This video is great! I love hearing the giggles. One thought and I am not trying to be negative just thinking… aren’t there things in life that just aren’t fun? Should we teach our kids that everything should and can be fun? Sometimes things just need to get done and it’s not always fun… life is not always fun! My kids are now 30 and 27 and we all have ADD and ADHD so I am speaking with some experience. The audible suggestion is great!
Girls are big enough to put way clothes. Get three baskets put each one’s clothes in basket when cleaned and take to there rooms. If they want to fold ok or wear straight from the clean basket.
My family has been with you since you brought Callie home, we cried with you over the loss of your twins and cheered you all n as you continued to try to grow your family. My family vicariously traveled along the RV life with you all and settling into the homestead, welcomed sweet Cassidy, and struggled with the loss of your last embryos. “Kingsley & Callie” are literally household names around here and my eight year old is their biggest fan. I wish we could be friends in real life! I’m LOVING the ADHD tips!!! Our entire home struggles with this issue and it shows 🫣 please continue to share. All you were learning, we are learning alongside you!!!
I have been following your channel for several years now and the initial draw then is the same draw now. I love that you present real life, real feelings, real goals and thru the years I feel like your "realness" has only increased. I also appreciate that your number one priority is your family, unapologetically. I'm backtracking through your videos today because, even though I am subscribed to get notifications every time you upload, youtube only notified me of today's video.... So, it looks like I have 3 months of videos to catch up on. My hubby and I are currently on our land in Sevierville and it is a chilly 47 degrees. Hope y'all are staying warm and healthy
Watched since you lived in camper! As a nanny , I washed a entire load of just kids stuff then pulling from dryer put in basket leave in basket ,, put in their room let the, just pull unfolded from it, life saver ! Then not on bed or floor.Then have second basket for dirty, . Your amazing you have null plate w farm life milk8ngb,milking, and kids!
When my children were small we did "Dance Cleaning". When the music plays we clean, when the music is paused you freeze in whatever position you were in. The kids LOVED IT! Sometimes we also threw in Dance Cleaning by color - everyone (by taking turns) got to call a color after the pause ended and that was the color you cleaned until the next pause. Would love to hear if you give it a try.
I am a lists person. I typically have short specific lists for certain things. I add things as they come to mind and remove things I finish. I also like to rewrite lists to kind of reorganize my thoughts when I start to get scrambled
If you make it a daily thing for the girls (and you) it won't ever be bad. Best to follow it with a preferred activity. We did ours at night before we would watch a half hour of tv. It was the only tv they got all day so they looked forward to it. I would go clean up the kitchen while the kids picked up their rooms. Honestly they'll start picking up more during the day when they know they will have to do it later. After time I would say "rooms clean" and most the time they would say they already were. I was also a "anything left on the floor means you don't need it anymore". I never threw anything out cause a little tease of "Oh you don't need that anymore" gets it put away. Also, by about 8 kids can do their own laundry. We gave each kid a day that the laundry room was there's. I had 4 kids, so that left me sat -m to get other things like towels and my laundry done. We've only got 18 years to teach them to be responsible adults. It goes by so fast.
My kids aren’t very old yet, but instead of always being motivated and having my stuff together… I just declutter so when things aren’t getting done like I’d want, it doesn’t turn into as big of a tornado 😅 my kids have 10ish outfits out. Clothes out of season are stored away. It helps a little lol.
I’ve been following you since before the RV! Lol. Alex, I absolutely loved this video! I love you showing the reality of what it’s like running a household with three small children. I’m in the same boat and I also have ADHD and struggle with making piles all over the place and executive functioning and I can’t think with the clutter, so I feel like, I can sympathize with you. This was a great reminder that I can actually delegate things to my husband. I forget that sometimes and try to do it all myself. I’m definitely going to be doing that post it system.
I have never heard about this technique for organizing thoughts and am SO excited to try this!!! Also, love seeing your mess Alex, it’s soooo nice to see a home that looks like mine, with clothes everywhere but giggles everywhere too 🥰
I have 3 kids 4&under. I kept up with my house of chaos really well until the 3rd one arrived this year. I don’t enjoy cleaning, I realize I struggle keeping up with my things, my house & my laundry because I was never taught to keep up with it. So , while my house is YES a mess most of the time..I’m trying to teach my kids how to keep up with their things. This is where the shoes go, this is where your clothes go, these are your toys, you are in charge of cleaning them up. And we reward them for keeping up & having good listening ears. Our house again, is still a mess because they’re learning and I’m learning with them. I hope, by the time they’re entering second digits in age, they will be used to these things and it won’t be AS hard as a household for us to keep up.
