Back To School!
by Hannah Keeley
It’s that time of year again. Can you believe it? It’s time to get back to school and get crackin’ (or at least crack some books, right?). If you still have some strings hanging from last year, then you’re not alone…but you are under the gun. So, let’s take action!
First, if you’re new to…
zoning your home, you can go ahead and read all about it right here. If you’re already zoning with the rest of us, then you know that this week we are decluttering and deep cleaning zone 2–our living room, play room, and home office. Since school for us pretty much spreads out all over the house, I figure this is the best zone to tackle school stuff. So let’s get going.
First–Gather up all those old workbooks and file folders filled with papers and projects from last year. Now, DO NOT throw them in a big plastic tub and stick it in your attic. Instead, set a timer for thirty minutes and go through it with a vengeance. Pull out pieces that you want to save, but do not feel that you have to save everything. Be brutal. Just save the stuff that really matters. C’mon, no one is ever going to care to see fifty bazillion different watercolors (even the one who painted them).
Second–Designate a spot for school supplies in your home. It could be a cubby, a shelf, a basket, whatever. But all school stuff MUST stay in that place. This is especially important when the morning rolls around and your child can’t find a book or project. Keep your school supplies together and you’re keep your sanity together!
Third–Don’t be a sucker. Every store in the world is having a “back to school” sale. That doesn’t mean you have to whip out your wallet and buy stuff. Guard your money! And this goes for homeschool moms, too! How much of that curriculum did you ACTUALLY use last year? Don’t buy books so they sit on your shelf and make you feel like a failure. Buy them in waves throughout the year so there is always something new to look forward to (and less moolah to dish out at one time!).
And if you need more homeschooling help, make sure you check out the help series “Homeschool 911!.”
– Hannah
Hannah Keeley was once in overwhelmed mom living in a cluttered house, deep in debt, out of shape, and barely hanging on. But one day, after finding herself sobbing uncontrollably into a pile of clean laundry, she realized God has bigger and better plans for her (just like He does for each one of His children). Beginning that day, she began making changes in her life that took her from overwhelmed to overjoyed. Today, she’s helping moms do the same. Hannah, her husband, Blair, and their seven children live in Richmond, Virginia, and are having the time of their lives!
Check out Hannah’s Website Here!
