Reddit reviews Home Management: Plain and Simple

First of all, I highly recommend this book. The author is a mother of nine and is a Christian, and there is a lot of Christianity in the text, but I’m not Christian and it didn’t bother me at all. This book helped me figure out how to structure every day to get everything done. I would buy it even if it cost $100+ because it helped me so much. I reread it every so often, too.

I instituted routines that take place throughout the day, every day. We have a morning routine: wake up, bathroom, brush teeth, sunscreen, make beds, get dressed. Nothing else happens until this is done. It has saved so many tears because everyone knows what to expect, and when. Then I get breakfast prepared and they can play or use an educational game on their tablets. I only have educational games because when other things were on there it was a fight to get them to play the educational stuff; now they love it.

After breakfast we have our “after meal routine,” which the author of the above book refers to as “table chores.” I never liked the word “chore” so I don’t use it. We do this routine after every single meal, no exceptions. It gets done quickly! Here it is: take dishes to the counter, cups go on the drink tray that I keep on a shelf they can reach themselves, brush off the table, wash the table, vacuum or sweep under the table. While I’m helping with and supervising that stuff, I’m also filling a bowl or dishpan with warm, soapy water for the dishes to soak in, and another of rinse water. The kids help with the dishes. Give them a little scrub in the soapy water and then they go into the rinse water, and then to the drying rack. It seems like a lot, right? I timed it today at breakfast and it took us seven minutes from start to finish. When it’s done I say encouraging things about how shiny and pretty the kitchen looks and how they are the best helpers. I have a dust pan and brush for each child and a spray bottle for each for washing the table.

The toys are tidied up and the kids are in pajamas (more like what they will wear tomorrow, if I’m being honest) before dinner. Toys do not come back out after dinner at our house! Not unless I want tears and fighting and to probably end up in tears, myself. No thank you. Once the after meal routine is finished they can play with fluffy slime (it’s not gloopy and oozy like regular slime, or messy like play dough) or color or do something relaxing. Then we go to read books. We brush teeth halfway between book time right before I take the littlest one to bed, and then the older ones can continue reading.

I’ll add another comment when I think about more. Most of this stuff I got from that book! I really think it saved my life.

Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen Cookbook: 100 + Great Recipes with Foolproof Instructions https://www.amazon.com/dp/0618711759/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gQ8rDbP9ER0QA

Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home https://www.amazon.com/dp/0517577003/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XR8rDbBSNYVP2

Home Management: Plain and Simple https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998610100/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qT8rDb6FDZZQA

Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living https://www.amazon.com/dp/1440308535/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4V8rDb7GT21TK

Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD, 2nd Edition-Revised and Updated: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized https://www.amazon.com/dp/1592335128/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6W8rDb6ZKRW49


Don’t be afraid to shop! (Within reason) It will contribute so much to your comfort and relaxation/mental health to have a nice space set up for you both.

I recommend Ikea for most things, Target, and Ross has a good “home stuff” section.