You’ve probably heard of this before but myself and my friends with large families swear by the ZONES method. So you divide your home into cleaning zones (bathrooms and trash, playroom, dishes, sweeping …whatever) and then Step 1: clean the whole house. Just do whatever it takes to start with the whole house clean. Step 2: every night either after dinner or at bedtime say “zones everyone!” Everyone spends 5-10 mins cleaning their zone. Then assign the children to check each zone. (Did daddy do a good job in the kitchen? Did sissy get all the trash out?) Step 3: every Saturday do “Saturday zones” for 60-90 mins. Which is the same zone they do all week, plus the extra scrubbing, moping, vacuum etc) That’s it. House is clean every day House is scrubbed every week. No decision fatigue no huge amount of time spent. It’s literally 2-3 hours per WEEK and your house is clean each night and each morning. And scrubbed every week. The first two months we had to make slight adjustments in what each zone included and how we rotate zones. (Weekly, monthly, or yearly) The biggest adjustment, which I didn’t see coming is that mom doesn’t have a daily zone. Mom makes dinner each day and does laundry throughout the week as she sees fit. (Which is totally manageable when I don’t have to spend any other mental energy on housekeeping.) and yes, my kids are the same age range as yours.
"Event" centered works well too. Last weekend we assigned zones for each family member on Saturday, with the goal of finishing and setting up the tree that evening and taking Santa pictures and going out to lunch Sunday. It worked pretty well. Some were motivated more than others.
Been following y'all for a long time, some time around the time you were working on the RV before you lived in it, and around the time you moved into it. I haven't been getting notifications for a long time, but I have loved watching your family for years! Even during the time where YT turned off comments. 😂 Also, this video helped give me ideas to implement with my two kiddos that have ADHD. Love watching y'all so much, and watching the girls grow up!
I've been watching since you did your full time RV living!! Love your videos! And I love the post it system because things can be moved around so easily as opposed to writing things and erasing them! I plan to try it. Thanks for the tip!
I often watch videos or movies while I'm cleaning. Right now, I'm avoiding because my dog passed overnight after 15yrs together. I feel like there is so much I have to get done before she leaves. She's the one who made sure I ate. She was the best study buddy and loved psychology. She made sure her siblings behaved when I had to get things done
I have been with you since before the RV. I still do some things that you talked about in your Condo for cleaning. The girls did such a great job with their dressing room.
I have a suggestion about keeping up with laundry. Don’t fold it, especially the kids. Just put it in the drawers or have them put it in the drawer. If they want it folded, they can fold it.
I gave you a thumbs up, but, you need a chart! You do this, they do that, kind of thing. Put the kids names, days of the week, and a pack of stars to lick and put after their names. Is your husband a big kid too? Put his name on there also. Like the youngest child can brush the dogs, put her PJ’s under her pillow (something easy). Your husband needs a star too, but only when he’s done something to earn it! You need him on your side, so the girls will listen and then enforce it! He seems real good with the children. You can do this! But stay with the clutter, that can be a big negative if you know what I mean! But your seeing this big problem, that’s the first step! ❤. Merry Christmas! 🎄 Stay on it girlfriend!! ❤
I would be mindful about needing to make everything a game or fun. There is so much fun! But, developing a skill set to do things you do not enjoy, well, is invaluable. Consistency is not always about fun (it often can be!), but a commitment to yourself. An investment. Just as you commit to a life of health, you commit to clear spaces, which allow for creativity and focus. Granted, there will always be exceptions and overwhelm. If those exceptions are the norm, you may also consider drastically reducing or if you are able, hiring a bit of help!
Find external commitment! Tell a friend or someone 'I'm gonna pick up the room and text you a pic in 1 hour of my progress', or 'check in with me in 30 minutes'. Or sometimes even inviting someone over, as a way to get yourself to tidy up works wonders.
