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