As a parent, you are the guide to the journey your little ones take as they grow. You are their mentor, their role model, their guiding light. So, for your own sanity, and to provide them a good example, learn some easy time saving tricks. Here are a few that I have incorporated into our household;
Chore Checklists - just a simple chart kept in a visible area (magneted to the refrigerator door) that has everyones jobs for the week. This reduces fighting and whining, if you outline it fairly.
Bathroom Checklists - another list of responsibilities that must be completed morning and night that outlines the basics - i.e. brush teeth, brush hair, clean socks, laundry in hamper, etc. This eliminates (in theory) the room for "I forgot....."
Shopping Lists - a blank note in an easily accessible area to jot down supplies when you run out, to keep you from running to the grocery store every day. We live so far out that we only get a chance about once a week to shop, so this one is necessary here.
Dinner Planning - weekly or monthly, line out what you plan to make, so there is no last minute decisions, and you are more likely to have what you need on hand. This can be a family exercise too, so everybody gets a chance to have what they like.
Cooking Ahead - I will often prepare breakfast the night before, usually with lots of 'help'. When cooking dinner, its not hard to mix up a batch of muffins or a banana bread. Do up a few and put them in the freezer, and this works great for dinners like lasagna, too.
Time Limits - A simple egg timer or a microwave timer works well to enforce time limits. It also creates a sense of urgency, and saves you from repeating your requests (hopefully). Twenty minutes to clean up toys or ten minutes to prepare for bed minimizes long ordeals, and gives a sense of accomplishment.
A few minutes of peace and quiet once in a while makes a world of difference, I hope some of these ideas help someone else to be able to find that.