I haven’t been diagnosed with ADHD, but I think I have it since it’s often so hard to focus. Your sticky note idea is something I want to try because my mental clutter is so overwhelming at times and I just need a brain dump. Thank you for the idea! Also thank you for the ideas of how to clean and make it fun! I look forward to each video you put out, so keep them coming!
Thanks for sharing this, helps me and many! I remarried and my husband has adhd and my step son that's 14 has it as well, he takes medicine for it. The 12 year old has adhd but not strong enough to be on a prescription. My husband has three times the amount of things that I do. He wants a very clean house yet works outside of home a lot! I struggle at times because I can't find something I need and he has a hard time telling me where certain things are. We have three kids and they have their areas they are responsible for. They are 17, 14 and 12. The 14 and 12 year old (his kids) do not stay consistent or motivated. I am trying my best to stay patient.
Another hint, reduce the quantity of clothes. Less to wash and less to fold and put away. Do they really need say five pairs of pjs or 10 pair of shoes.
My home is lived in. We clean up as a team too. I love clean but lived in is ok too. You have a beautiful home and an amazing family. Love you guys 💕💞❤️🙏💪
The video that you posted about cleaning tips such as starting at 12oclock and working clockwise was game changer for me!! I was able to just focus on that when normally bounce clean is what I would call it!
Don’t sweat over the mess Alex. Because one day it won’t be there and you’ll be praying you could back in time when your kids were little and needed you again. No one’s life is perfect. Enjoy your babies while their still little and their messes. Because it goes by to fast. I wish I was back at that time now every day. So enjoy them and the mess.
We have bins that we keep in the laundry room. Laundry gets washed and dried and as it's pulled out of the dryer it gets put in their bin and usually not folded but at least it's clean and away. Socks have their own bin. if people want their clothes in their room it's easy to take the bin empty it and return bin to the laundry room. If they need socks go through the sock box as we call it and find them. Laundry drove me nuts for 20+yrs but the bin method works. For our family. Also it's not that you don't do the laundry it's a lot of work and boring.
Please check out clutter bug. Cass is amazing and she also has ADHD. She’s going to get your organizing systems so so sorted lol. You should be striving for good enough. Because for goodness sake, you have to milk, a cow and make yogurt and bake bread from scratch my goodness! Nobody would have the time for laundry. You need some large bins with broad categories and just pitch that stuff in there. A giant bin for shoes done. a giant bin with each person‘s name on it and throw their clothes in, bam. Make it again? Everyone has to run around and throw the clothes into the right bin and whoever counts the most items into a bin wins. Stuff like this is so helpful. You guys are so sweet. Been watching you all since your first retrieval before Callie, XOXO
I have 4 adult children, and laundry almost did me in. When they were little. I ended up assigning a laundry day to each of my kids. Of course I did it with them. I also took all laundry out of there bedrooms. Everything was hung to dry (cuts laundry time in half) except jammies and underwear. In the laundry room I hung everything and used plastic drawers from Walmart for socks, underwear and jammies. I stopped folding underware and matching socks.
One of the things I could suggest, is maybe doing a reward system at the beginning of the day they have to do x y and z. Then they get a reward. It may just be a sticker. If they collect 10 or 20 stickers then they get to do something special
I set myself a schedule for the minimum laundry. I have specific loads that need to be done on Monday, Tuesday, ect. I tried to Keep it to about 2 loads per day so I could have a day off or a catchup day if I needed it.
The only suggestion I would have is tackle one room at a time and ignore the others on that day. It has to be a family effort also. Turn on music and make it fun with the goal firmly in mind. Maybe a reward of a popcorn movie night in mind when finished. Blessings to you and your sweet family this Christmas season.
I only have a 5 year old and a 1yr old, work 40hr a week and homeschool, SOooooo I saw a recent vlog that said my today me with think the tomorrow me, and this has been my encouragement to get things done. I have also chosen to do little to know cleaning when the kids are awake because so spend all day cleaning vs 1-2hrs a night of peace cleaning, and sometimes your beautiful vlogs in my ear while I clean or some good sermons, we can do this together! If not in person together, I hope I can cheer you on to live and enjoy your family and well chores they'll get done one day 7-10 business days 😂
Cleaning the house can be a life lesson. Not all things in life are fun, sometimes we just have to do what needs to be done. Motivation? I look at all I have as a gift from God. So with that, I take care of things He has given me/us. I am a type A type A. So I feel much better with a clean house. Teaching my daughter that it’s just as important as paying the bills or reading Word. I too love lists, I love to cross off.
