You’re not going to be surprised when I tell you that one of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the process of decorating our home each year.

I love going to my special portion of the garage, grabbing my green and red plastic containers full of decorations and taking them into the house to be unloaded in a specific way, in a specific order. It’s such a great way to benefit from being organized, don’t you think? I can rest assured that everything has been put away in an orderly manner the year before and is just waiting for me to unpack it again this year.

Yes, this is the time of year for Penelopes to shine.

Each year, to increase the jolt I get when I take out all my holiday things, I try to add one or two new organizing products to my arsenal. Here are a few of my very favorites:

I hate wrapping gifts, but using this plastic bin to organize my holiday wrapping supplies helps me over the hump.

The Customized Gift Wrap Center

I don’t keep all of my ornaments in special boxes, but the very most special ones go in a box like this one:

Archival Ornament Storage Boxes

These are my true go-to tools for the keeping 99% of my decorations in each year. I have several and they keep everything clean and dry all year long in the garage. I realize I could have bought plain clear ones, but these Christmas colors just do my Penelope heart good.

30-gallon Holiday Storage Tote

This little goodie enables my lazy side. I can wrap it around our artificial tree and put it away without having to take the tree apart to put it back in its original box. That means next year, I just unwrap it and plug it in, perfection!

Tree Storage Bag

And, you knew I’d ask: what are your favorite organizational tools for any aspect of the holidays? What couldn’t you live without?

Related posts:

1. Mama needs an upgrade
2. Making Small Talk at Holiday Parties: or, things I hate more than going to the dentist
3. I bet no other blog is going to post about battery organization

Isn’t it true? All the other blogs out there are doing these fantastic posts with great holiday shopping guides (here and here to name just two), or clever ways to wrap your Christmas gifts. Really cool stuff. And here I am, blogging about battery organization. The excitement is dizzying, I know.

Buuuuut, as we get ready for the holiday, we really need to get totally stocked up on batteries. The WORST thing is to get stuck on Christmas morning not being able to get your toys and gadgets up and running because you’re out of batteries. Buzz kill!

I’ve long had a place in my supply closet where my batteries lived, but I’m considering upgrading to this battery organizer from The Container Store.

Nifty, right? I said nifty, not sexy. It’s not sexy. You’re not getting this out and putting it on your dining room table when your mother-in-law comes to Christmas Dinner. But, it’s useful!

It gives you lots of space for all the different battery sizes you need to have in stock, and offers a handy place to test the battery life left in each one.

For me, having sections for each size battery helps me instantly recognize which ones I’m running low on and need to replish.

There’s also this cute, cheaper number from Organize.com. That’ll do, too.

So, whether or not you want a specific product for organizing your batteries, remember to stock up this week for the holidays. Don’t forget to buy some of those weird, little, flat, round lithium batteries, too. More and more things are requiring those. You’ll be your kids’ hero when they get that favorite toy and you can jump up and hand them just the batteries they need to get it up and running.

I realize batteries and their organization is mind-numbingly boring for most people. But I’m curious, and I bet other Penelopes are, too:  how do YOU keep your batteries organized? Where do they live in your home?

Related posts:

1. My favorite holiday organization products
2. Martha Does Christmas Cookies: and, Why I like Martha Better Post-Prison
3. Mama needs an upgrade

I’m so glad to be able to offer you this really useful guest post from professional organizer Linda Samuels, author of “The Other Side of Organized”.

The question of how to rein in the chaos of kids toys is one I get a lot and I couldn’t think of any better person to lend us her wisdom than Linda. Her advice is so smart and completely practical.

Kids and chaos seem to simply go together like peanut butter and jelly. Having raised two children of my own gives me firsthand experience of the frustration that can get in the way of fun when toys take over the house. Many of the organizing techniques I use with my clients have been tested for effectiveness in my own household!

Underlying all of my tips is the proven principle that kids will eventually learn to put away their things if you provide an obvious place for the belongings and are consistent in teaching them how. Organization can go beyond giving the relief of having a neat playroom; it can encourage the kids to be more independent in finding their toys and picking up after themselves. They feel like big kids, and that is a huge help to parents. A little strategizing can go a long way toward a smoother, functioning household and leave more time for fun!

