In Provo, UT, The new school year starts today. How do you feel about the 1^st day of school? Do you dread the homework wars? Do you wonder how much you should expect from your children this year?

As an invested parent I did all I could to make sure my children were well rounded. That “all I could” included parent involvement in their education. I visited their schools often and let the teachers know I was watching and interested in what they were teaching my children. I valued those teachers who shared their best with my children and the good teachers KNEW they were valued!

You too can use parental involvement to boost the education your child receives. Your home should be the place where the value of education is shown in many ways.

My guest on The Organized Woman Show this week was RaDawn Pack. A master teacher of 24 years. Listen here to learn from RaDawn. Below are more parent tips for your child’s success in school:

1. Parental Involvement includes Establishing Rules

2. Parental Involvement includes Exuding Positive Strength

3. Parental Involvement includes Expounding your Expectations

4. Parental Involvement includes Exemplifying your Expectations

5. Error on the Side of Growth with Parental Involvement

6. Parental Involvement includes Expecting Greatness from your Children

YOU are the driving factor in your child’s school success. The teacher shares important information, but YOU are the coach and umpire combined. YOU hold so much power! Magnify your power through parental involvement. Enjoy this new school year and show that child of yours that real power is love, strength and discipline combined!

All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown

Childrens bedroom storage options is one of the most requested presentation topics I receive as a Utah located professional organizer. Young mothers throughout Utah have hired me to help them figure out how to improve their childrens bedroom storage systems. I am currently working alongside 3 young mothers on their childrens bedroom storage areas. Maria in Springville, Utah needs help with her family’s playroom and childrens bedroom storage areas. Jen in Cedar Hills, Utah needs ideas for her childrens bedroom storage and was even more concerned with her downstairs playroom. Mandi in Sandy, Utah needs help with laundry room workability and her 5 childrens bedroom storage areas.

Jen put it best when I asked her why she had contacted me. She stated that she had invested lots of money in her undergraduate and post graduate education. She was now a mother and homemaker and felt SHE was worth the little bit of money she would now invest (through me) in her current life’s work. I am grateful I get to help Jen, Maria and Mandi set up home systems that simplify their current lives. These systems allow them to free up more of their valuable time in the things they value most.

Today I  recorded show number 042 titled How to Organize your Kids Bedroom Storage. Read through my notes here and then click the link above to listen. My tips will help YOU with your childrens bedroom storage options by spelling out the step by step formula for childrens bedroom storage organization.

I promised my show listeners some favorite product ideas for children’s bedroom storage. I will list one idea for each of a few categories listed below. Please realize that there are many more options. You will need to look at your needs first and then find a product that will help fill those storage needs for your chilren’s bedroom. Storage preferences are very individual.  What works beautifully for one person may not work for another. Consider these product suggestions a starting point:

Childrens Bedroom Storage Toy Console much like is used in a Kindergarten classroom

Childrens Craft Tote = An electricians bag (be sure to remove the shoulder strap)

Childrens Bedroom Storage Hat Rack – Over the door help for caps, shoes and purses

Childrens Bedroom Storage Box4Blox

Lucky you, I have even more tips on organizing your childrens bedroom storage areas. Click this link to take a look.

Of all the rooms in your house your kid’s rooms are the ones that change the most over time.  Remember, your child’s room may be in your house…but IT IS your child’s room. Ask for their input and ideas. They will be much more willing to help maintain the space if THEY contributed to the rooms overall design and set up.

Because this article interested you, these might be just what you are looking for:

• Organizing Closets
• Summer Programs for your Kids
• Organizing a Blended Family

If you need help organizing childrens bedroom storage or any other home storage area, call me for a free 20 minute phone analysis at 801-623-8411. I service the Salt Lake and Utah Valley areas of Utah and anywhere in the nation virtually. Our rates are reasonable because we believe we win when you feel you have received a good value.

Remember when organizing kids rooms, that children learn more from what they see than from what you tell them. To train your children on room upkeep, model the behavior you want from your children!

When organizing kids rooms, these tips will help you move toward success:

Establish zones – Create zones for your children’s favorite activities (reading, art projects, etc.), then label those room areas. Get your child involved. A few typical zone options include:

• Toys
• Sleeping
• Clothing
• Etc.

Get rid of the toy box – In order to find what they need in that bottomless pit the’ll have to empty it. The space is simply too big. A toy box cannot be sub-divided. Donate it.

Set toy limits – Give your children two or three shelves for their toys. Make sure the shelving and storage units are the right height for your little ones. Every 6 months rotate the hibernated toys back in with those you have stored and they will think they are the luckiest children alive.