That list system looks exhausting. I type in to my calendar what has to be completed. If it doesn't get done, it shifts to the next day. I put green check marks beside completed work. Everything gets finished eventually.❤❤❤
I found there wasn't a single fix to cleaning and laundry. Sometimes what worked before wouldn't work the next time. One other option is to set a timer for x number of minutes, say 15. Everyone has to work really hard for that time then can go do what they want. You can even designate a tone or song that when they hear it, everyone drops what they're doing to go where the sound is coming from to work on that area for x minutes. As to lists, that's sooo me! I also found them helpful, yet overwhelming, so figured out I needed to sub-sort and then prioritize each area. The idea of harping on another adult to do what needs to be done just doesn't work for me, BUT I did once create a list for my husband that had some big ticket tasks. I also listed a reward for completion, based on the task 😉. (They got done, ESPECIALLY the bigger items😂)
To get my kids to clean the play room (which gets overwhelmingly messy very quickly) i play The Fart Song on my phone on repeat and we see how many times the song has to play before everything is clean. It's annoying. It's catchy. And for my 6 year old son, it totally works!
You could also make it a game with maybe a little reward like say to your youngest can you pick up and put all the dolls away in five minutes and you’ll earn a quarter. Your middle child could do it but with books and the oldest with shirts and pants. They each get a quarter. It will show them how to earn money and save for something they really want . And if they all work together it gets done faster and they can work Toward something they want.
The more kids you have the harder it gets so you have to push yourself. I have adhd but I’m hating a speck of dust I’m constantly looking for dust, smears on mirrors, crumbs on carpet. You need to have a starter somewhere a room at a time, 💕
I’ve watched since California! Also, how the heck do you not have 80 million someday sticky notes? Where do they do? I feel like I’d gather 100 notes fast hahaha
I’m ADHD and I set myself a timer, I look at the room and decide how quickly do I think I can tidy it, I then set a timer for that time and it becomes a competition to see if I can beat the timer 😂❤
Kids love and enjoy the memories you make with them no child is gonna have the memory of hey I had the time of my life doing xyz but downfall my room or house was a mess nope not even a factor so keep doing what your doing amazingly ❤
First of all,I ADORE YOU GUYS&HAVE THE UPMOST RESPECT FOR THE WAY Y'ALL HAVE CONDUCTED YOUR LIVES! That being said,that laundry would drive me crazy!! I have 6 children(all grown now),but when my first child was born,something kicked in&I have kept my house in perfect order since then.(I am not bragging.! If anything,it is hard for me to say positive things about myself.I really think I have a touch of OCD&I am on medication for ADHD. I only started the medication a couple of years ago,though.) Ok. I can tell ypu that homeschooling 3 children&having your husbamd AT HOME ALL THE TIME would make it feel impossible to complete all your tasks!! That would drive me NUTS!! I really think I know what is happening with you. You are like me. When my husband&children were all home,I honestly believe my brain was dumping endorphins all the time! Seriously,I felt euphoric&that feeling makes it so hard to get things done. For me,it was a long engrained habit&my OCD really helped! I disagree with Phillip on one thing he said. It is NOT easier to get everything done TOGETHER! It is easier when everyone is out of your hair&you can concentrate. You can do a lot more a lot faster ALONE!!! Put on music you love to sing along with or listen to a podcast. I think your life is wonderful&you guys were so smart to be forward thinking with the way you have handled your money! I had a registered home day care when my children were small&I still kept my house in shape because,once you get in the habit,it's like breathing! My motto is: PUT IT UP,NOT DOWN! My daycare was open 6-6&,at 5 I put cartoons for the kids&I cleaned the toys in the playroom up myself. I didnt want the kids to help because I wanted the blocks put in the basket for blocks,legos in the lego basket,etc.. I do not work&am home all day,every day alone&NOW it is getting hard to care about keeping things done. I have gotten out of the habit due to several things that occurred in our family the past few years&it has been hard to do a lot of things because I am not motivated anymore!! I still keep things neat as a pin but,the actual cleaning is hit&miss! I just want to spend my time with my grandchildren,not cleaning my house! You teo are miracle workers&I know you can figure this out!! Much love!!❤❤❤😂❤❤❤❤
