Motherhood: The ABC’s of OrganizationPresented By: Shannon Simmons

Who Am I?• Daughter of the King, Worshipper,

Prayer Warrior and Wife of Roosevelt

• Mom to Five Beautiful Children: Jae’Lah, Carson, Raven, Reese and Rachel

• Daughter, Sister, Friend, Teacher and Executive Assistant

• Recovering Perfectionist!!!

Why Am I Here?

• Currently, I am an Executive Assistant at FamilyLife, a non-profit organization that helps others build better marriages and families

• I am a former small business owner of a professional organizing business called Simmons Organizing Solutions

• Truthfully, Anita Davis referred me <I think>.

Why Are You Here?Is This Photo a Representation of your Life in THIS Season of Motherhood?

Why Are You Here?To Be Like Her?

<OR> To Be Like Her?

What is The Goal TODAY?Three (3) B’s

• Learn some BASICS of organizing for the working or stay-at-home mom

• Gain an understanding of what BALANCE looks like for mothers of preschoolers

• Seek BIBLICAL and practical wisdom for being a mom

The BASICS of Organization

• My organizing philosophy is based on the book, Organizing for Your Brain Type by Lanna Nakone, M.A.

• Every person organizes their time, space and things based on their brain type: Maintaining, Harmonizing, Innovating, and Prioritizing

• DEFINE “being organized.”

The Maintaining Style• If you:

– Are very organized, but very stressed out trying to keep it all together

– Are a list maker and file labeler– Are rigid about routines– Believe “a place for everything and and everything

in its place.”

You are The Perfectionist

The Harmonizing Style• If you:

– Lack focus and structure– Thrive on connecting with others– Are weak at managing time– Are bored with detail– Believe “everything must be in harmony.”

You are The Peacemaker

The Innovating Style• If you:

– Are spontaneous, adventurous and imaginative– Are a visionary thinker or visionary leader– Are disinterested in traditional organizing &

routines (A “stacker”)– Are a great multi-tasker– Have an “all or nothing approach to organizing.”

You are The Parting Procrastinator

The Prioritizing Style• If you: – Make decisions quickly and accurately– Tend to manage money and time effectively– Have a natural tendency to want a pristine, almost

obsessive-compulsive environment– Have an inability to slow down, but like and NEED to

delegate– Have an “all about me” approach to organizing your

time and space.”

You are THE Priority!

Daily Hit ListDATE:

APPOINTMENTS TIME PURPOSE/PLACE CONTACT/INFO

SPIRITUAL (Faith)

TO DO LIST

1.

PHYSICAL (Diet/Exercise)

2.

3.

4.

RELATIONAL (Family/Friends)

5.

6.

7.

PERSONAL (Me Time: Hair/Nails/Etc.)

I AM GRATEFUL FOR . . .

1.

MINISTRY (Church, Charities, Etc.) 2.

3.

HOME (Chores, Meals, Shopping)

THINGS TO PRAY FOR TODAY

1.

DEADLINES (Bills, Kids, Etc.) 2.

3.

Sample Cleaning Schedule(Stay-at-Home Mom)Household Cleaning Chart

DAILY CLEANING DUTIES:• MAKE BEDS• LOAD DISHWASHER/WASH DISHES• WIPE KITCHEN COUNTERS• PUT ALL FOOD AWAY• SWEEP KITCHEN FLOOR• EMPTY TRASH CAN (AS NEEDED)

WEEK SUN MON TUE WED THR FRI SAT

Wk 1 REST LIVING ROOM KITCHEN BEDROOMS BATH

ROOMS OFFICE LAUNDRY

Wk 2 REST OFFICE LIVING ROOM KITCHEN BEDROOMS BATH

ROOMS LAUNDRY

Wk 3 REST BATHROOMS OFFICE LIVING

ROOM KITCHEN BEDROOMS LAUNDRY

Wk 4 REST BEDROOMS BATHROOMS OFFICE LIVING

ROOM KITCHEN LAUNDRY

Sample Cleaning Schedule(Working Mom)

Household Cleaning Chart

DAILY CLEANING DUTIES: Projects Iron Laundry Errands• MAKE BEDS• LOAD DISHWASHER/WASH DISHES• WIPE KITCHEN COUNTERS• PUT ALL FOOD AWAY• SWEEP KITCHEN FLOOR• EMPTY TRASH CAN (AS NEEDED)

WEEK SUN MON TUE WED THR FRI SAT

Wk 1 REST Declutter Mop Floors

VacuumProjects

Empty Trash

Change Bed Linens P.I.L.E.

Wk 2 RESTDust/Clean

Glass Windows

Declutter Mop Floors VacuumProjects

Empty Trash P.I.L.E.

Wk 3 REST Mop Floors Change Bed Linens Declutter Empty

TrashVacuumProjects P.I.L.E.

Wk 4 REST VacuumProjects Empty Trash

Dust/Clean Glass

WindowsDeclutter Empty

Trash P.I.L.E.

Sample Laundry Schedule(Any Mom)

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thr Fri Sat

REST

2 Loads 2 Loads 2 Loads 2 Loads 2 Loads 2 Loads

Delicates&

ColoredBrights

Colored Darks

&Jeans

Kids Whites

&Colored

Reds

ColoredDarks

Whites&

Colored Browns

Sheets&

Towels

Laundry Schedule

Daily Wash Order1. Morning – Wash (1) Load and/or Dry (1) Load2. Afternoon – Dry (SAME) Load (Child Chore)3. Evening – Fold & Put Away (SAME) Load4. Bedtime – Wash (1) NEW Load5. Next Morning – Repeat #1

Meal Plan/Shopping List

Meal Plan/Shopping List

The Balance To Organization

The Balance To Organization

• Prepare Your Prayer Closet / Quiet Place• Choose the “good part” of your existence daily• Discuss what balance looks like in your

household with your family (wives: your husbands and/or older children)

• ASK for help!!!

Biblical Wisdom to OrganizationProverbs 31 Woman vs. Martha

Internalize these truths: 1) I’m secure in my salvation 2) There is nothing I can do or say to make God love me any more or any less.

What Can You Do Next?RESOURCES• Take the “Organizing Style Quiz” in Organizing For Your

Brain Type by Lanna Nakone or visit her website: www.organizedworld.com to download the assessment

• Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

• Just Too Busy by Joanne Kraft• Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma• www.ourfamilyforhisglory.com• www.flylady.net

For Your Information

For additional tips or electronic copies of handouts, please contact:

Shannon Simmons Email• ssimmons@familylife.com • prechawife@yahoo.com Phone• Mobile: 501-258-7146