Set toy routines. Limits help manage clutter, and so do routines. Set a given time every day OR after every activity (this is the way we did it in my home) for them to put their things away, and make it fun! They will learn the fundamentals of organization and also learn about personal responsibility.

Don’t keep every piece of schoolwork or artwork – How do you pick and choose between what to keep and what to throw away? You set space limitations! Twice a year ask your child to pick the best of the best. Pick one to frame and two or three to keep for posterity. Problem solved.

Click here for additional tips on Organizing Kids Rooms

Organizing kids rooms is a task that is fairly easy to do once you realize that children are easy to please. They love us, plain and simple. When organizing kids rooms be sure you organize so your children are able to maintain the spaces appropriate for their age. Teach your children early in their lives that you are their loving mother…NOT their slave!

Changing Behavior

I recently read the book ‘Getting Organized’ by Chris Crouch. He focuses on changing behavior and points out that anytime we encounter a new idea there are three possible outcomes:
1. Nothing will happen
2. We will alter our behavior in some minor ways
3. The idea will significantly change our behavior and our life forever

A year ago I worked with my client Susan in Alpine, Utah. She greeted me when I arrived with this statement, “I am just NOT an organized person!” “My mind does NOT work that way.” She and I worked side-by-side for a total of 10 hours. Susan learned, as we organized her kitchen, pantry, and family management center that, in fact she WAS an organized person…Her mind DID work that way. She went on, as can most of my clients after working on 3 spaces beside me, to organize the rest of her home so her home spaces “worked nicely” for her. (She had considered up-sizing so their family of 7 could be comfortable in their home. She found this was no longer needed.) Changing behavior through change to home and business spaces is my specialty.

At ORGANIZING Mind over Matter we teach you that when you learn a better way, you need to realize the benefit of it’s application in your life. To make that stretch, you need to move beyond the comfortable. Is better organization of YOUR time and space a better idea? If so, now is the time to begin changing behavior ! Take a look at my before and after photos to:

1. motivate you AND
2. get a few ideas of how to tackle your own spaces.

Listen to my podcasts or Email me at 801-623-8411 to talk about beginning your change!

The idea of writing biography pages and keeping a family history was not appealing to me for most of my life. I knew in my heart that I should be doing it, but it was just too hard for me. Then eight years ago, my oldest daughter, Nikki, taught me through example the simple steps to writing biography pages as I live my life, day by day. Her tips removed the overwhelmed feeling I had felt. I’ll share them with you so you won’t feel overwhelmed about writing your own written living biography:

1. Begin with your PAST life history to date. Make it easy! Maybe a 2 pager on your computer.
2. Begin your paragraphs with the word “I”.
3. If you want to make it a more detailed writing, biography questions to get your mind thinking could include:

• What was your favorite place when you were a child?
• What is the most interesting characteristic you posses?
• What about my employment do you like or hate?
• What did you feel like your first day of school?

Two pages is all you need to catch up. If you would like more questions to get your mind working, click here to access my Personal History Questions. Once that is done, then you can move on to your CURRENT writing. Journal it! Here are my tips for journaling:

• Write one day a week for up to 1/2 hour
• Pick 3-5 of the most interesting weeks happenings
• Confine it to a certain space  (I use a 9” X 5”  notebook and put 1 week on one side of each page)

Once you have become comfortable with writing biography pages weekly , it is time to consider keeping a family history. I learned this formula for family history keeping  at a BYU education week class four years ago and have done it every year since. It takes me 2 hours a year to update from beginning to end. It really has been SO EASY for me. A down-loadable sample of the one pager follows, but these are the main parts of the page:

1. At the top include your name and the year
2. One photo from a very memorable event that year
3. A few sentences for each of the categories listed below:

• Family
• Health
• Home
• Church
• Employment
• Education
• Friends
• Holidays
• Vacations

Click here to download a sample of  My Yearly One Page Family History. For many years I thought I was just too busy to take on writing biography pages weekly or to keep a yearly family history. Then I learned the easy way to begin and maintain. Planning and upkeep make it sustainable. If you would like to begin your personal written biography or family history, these ideas may be just what you were waiting for!

Get started this week. Begin by investing 30 minutes this week in writing biography pages and presto/chango…no more guilt!

Vicki's 2009 Family Reunion Fun

Organizing family reunion  fun is not an easy task, but a systematic approach is helpful. In a previous article, I shared some tips for putting together a general master plan for family reunion fun.