Make it fun. Sorting, matching and lining up collections are activities that kids do on their own. They also are important tasks in organizing their toys. To make organizing time feel more like playtime, consider these ideas:

• Use clear or brightly colored plastic boxes to store toys on shelves. Label boxes with words, pictures or actual objects to help your kids easily identify what goes where.
• Use small plastic or wicker baskets to store similar toys together. Kids love being able to tote, empty and fill the baskets.

Make it accessible. Whatever structure or system you implement, make sure your kids can easily use.

• Place shelving low enough for kids to reach. However, consider some higher shelving for storing toys with many small pieces. Having these toys out of reach will encourage partial clean up before taking out more.
• Use pull-out storage containers on wheels, or other large flat containers from under beds for storing toys.
• Low hooks are also great for accessing dress-up clothes and accessories.

Underwhelm. The less you have, the easier it is to maintain. It is also easier to make choices about what to play with when fewer options are available. Consider these techniques for having less visible clutter:

• Cycle toys as you do clothing. Store half the toys away in boxes. In a few months, bring them out and store others away. This will make toy selection and management easier.
• Once you’ve done your pruning of your existing toys, going forward, establish the one toy in, one toy out policy. This will help you maintain a better toy equilibrium.

Let Go. Whether it’s toys, kids or ideas, we all have to learn how to let go. Helping your children learn how to say good-bye to toys that they’ve outgrown, are broken or have missing pieces is a valuable life skill.

• It’s easier to let go when we know our things are going to someone else that will appreciate them. Talk with your kids about donating extra toys to kids that have less. Kids usually love knowing that they are helping other kids.
• Your kids might want to keep some toys as mementos even if they are no longer played with. Box those toys and relocate them to a safe, remote area in your home and show them they are nearby. You may discover that after some time has passed, they no longer want to keep those toys. Periodically, it’s worth reviewing the box with them.

Be consistent. To help your kids develop good organizational habits, you’ll want to be consistent.

• Set aside the same time of day to help them get back to square one.
• Work with them to help maintain focus on organizing and putting things away. If they like music, experiment with some upbeat music to keep you motivated and energized as you work. Let them pick the music.
• Encourage and never nag or berate them. Organizing doesn’t come easily to everyone. Be patient. Make organizing a positive experience.

Linda Samuels

Be a role model. We can’t expect our kids to do what we ourselves are not doing. So, if you want your kids to stay organized and you are not modeling this yourself, start with getting your areas in order first. Once you are organized enough, then begin to help your kids to do the same.

Want to know more about Linda and all of her practical organizing advice? Check out her website and follow her on Twitter.

Related posts:

1. Loads of Artwork and Not Enough Wall: how to organize your kids artwork
2. Assignment: Pre-Christmas de-cluttering, or: do this now, you’ll be glad you did later
3. Enter the Sticks: how to get your kids’ daily tasks streamlined for the school year

I’ve been getting a lot of questions from Penelopes asking me how I handle certain organization dilemmas. (Though, I gotta say, I’m not a professional organizer, I just have my own way of doing things, so, fair warning.) Any time I get the same question several times, I think it’s time to make a post of it. That’s the case here.

The most recent email was from a Knitter/Penelope named Mary who read my post praising knitting as a great hobby, and asked how I keep my knitting-related gear organized.

My method isn’t groundbreaking at all, but I’ll share it with you:

I keep my “stash” of yarn, which, honestly, is teeny tiny compared to most knitters, in a large canvas tote like this one:

I don’t let my stash get bigger than what will fit in that tote. It’s a slippery slope, the stash, and I’ve had to force myself to stick to that space. My house just isn’t big enough for all the yarn I’d like to own.

I keep my UFOs (that’s knit-speak for “unfinished objects” or projects in process) just sitting on top of that tote, where I can quickly reach grab whatever project tickles my fancy at the moment. I keep the corresponding patterns for those UFO’s in clear plastic sleeves slipped into the side of the tote, again, making them easy to grab when I need them.

I keep my needle collection in an expandable file like this one. Each pocket is, of course, labeled according to needle size.  This keeps all my needles readily accessible, even those hard-to-wrangle circular ones. I keep labels from yarn I’ve used, each one noted with the color and project name, in the back of this folder. That way, I can refer back and order more of a specific yarn and lot number if I need to do that.

Finally, I keep my “notions”, (scissors, measuring tape, pen, stitch markers, embroidery needles, etc.) on the table next to my knitting chair, in a medium-sized felted bowl that I made from a pattern in Leigh Radford’s One Skein book.