I have a daughter with ADHD she is now 23 and is very messy. I could possibly have ADHD but I need everywhere to be clean I can't handle messes. With young children your house will be messy it's lived in and your loving your family life nothing wrong with it
Ok laundry can wait, children do not. I don’t think you have a dirty house. But I am not judging I have been hyperactive since a child… I’m 63 .I can clean my house , maybe backward to my husband in getting it done but if I have pressure ( like dinner , people over at my house ) it gets done and it is helpful to me. So I get it😊
Don't fold things like underwear, have girls pair up socks. Have a clean laundry basket for each and have the girls pull out their own clothes and put them in there. Buy cotton blend knit things that don't get wrinkly. Leggings and sweats in winter, cotton knit tops and bottoms for summer. Sleep in sweats or cotton knit shorts and tops. Don't need pajamas and they are dressed for next day. European families don't use top sheets - just bottom sheet with a duvet. Have hooks for towels and don't fold when they come out of dryer - just back on hooks. Coat hooks for snow pants and jackets
I grew up in a house of 10 , never ever was anything out of place , I married had two boys taught them to keep their rooms tidy all the time , now 8 look at you younger ones and see the messes but it doesn’t matter you have the children first and have fun with them , then the cleanliness , let the house be messy who cares 😂😂😂
Ok I get this, lives in home life when my children were little. I let them play all day and then I would try to get them to clean up. Sometimes they would but I became a yelling Momma. My husband didnt help back then. And he hardly helped with discipline. Only when it got on his nerves did he correct. And I would end up doing all the cleaning when they were in bed asleep. I am only speaking for myself and what happened with us. It will carry over into adulthood. Until they had homes of their own. I would teach the older girls to do their own laundry. Giving the gift of a work ethic is not a bad thing. Otherwise they will also have trouble working a job. Another thing I like for myself right now at the age of 60. Minimal things own help keep things clean and in place. Clutter and too much work overwhelm me and cause depression to kick in.
Get rid of the clothes my daughter filled 40 bags and shoes bags boots20all when to cute bins for charity snow kids love helping as lot easy with 8 pairs leggings six jeans put summer things in cases away .six Nightis.blessings to you all nanapolly Scotland x👸👸👸🌞🌻🌺🎅🤶🙏🌹
This video is great! I love hearing the giggles. One thought and I am not trying to be negative just thinking… aren’t there things in life that just aren’t fun? Should we teach our kids that everything should and can be fun? Sometimes things just need to get done and it’s not always fun… life is not always fun! My kids are now 30 and 27 and we all have ADD and ADHD so I am speaking with some experience. The audible suggestion is great!
Cleaning the house, while kids are growing
is like shovelling snow, while its snowing!
Love you All! 💖💕
Girls are big enough to put way clothes. Get three baskets put each one’s clothes in basket when cleaned and take to there rooms. If they want to fold ok or wear straight from the clean basket.
My family has been with you since you brought Callie home, we cried with you over the loss of your twins and cheered you all n as you continued to try to grow your family. My family vicariously traveled along the RV life with you all and settling into the homestead, welcomed sweet Cassidy, and struggled with the loss of your last embryos. “Kingsley & Callie” are literally household names around here and my eight year old is their biggest fan. I wish we could be friends in real life!
I’m LOVING the ADHD tips!!! Our entire home struggles with this issue and it shows 🫣 please continue to share. All you were learning, we are learning alongside you!!!
I have been following your channel for several years now and the initial draw then is the same draw now. I love that you present real life, real feelings, real goals and thru the years I feel like your "realness" has only increased. I also appreciate that your number one priority is your family, unapologetically. I'm backtracking through your videos today because, even though I am subscribed to get notifications every time you upload, youtube only notified me of today's video.... So, it looks like I have 3 months of videos to catch up on. My hubby and I are currently on our land in Sevierville and it is a chilly 47 degrees. Hope y'all are staying warm and healthy
Watched since you lived in camper! As a nanny , I washed a entire load of just kids stuff then pulling from dryer put in basket leave in basket ,, put in their room let the, just pull unfolded from it, life saver ! Then not on bed or floor.Then have second basket for dirty, . Your amazing you have null plate w farm life milk8ngb,milking, and kids!