In that article I promised theme ideas, favorite activity ideas and photos suggestions. I am a woman of her word. Here you go:

Family reunion themes for family reunion fun! – Your theme is what makes your family reunion fun and most memorable. Here are a few favorites my extended family have chosen the past few years:

• A Blast from the Past for family reunion fun: Meals = favorite meals from preparers childhood. Activity = ‘hide & seek’ or ‘no bears are out tonight’. (Be sure to assign a young child with an adult supervisor.)
• Where in the World for family reunion fun: Meals = country of preparers choice. Activity = go hiking and call it climb the Swiss Alps or do a swimming activity and call it Hawaiian fun.
• Western Roundup for family reunion fun: Meal = hot dogs and hamburgers, or chicken tenders named prairie dog nuggets. Activity = while roasting marshmallows tell ghost stories around candlelight. (Books of ghost stories can be found at your local library or local bookstore.)
• Summer Olympic Games for family reunion fun: The lodging was called Olympic Village. Activity = Synchronized swimming with judges and audience participation. The reunion finale was titled the Olympic Ribbon Ceremony.

Family reunion awards ceremonies for family reunion fun! – Some of my favorite reunion awards are these:  Best Gymnast award for the most wounded attendee. Best Balancing Act for the attendee who balanced well reunion events and family care. The Get Up & Go award for the attendee who typically rolled out of bed at noon. The Miss Universe award for the attendee who needed lots of spotlight attention.

Memory photos for family reunion fun! – Think ahead and schedule family reunion scrapbook time as you near the end of your reunion OR provide family reunion photo CD’s as a reunion parting gift.

To listen to my 16 minute audio show on this topic, visit The Organized Woman Show and look for show number 038 titled Organizing Family Reunions.

To learn my tips for designing a family reunion fun master plan, click here.

Two of my favorite ‘family reunion websites’ are these:

www.familyreunion.com AND www.familydetails.com

Began to plan with a master plan that includes family reunion fun. Include themes, activities and memorable photos in your plan. Bring your family together and feel the love surrounding you!

Vicki's 2009 SIBLINGS & families REUNION

The reason to plan family reunion fun is to reunite your immediate or extended family. Few of us live next door to our siblings or cousins like was done in the “old days”. Geography divides us. The main reason to plan family reunion (s) annually is that it brings your family back to once again grow together.

BEGIN TO PLAN FAMILY REUNION FUN WITH A MASTER PLAN –  The whole  reunion should be planned beginning to end by one family member. In my family, I and each of my siblings take a year to plan family reunion events on a rotating basis.  THEN we divide up the reunion responsibilities for the year. We typically assign out one meal and one group activity per sibling.  This plan, family reunion master plan I should say, is not overwhelming for the master planner OR anyone helping. Let’s imagine that YOU are the master planner for THIS YEARS family reunion. Before you begin to delegate, you should decide these things:

FIRST, decide on the type of reunion you will hold from these options:

• siblings only (your brothers and sisters)
• adults only, (your siblings and their spouses/life partners)
• everyone’s invited

THEN

1. Choose a date for the family reunion (You should email all attendees three possible dates and see which are workable for the majority of those attending.)
2. Plan family reunion budget expectations
3. Plan family reunion destination specifics including a map for arrival.
4. Invite the guests.
5. Plan family reunion activity assignments based on the number of siblings you have and the length of your family reunion.

NEXT

• Plan Family Reunion  General Costs based on a per person cost.
• Plan Family Reunion Location Destination(s) according to your preference.
• Plan Family Reunion Activities by holding 1-2 per day and assigning one activity per your siblings attending.
• Plan Family Reunion Meals by assigning one meal per sibling attending. (IF you are a small family, assign a dinner meal and lunch meal . Cold cereal for breakfast is fine.)

To listen to my 16 minute audio show on this topic, visit The Organized Woman Show and look for show number 038 titled Organizing Family Reunions.

To see some of my favorite reunion themes, award ceremony ideas, & reunion photo suggestions; scroll up or click here.

Two of my favorite ‘plan family reunion websites’ are these:

• www.familyreunion.com
• www.familydetails.com

If you use a systematic approach when you design a general plan, family reunion meals and events will be successful in the end. By breaking down and delegating responsibilities into smaller components, success becomes more attainable. Began to plan family reunion fun now. Bring your family together this year and enjoy the support you feel from surrounding yourself with those you love!

The key to spring cleaning is to declutter first, organize what you decide to keep, and only then begin your spring cleaning projects. Here are my four steps to success as you start the spring cleaning process:

1. Divide the Clearing Out and the Cleaning Up into two entirely different projects as you begin.

To begin the spring cleaning process round up a pen and notebook. Walk through your home and make a list of 3 spaces that need your attention as you begin the spring cleaning. Of those 3, begin in the room where you spend the most time. That room will give you the greatest satisfaction. Decluttering is ALWAYS the first step. Why deep clean things you will not end up keeping? Round up 3 large labeled boxes or bags, Label them 1) Give away, 2) Put away, 3) Throw away. When you run across things you are not sure about, ask yourself these two questions: “Do I truly love this?” and “Is this item useful to me in my current life?”