That’s my system. I warned you it wasn’t earth-shaking. It does work well for me, though.

Are there any other Knitter Penelopes out there want to weigh in with theirs? We’d love to hear from you.

Related posts:

1. Why knitting is the perfect hobby for a Penelope
2. Loads of Artwork and Not Enough Wall: how to organize your kids artwork
3. Inspired by: a Pretty way to organize your gift ideas

I’m a scarf girl.

Maybe it’s because I hate coats (we rarely need them in the SF Bay Area), maybe it’s because I’m a knitter, but either way, scarves are my favorite accessory.

I’d struggled, though, with a nice way to keep my scarves organized. Seemed like any way I did it they either got lost in my closet or felt so cramped that I couldn’t really see all my scarves. I’d forget about some of them entirely.

And then, one day, while idly perusing the aisles in my local Container Store, I found the perfect solution: the Classico Chrome Accessory Rack.

These suckers are cheap for how large and sturdy they are. At just $2.99, I decided to spring for two.

I came home and put them to work, hanging these chrome s-hooks on two hooks installed on my closet wall (though they could also easily go on the regular hanger rod). They’re a perfect fit and they are super easily accessible. Now I can get dressed, grab my Scarf o’ the Day and get myself on the road.

Three cheers to small things that give me a happy, little Penelope moment every single morning.

Have you found a solution to a (relatively) small organizing problem that brings you happiness each day? Share, share!

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1. A Tool for the Penelope on the Go: Cascading File Tote
2. Chic Recipe Organization
3. I bet no other blog is going to post about battery organization

One question I get all the time is how I handle my kids artwork.

Confession: I wish I were more sentimental about my kids artwork, I really do. They work so hard on it and, when they’re little, they’re so cute when they stick out their tongues as they concentrate on that perfect dinosaur drawing.

But, when they’re in that “artwork phase”, and that phase lasts for years, there’s just so darn much of it that piles up. The Penelope in me wouldn’t let me keep all of it, or, even, much of it, but I always ALWAYS felt guilty about throwing anything they made away.

Here are a few tips to keep both the Mommy and Penelope sides of you happy:

Create an Art “Gallery”:

With these cute artwork hangers from The Land of Nod, you can create a rotating “gallery” of your little Monet’s drawings. If you put it low enough on the wall of their rooms, the little ones can even learn to change out the artwork themselves. The art gets its time in the “The Gallery” and then gets recycled as new art takes its place. No guilt, you’ve done your part for the art.

Artwork Banner from The Land of Nod

An easy DIY of this item would be just to hang some yarn and use either cute clips available at Michael’s or Target or just painted and decorated clothespins. Would take just a bit more work, but accomplish the same thing.

You could also deem your refrigerator “The Gallery” and treat the whole family to the Artwork of the Moment.

Create a “Best Of” Album or File:

For those true masterpieces, create either a “Best Of” photo album or an expandable file, with pockets labeled for each of the kids. Or, each child could get an expandable file of her own, with each pocket labeled for a year of her life.

This way, those truly special items can be saved for posterity. Just make sure to “containerize” this (we’ve all read Organizing from the Inside Out and know about containerizing, right?) and not let the “Best Of” items grow larger than the space allotted.

Scan the Art and Have A Book Created for You:

Another tip comes from a Penelope named Michelle, who reminds us that you can scan the artwork and save it on your computer. When you’re ready, have it all made into a photo album by a website like Snapfish.com.

Create a Book of Your Child's Artwork

With any of these options, you’ll give your kids the attention their creativity deserves, and do it both stylishly and without a lot of stuff piling up. Perfect.

I’m sure the Penelope community has many more tips for how to control our kids artwork. What works best for you?

Related posts:

1. Good question: how to organize your knitting
2. Inspired by: a Pretty way to organize your gift ideas
3. How to keep your kids’ toys from overtaking your home

Today, a guest post from a super clever Penelope, Jennifer. I love her ideas for expanding the use of office supplies into the kitchen.

Two of the things I can’t live without in my kitchen originally came from the office supply store: a Sharpie and binder clips.

I keep the Sharpie in my silverware drawer (not in a random kitchen junk drawer!) so I can easily pull it out and write the date on jars that I open. Spaghetti sauce, that interesting but slightly odd salsa we tried, half-used cream cheese now stranded without a bagel in the house–the sort of thing which can sometimes sit there for a while. Having the date on there just makes it easier for me to see at a glance if a jar might still be viable or needs to be cleared out.

