10 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids

In keeping with the spirit of Simplify Your Life week, here’s a post for all you parents out there! In addition to the first ten, here are ten more ways to simplify your life . . . with kids. Frankly, it never occurred to me I HAD to simplify my life until I had kids. Go figure.

So here are some tips that work for me. Hopefully a few will work for you!

Ten Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids

1. Stock the Car

If you’re like me, you live spend an inordinate amount of time in your car. Okay, I admit it . . . minivan to be precise. And while I’ve often joked we could survive in our minivan by eating the remnants of snack crumbs and half empty full water bottles, I’ve learned the hard way more than once that we weren’t equipped for the many mishaps that occur while we’re away from home.

Now, my car is stocked with the following:

• Dramamine
• Plastic bags
• Wipes
• Hand sanitizer (You’ve probably gathered one of my kids gets car sick.)
• Lifesavers
• Cell phone (Whenever I take it out of the car, I lose it. It’s that simple.)
• Bottled water
• Pillow
• Blanket
• DVDs
• Snack bars
• Baby’s sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Baby’s shoes (I got so freakin’ sick of not being able to find her shoes that I now keep them in the car at all times!)

There might even be more out there, but I’m too lazy to go look.

2. Get Up Earlier Than Your Kids

This one is particularly difficult for me! I’m addicted to sleep and have some serious withdrawal symptoms when I don’t get enough of it. Yes, I think cranky is a withdrawal symptom! Anyway, I’ve been forcing myself this summer to get up earlier than my kids, well at least two of them, in order to get tasks I need done and prepare for the day. Thankfully though my wonderful hubby lets me catch up on my sleep on the weekends. Do you think it’s because he likes me better when I’m rested? I never thought of that until this moment. Hmmm.

3. Prepare for the Next Day the Night Before

Okay, I am getting up earlier, but not like hours! So it always helps when we prepare whatever we can the night before (i.e., lunches, school backpacks, summer camp items, soccer gear, etc.) Whenever I deviate from this mantra, I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS live to regret it. The mornings are too damn stressful as it is.

4. Create To Do Lists for Your Kids

Instead of constantly reminding your kids to brush their teeth, do their homework, and complete their chores, write down what you expect them to do. (I typed my kids’ lists and print them out each week. Anal? Definitely, but it’s a lot more effective and a lot less aggravating than getting “blue in the face” repeating yourself.) This tip definitely works better with kids who can read, but I have to admit I created a morning to do list for one of my students with graphics instead of words. His mother was thrilled!

5. Pick Up the House Once a Day

I can’t stand clutter, but I’m learning to live with it . . . at least until the end of the day. This is because I’ve learned that if I pick up all of our collective clutter throughout the day, not only do I feel like a maid, I get absolutely nothing else accomplished! Now, we jam together as a family at the end of the day and I enjoy an orderly home for that ever shrinking time frame between when my kids go to bed and when I do.

For five more ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids, click on page 2.