2. Organize What’s Left before you begin your spring cleaning. Purging is the 1st part of my formula. Organizing what’s left is the other half. There are 3 key elements in maintaining your newly organized spaces:

■ Store your kept items where they will be used.

■ Label the container and/or the space so others know where to return the used items.

■ Adopt the something in/something out philosophy.

3. Now you can begin spring cleaning once the purging and organizing are completed. Professional organizers are not professional housecleaners; none-the-less I have learned some cleaning tricks in my years of working side by side with my clients. Here are a few spring cleaning suggestions:

■ Use the North to South approach or you will sabotage your efforts. Start at the top and work down to the floor.

■ Schedule blocks of time to clean and then be sure you honor those appointments with yourself.

■ Get others involved in the project. At my home we understand the “If you live here, you work here” philosophy. Those large projects become very doable when others join in and help.

4. I have made a list of some of my favorite spring cleaning products. Click here to view my spring cleaning recommended products.

Decluttering, organizing AND spring cleaning,  are about being aware of your surroundings. Because you lead a complicated and pressure filled life, clutter and grime build up. Grab a notebook today and begin your week of decluttering. It will make your spring cleaning a breeze. When our surroundings are organized and newly cleaned, your life feels at peace. Now isn’t that’s refreshing?

To listen to my online podcast dealing with this topic, click here and look for show number 035 titled Organize your Spring Cleaning.

To view my 6 minute Spring Cleaning Video, click here.

How do you handle your important conversations? Do you plan and organize your difficult conversations BEFORE they take place?

I am a reader. I have always enjoyed reading books that help me better understand myself, those I care about, and the world around me. The last two books I read, ‘Crucial Conversations’ by leadership consultants Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler AND ‘Without Offense – The Art of Giving and Receiving Criticism’ by Dr. John Lund both taught me how to better handle important discussions in a way that is not offensive and can strengthen relationships.

Patterson and group defined difficult conversations as a discussion between two or more people where: (1) the stakes are high, (2) opinions vary, and (3) emotions run strong.

I learned from Patterson’s group that “when participants hold back (because they are afraid of the consequences, want to spare someone’s feelings or don’t want to escalate a conflict) a true dialogue CAN NOT take place.” When you organize your difficult conversations, both participants should be open and remain emotion free.

One of THE most important things I learned in reading Crucial Conversations was to STAY FOCUSED. When I organize my difficult conversations I should be sure I clearly understand WHAT I WANT, WHAT I WANT FOR THE OTHER PERSON and WHAT I WANT FOR THE RELATIONSHIP. I need to also understand before beginning what I DON’T WANT the outcome of the conversation to be. “The only person I can directly control is myself.”

When YOU organize your difficult conversations, the authors of CC suggest you might begin with a dialogue much like this: “I’d like to talk with you about something that is getting in the way of my working with you.  It is a little touchy, but I feel it will help if we can talk about it.  When would you be willing to meet with me and discuss _______?” Dr. John Lund suggests you should ALWAYS ask permission to discuss the issue before you begin the discussion.

Start your conversation with Patterson’s groups ABC’s.

• What you Agree with or on
• Build & add on elements you do not agree on THEN
• Compare the differences

WHEN your organized difficult conversation begins to go bad do these things:

• Apologize when appropriate “The last thing I wanted to do was ___________ (hurt your feelings, make you angry).  I do value you(r) ___________  (friendship, opinion, etc.
• Stay committed to the dialogue. Remember, you organized your difficult conversation so focus on how to move toward what you really hoped to accomplish. Then
• Explore THEIR perspective. Ask questions and mirror responses to guarantee you understand what they are meaning to say.

I do understand that many of these conversations surface when we least expect them. Just this evening I was sucked into one of these difficult conversations which I handled poorly. Medical studies now show that just a modest improvement in the ability to talk and connect with others corresponded to a two-thirds decrease in the death rate of those in later years.

Dr. Lund taught me in his book that when I hope for something that I have very little control over…that is a wish. When I hope, plan and organize something that I do have control over…that becomes a goal.  Let’s take control of our emotions. It is of GREAT value to all of us to learn how to organize our Difficult Conversations. You can do this.

Today is your turn to better someone’s life. Leave a comment telling us what your most difficult conversations have dealt with and what the outcome of that difficult conversation was. Thanks for sharing!

Listen to my online show numbered 032 Organize your Difficult Conversations to hear Laura and I discuss this important issue.