I use binder clips instead of those silly, giant clips to keep bags closed. I used to use clothespins, but I hate when they flip apart and I have to maneuver them back together. Nope, binder clips. They don’t take up much space either inside a cereal box or in their container on my windowsill–plus they’re super strong, never fall apart and they’re inexpensive.

Thanks, Jennifer. I love these ideas. In fact, my chip clips have been mysteriously disappearing. Now I’m just going to grab a binder clip and use that, instead of making a trip to Target for replacements.

What about you? What clever things are you using in places or in ways they weren’t originally intended? Unique and useful ideas could very well end up as guest posts here on Penelope, so let us hear from you!

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1. Pottery Barn does Stainless Steel well: organization for office or kitchen
2. Penelope’s Favorite Websites: Paper Source for pretty office supplies
3. Organizing in a pretty pink place: girly office supplies

Penelope Loves Lists: In Time Management from the Inside Out, you talk a lot about different calendaring system options. What is YOUR method? What tools do you use for calendaring yourself?

Julie Morgenstern: For my calendaring method, I use a Time Map, which is a tool that I have been teaching my clients for years. A Time Map eliminates your need to multi-task, and puts you back in control of your days. It helps you to become proactive amid the swirl of demands that come your way. Simply put, a Time Map is a budget of your day, week, or month that carves out distinct times for each of the key departments of your life. Instead of feeling that you have to act on every request the minute it crosses your path, your Time Map guides you, helping you determine whether you have time to handle an unexpected task, how much time you will devote to it and when you will do it. When you don’t have a Time Map, you have no idea what to do when. Every day is a total free-for-all. You just say yes to whatever screams loudest, with no perspective on how to prioritize incoming requests, and when you should be doing things. Of course, this is what leads to multi-tasking…just doing things as they come at you.

A Time Map provides structure to your day — carving out regular time for what is most essential to you. Rest assured that a Time Map can be adapted to your personal style, whether you thrive on routine or variety, whether you have complete or only partial control over your day. Built around your own custom set of priorities and personal style, your Time Map reflects who you are and what is important to you.

PLL: What are your “hot spots”? What are the physical places or work issues you struggle to keep organized? How do you handle them?

JM: I would say that like everyone, my systems become challenged when my company grows.  With each new service offering we develop, or for each division we add, my roles and responsibilities change, the information I need to track changes, and for a period of time, while in transition, my files, desk and even my schedule can become messy.  Until you know exactly what your new role is, and the information you need to manage a new aspect of your business, it’s hard to create a system.  So, with growth come periods where things are less buttoned down than I prefer to be.  But, those periods pass, and then a new system is born.

Julie doing some organizing

PLL: In what form (online, notebook, etc.) do you keep your daily To Do list?

JM: I view my to-do list as an extension of myself, so it is very important that I have chosen the right system. I prefer a paper planner. These work best for “visual/tactile” people (i.e. those who find physically writing things out pen to paper helps them think and remember more clearly).  Entering information into a paper planner is more instant than booting up an electronic device. Portability is essential for women on the go. Sometimes our work requires us to keep our schedules on the computer. If this is the case, combine these systems by printing out a planner sized version of your calendar each day, recording changes on the printout while out of the office.  Update your computer schedule first thing each morning.

Having a single, reliable to-do system puts me in command of my days by providing a complete picture of everything I need to do.  Prioritization is easier when I have full context.  And I am more confident staying focused on the moment, when everything is present and accounted for.

PLL: What’s your favorite organization tool?

JM: I use a tool that I designed called the “Julie Morgenstern Balanced Life Planner” to keep me on track and balance my time between writing, speaking, running a business, being a mom, spending time with friends, and still dedicating some time just for me.  This system gives helps me plan my days realistically so I feel excited, rather than overwhelmed, when I wake up. With this planner, I stay on track, create days that are meaningful, and connect my daily activities to my big picture goals.