Memories are way more important than messes. God bless you all!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I love the real life stuff. It's so much more relatable than other people's videos that only show a spotless room
When my children were small we did "Dance Cleaning". When the music plays we clean, when the music is paused you freeze in whatever position you were in. The kids LOVED IT! Sometimes we also threw in Dance Cleaning by color - everyone (by taking turns) got to call a color after the pause ended and that was the color you cleaned until the next pause. Would love to hear if you give it a try.
That sounds so fun! I love how you made it fun!
I am a lists person. I typically have short specific lists for certain things. I add things as they come to mind and remove things I finish. I also like to rewrite lists to kind of reorganize my thoughts when I start to get scrambled
If you make it a daily thing for the girls (and you) it won't ever be bad. Best to follow it with a preferred activity. We did ours at night before we would watch a half hour of tv. It was the only tv they got all day so they looked forward to it. I would go clean up the kitchen while the kids picked up their rooms. Honestly they'll start picking up more during the day when they know they will have to do it later. After time I would say "rooms clean" and most the time they would say they already were. I was also a "anything left on the floor means you don't need it anymore". I never threw anything out cause a little tease of "Oh you don't need that anymore" gets it put away. Also, by about 8 kids can do their own laundry. We gave each kid a day that the laundry room was there's. I had 4 kids, so that left me sat -m to get other things like towels and my laundry done. We've only got 18 years to teach them to be responsible adults. It goes by so fast.
I have been with you from the beginning!!! I'm Definitely a list maker!!! I make my lists day by day!!! Happy Holidays!!! God Bless Us All!!!
Thank you for this because not everyone shows what life with kids really looks like!❤️
My kids aren’t very old yet, but instead of always being motivated and having my stuff together… I just declutter so when things aren’t getting done like I’d want, it doesn’t turn into as big of a tornado 😅 my kids have 10ish outfits out. Clothes out of season are stored away. It helps a little lol.
I’ve been following you since before the RV! Lol. Alex, I absolutely loved this video! I love you showing the reality of what it’s like running a household with three small children. I’m in the same boat and I also have ADHD and struggle with making piles all over the place and executive functioning and I can’t think with the clutter, so I feel like, I can sympathize with you. This was a great reminder that I can actually delegate things to my husband. I forget that sometimes and try to do it all myself. I’m definitely going to be doing that post it system.
You put family first fun with dad and mom is priceless.
I have never heard about this technique for organizing thoughts and am SO excited to try this!!! Also, love seeing your mess Alex, it’s soooo nice to see a home that looks like mine, with clothes everywhere but giggles everywhere too 🥰
Wow! To just see it overwhelmed me also! Too much clothing? Declutter first? I have been doing that and it has helped!!
That's what I was thinking. Less stuff means less stuff to organize and stay on top of.
I have 3 kids 4&under. I kept up with my house of chaos really well until the 3rd one arrived this year. I don’t enjoy cleaning, I realize I struggle keeping up with my things, my house & my laundry because I was never taught to keep up with it. So , while my house is YES a mess most of the time..I’m trying to teach my kids how to keep up with their things. This is where the shoes go, this is where your clothes go, these are your toys, you are in charge of cleaning them up. And we reward them for keeping up & having good listening ears. Our house again, is still a mess because they’re learning and I’m learning with them. I hope, by the time they’re entering second digits in age, they will be used to these things and it won’t be AS hard as a household for us to keep up.
Good hearing from you again! Bless your family!
Thanks for being vulnerable!
You’ve probably heard of this before but myself and my friends with large families swear by the ZONES method. So you divide your home into cleaning zones (bathrooms and trash, playroom, dishes, sweeping …whatever) and then
Step 1: clean the whole house. Just do whatever it takes to start with the whole house clean.
Step 2: every night either after dinner or at bedtime say “zones everyone!” Everyone spends 5-10 mins cleaning their zone. Then assign the children to check each zone. (Did daddy do a good job in the kitchen? Did sissy get all the trash out?)
