Lysa TerKeurst is hosting Swap & Hop over at her blog again today. This week she asks us to posts our organizational challenges. Huh... I have on for ya!
My countertops are a dumping ground. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, puts whatever is in their hands at the time on the countertops. I can find any number of things on this counter at any given time. Today, we have flashlights, fruits, candles, bible, hot pads, candy, paper, pens, mail, and numerous other things that don't belong there. How do I keep this from becoming a dumping ground?
My countertops are a dumping ground. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, puts whatever is in their hands at the time on the countertops. I can find any number of things on this counter at any given time. Today, we have flashlights, fruits, candles, bible, hot pads, candy, paper, pens, mail, and numerous other things that don't belong there. How do I keep this from becoming a dumping ground?
Stumble it!
9 Thoughts Shared:
I totally relate! Micah "dumps" all his pocket contents and random mail etc. on the top of this bookshelf in our office. It makes me crazy! I haven't yet figured out how to stop it. So far, I've collected it all and put it in a box (which made him mad), thrown a mini-fit (also didn't work), and thrown things away (quietly) - he didn't notice, but it also didn't stop it. I hope you get good ideas!
I have the same problem in my house on the kitchen counter. It's the catch all for mail and kid's papers. I find myself each weekend cleaning the clutter and starting over again on Monday! Arrrrggghhh......
ha ha ha!!!
It looks like we all have this problem! Hopefully, we will get some great answers!
I have the same problem! I think there must be magnets in my countertops that pull papers, mail,keys, art supplies, or whatever else people have in hand when they walk in the house. It's a tough one for a lot of people I think.
: ) Becky
Hi Amy,
Kara from North Texas, I love your blog. I also have 3 boys and homeschool. Please visit me sometime at karamy3sons.blogspot.com. Have a blessed weekend!
Kara-Jer. 29:11
That is a tough one, if my girls were doing this I would have a empty laundry basket handy. Put all items that are misplaced into the basket and pass it off to a child to put the items in their correct "home." With life as busy as it is I understand how things get dumped in the wrong place, I am even guilty of leaving things out of place, especially when I am in a hurry. Another solution would be to have small baskets on the counter with each child's name labeled on one. That is their place to put their stuff until it can be put away. If the basket does not get cleared out (and it probably won't) dump the basket in the child's bedroom and encourage them to put away their items, returning the empty basket to the counter for the next day. Last summer we came up with a reward system that really worked well. We had 2 empty glass jars and a basket of marbles. Each time we caught the kids "dumping" items we put a marble in our jar and they did the same when they caught Mom and Dad leaving a mess.
At the end of the week the jar with the most marbles won a prize.
When the kids one they got a new movie rental or some other small reward, when we (the parents) won we received back rubs and the kids did extra chores that week.
I hope this helps.
Tanya
Mom of 4 girls
Well, I'm another one who can so relate to your dilemma. I've got more than one of these very spots in my house and I've yet to convince my family to not do it.
I do have a friend, http://chocolatechic.wordpress.com and she uses a very interesting method - if she has to pick up and put away someone's stuff then it gets put in a special place where the owner must buy it back via doing specially selected chores. This works most of the time with her children not sure about the husband though.
Elaine
myblog: http://akhomemom.wordpress.com
we have that SAME counter...I've tried it all...boxes, baskets...and they INSIST on the counter...hairbands, pencils, batteries, phones...oh girl I could go on and on!!
If you figure out an answer, market it and SELL it, you could have the answer to ALL your financial cares...hmmmm...EVER...:):)HA
hugs!!
lori
How about screaming, ranting, and raving? Maybe not. I do not think the problem is unique at all--it's just human nature. We all have those temporary holding places, and that's okay--just try to limit it to one counter if possible.
One other thing I do is to have the counter completely cleared off whenever possible. A cluttered counter attracts more clutter, but a clean counter looks so lovely it's not as appealing to throw your stuff on it, particularly if you know that it will get confiscated and you'll have to buy it back. :-)
For my husband's junk, I put a basket on top of the fridge. When he comes home he can empty his stuff there, and when I find things that "belong" to him, I transfer them to the basket.
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