Throughout my 20 years as a time management coach, I’ve found that there are certain key skills that make the difference between a day that feels in balance vs. out of balance.  And those are the skills I teach my clients in one on one sessions to create meaningful and fulfilling days.  In partnership with Franklin Covey, I wanted to design a planner that brought the coaching I do with my clients directly to you. The “Julie Morgenstern Balanced Life Planner” teaches you the 5 Gateway skills to staying in balance:

• Skill # 1-Time Estimating
• Skill # 2- The 4 D’s to streamline your to-do list
• Skill # 3-Group Similar Tasks
• Skill # 4- Creating a Time Map
• Skill # 5- Controlling the Nibblers

PLL: What does a typical Tuesday (or any weekday) schedule look like for you?

JM: On my Time Map, a typical day of the week is divided by distinct blocks of time. These blocks represent the key departments of work and my life. My schedule will generally look like this:

8:00 am – 9:00 am: Wake up, exercise, meditate, eat breakfast, feed my cats

9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Writing and creative time

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Touch base with staff and do media interviews

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Client Meetings

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Wrap-up and handle day’s requests

7:00 pm – 11:00 pm: Dinners out (business and leisure)

PLL: Are you working on something new? Can you give us a hint?

JM: I am working on some great new products that will help you stay organized. Stay tuned!

While we wait for Julie’s new products, let’s spend our time reading her latest book, SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life: A Four-Step Guide to Getting Unstuck. I loved this book. It walks you through practical ways to break through whatever is keeping you from meeting your goals, whether it’s organization challenges or mental barriers.

I’m excited that Julie’s given me a copy of SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life to GIVEAWAY to one of you. To qualify to be the randomly selected winner, tell me in the comments what it was that you liked about or learned from meeting Julie over the past week.

Deadline to enter is Friday, 9/10/10 at 9am PST.

Related posts:

1. An Interview with Organizing Guru Julie Morgenstern: Part 1 – Up Close and Personal
2. The Winner of the Julie Morgenstern Giveaway and a few more book recommendations
3. How This Penelope Stays Organized: an interview with Holly Bohn of See Jane Work

I got an email the other day from a delightful Penelope named Karen. She’s got a situation brewing and needs some feedback from the Penelope Community.

Here’s what Karen says:

“I have a family member whom I love dearly and with whom I’m very close, but who is also a little bit on the sensitive side.  He often visits my home and always insists on helping around the house… sounds nice, right?  Except, he doesn’t do things the way I would and it drives me batty.  If I make dinner, no amount of “oh, no, don’t worry about the dishes I’ll get them later” will stop him.  He insists on doing them… badly.

I know I’m a total nut about how dishes are done, which is why I never ask anyone else to do them. Also, I’m very very, very specific about where and how things are put away.  Again, I know that this is all just a quirk of mine and that other people aren’t wrong to put a wire whisk away still damp (mine is silicone, it’s not going to rust, but I Just Do Not Like It.).

After this family member has been to my house, I spend the next week searching for things that are in the wrong place and re-washing fry pans that haven’t had the toothpick treatment (you know, where you dig into the rivets with a toothpick to get the gunk out?).

And to be totally honest, even if he did all these tasks up to my totally wacky standards, I still wouldn’t want the help.  I like cleaning my kitchen.  It’s my time to relax and gather my thoughts at the end of the day.  I like to putter and straighten.  Trying to explain that to non-Penelopes is almost impossible. He thinks I’m just being “nice” or being a “good hostess”, but the truth is, if he doesn’t get the heck out of my kitchen I may have to move out of state!

So, how does a Penelope politely get a beloved, helpful, not-quite-Penelope (or should that be Percival??) out of my kitchen without hurting his feelings??”

Here’s my answer:

Hi Karen,

I think there are two possible approaches to this: you could opt to go the easier route and just give your family member different things to do while you clean up the kitchen. He could sweep or dry dishes. Easy stuff.

But, I don’t think that truly gets to the heart of your situation. I think you’re dealing with a deeper, more emotional issue. You’re telling him how you feel and he’s not listening. He’s certainly well-intentioned, but he’s not respecting you. He’s putting his need to help ahead of your happiness.

You have every right to say, nicely but oh-so-clearly, that this will not continue. That you fully understand the sweet, helpful place from which he’s coming, but you like doing things your way and you actually like cleaning and you’re going to do this yourself.

If he loves you like he says he does, he’ll respect this quirk of yours. You could even tell him you’re a Penelope and that you can’t help it – it’s your nature. Hey, refer him to our website, so he can see what he’s dealing with!

The point is, this is your kitchen and your domain. You make the rules. But, communicated lovingly, I think this can be handled with minimal emotional distress.

Don’t worry, Karen. You’ve got thousands of Penelopes standing in support.

Penelopes: weigh in with your thoughts in the comments. Karen and I really want to know what you think!

Related posts:

1. Reader Quandry: My boss is NOT a Penelope
2. Are Penelopes Born or Made – or both?
3. Tip for small space living: the Quarterly Cleanout

I’m super jazzed to once again welcome Guest Poster and SAHM Penelope Melinda to the blog. Last time, she gave us some tips to help preserve our sanity during the kids’ summer vacation. This time, she’s helping us refine our kids’s daily tasks as we get into the school year.

The Back-To-School extravaganza is upon us and we are ready. School supplies purchased, check. New clothes washed and folded, check. Backpacks filled, check.

Lunches made…wait, not sure. Alarm clock set, oops, I forgot.

This is how it usually goes in the home of this Penelope. All of the big, exciting preparations are made but it’s those little yet crucial tasks that are quickly put on the back burner by our darling scholars.

Let’s face it: we can be as organized as possible and yet we still find ourselves bellowing up the stairs, “Don’t forget to brush your teeth!!”

It was actually my husband who provided me with this “aha” moment. One morning, he had the privilege of listening to my litany of reminder to my kids. And then he said, “They would forget it all if it weren’t for you.” And he was right…but it left me discouraged. My job as a parent it is to equip them to live without me! I needed a new plan, one that would encourage independence and self-sufficiency.

Enter The Sticks.

The System:

I grabbed a pile of popscicle sticks. On each stick, I wrote a morning job that needed to be completed (make bed, brush teeth, grab your lunch, take your vitamin). Same thing for the evening tasks. On the back of each was a consequence, some natural (be hungry because you forgot your lunch) others punitive (lose 30 minutes of computer time). If the child doesn’t complete that task, she knows exactly what the consequence will be. It’s consistent and there are never any surprises.

Then I made a set of “point sticks”. One stick = one point. If they successfully complete all of their tasks from the morning, they get one point, same thing for their evening tasks. For the school week, there are 10 possible points to be earned.

Next, I created a “sticks” pouch for the bedroom. Using old placemats and a sewing machine (or hot glue if you prefer), I fashioned these little creations, one for each of my school age children.

Idea: This entire system could also be done in a “no sew” way by using 2 sets of 3 labeled glass jars, and moving the sticks from the left jar to the middle and point sticks going in jar on the far right. Your kids could get into the game by labeling and decorating the jars themselves. Or not. Up to you. I know how we Penelopes love to label.

The top section is for the Morning Tasks, the bottom for the Nighttime Tasks (responsibilities such as taking out the trash or packing up homework).

The sticks all start the day on the left. (My kids actually have a stick to remind them to move their sticks over…ha!) When they complete a task, they move its stick to the middle. If they earn a point, the number stick goes in the last little pocket.

One of the things that I love about the sticks is that I can add or subtract jobs as needed. If they have short days and don’t need a lunch, I remove the stick. If they have laundry to put away, I add the laundry stick. “Point” sticks and “odd-job” sticks are kept in a mug on the dresser.

The Reward for the Kids:

My kids earn a point for each morning and evening set that they complete fully each day. If, at the end of the week, they have earned 8 of the 10 possible points, they are rewarded with a slightly later bedtime the following week. If they earn all 10 points, they get a later bedtime AND a movie night on Friday (big news in our house as we aren’t big TV people). Obviously, you know which rewards will give your kids the best buy-in…use it to your advantage.

Note that you can transition your kids as they get older from the “Sticks” Method into a “To Do List” method using a lot of these same concepts. You can create a daily list using the customizable FeelGood Lists we learned about a while ago. This would give your older kids a strong foundation for using list-making to keep themselves focused and on task.

The Payoff for Me:

This system may sound a bit complicated, but it has saved me a litany of reminders and has taught my children to be more self-sufficient. And, the fact the I’m not constantly nagging at them has made for a more peaceful household.

For this Penelope Mom of four in the throes of a new school year, a little peace and quiet is my new best friend.

Related posts:

1. Why do I own 1,000 pencils? A solution for vanishing school supplies
2. How Penelope keeps herself sane when the kids are out of school
3. More summer sanity solutions: three ways to get kids reading over summer vacation