Step 3: every Saturday do “Saturday zones” for 60-90 mins. Which is the same zone they do all week, plus the extra scrubbing, moping, vacuum etc)
That’s it. House is clean every day
House is scrubbed every week. No decision fatigue no huge amount of time spent. It’s literally 2-3 hours per WEEK and your house is clean each night and each morning. And scrubbed every week.
The first two months we had to make slight adjustments in what each zone included and how we rotate zones. (Weekly, monthly, or yearly)
The biggest adjustment, which I didn’t see coming is that mom doesn’t have a daily zone. Mom makes dinner each day and does laundry throughout the week as she sees fit. (Which is totally manageable when I don’t have to spend any other mental energy on housekeeping.) and yes, my kids are the same age range as yours.
"Event" centered works well too. Last weekend we assigned zones for each family member on Saturday, with the goal of finishing and setting up the tree that evening and taking Santa pictures and going out to lunch Sunday. It worked pretty well. Some were motivated more than others.
Been following y'all for a long time, some time around the time you were working on the RV before you lived in it, and around the time you moved into it. I haven't been getting notifications for a long time, but I have loved watching your family for years! Even during the time where YT turned off comments. 😂
Also, this video helped give me ideas to implement with my two kiddos that have ADHD. Love watching y'all so much, and watching the girls grow up!
I've been watching since you did your full time RV living!! Love your videos! And I love the post it system because things can be moved around so easily as opposed to writing things and erasing them! I plan to try it. Thanks for the tip!
I often watch videos or movies while I'm cleaning. Right now, I'm avoiding because my dog passed overnight after 15yrs together. I feel like there is so much I have to get done before she leaves. She's the one who made sure I ate. She was the best study buddy and loved psychology. She made sure her siblings behaved when I had to get things done
I'm so sorry 😢(((((( hugs))))))❤
I have been with you since before the RV. I still do some things that you talked about in your Condo for cleaning. The girls did such a great job with their dressing room.
I have a suggestion about keeping up with laundry. Don’t fold it, especially the kids. Just put it in the drawers or have them put it in the drawer. If they want it folded, they can fold it.
I gave you a thumbs up, but, you need a chart! You do this, they do that, kind of thing. Put the kids names, days of the week, and a pack of stars to lick and put after their names. Is your husband a big kid too? Put his name on there also. Like the youngest child can brush the dogs, put her PJ’s under her pillow (something easy). Your husband needs a star too, but only when he’s done something to earn it! You need him on your side, so the girls will listen and then enforce it! He seems real good with the children.
You can do this! But stay with the clutter, that can be a big negative if you know what I mean! But your seeing this big problem, that’s the first step! ❤. Merry Christmas! 🎄 Stay on it girlfriend!! ❤
I stopped folding my kids laundry! They pull everything out anyway and dont put it back nicely anyway. Such a time saver!
I just throw all my kids clothes in their drawer!
I was absolutely going to comment the same thing! Folding is deeply overrated
I would be mindful about needing to make everything a game or fun. There is so much fun! But, developing a skill set to do things you do not enjoy, well, is invaluable. Consistency is not always about fun (it often can be!), but a commitment to yourself. An investment. Just as you commit to a life of health, you commit to clear spaces, which allow for creativity and focus. Granted, there will always be exceptions and overwhelm. If those exceptions are the norm, you may also consider drastically reducing or if you are able, hiring a bit of help!
Just saw this fun idea for FREEZER INVENTORY. Write it on the freezer lid with dry erase marker. ❤
Find external commitment! Tell a friend or someone 'I'm gonna pick up the room and text you a pic in 1 hour of my progress', or 'check in with me in 30 minutes'. Or sometimes even inviting someone over, as a way to get yourself to tidy up works wonders.
I haven’t been diagnosed with ADHD, but I think I have it since it’s often so hard to focus. Your sticky note idea is something I want to try because my mental clutter is so overwhelming at times and I just need a brain dump. Thank you for the idea! Also thank you for the ideas of how to clean and make it fun! I look forward to each video you put out, so keep them coming!
Thanks for sharing this, helps me and many! I remarried and my husband has adhd and my step son that's 14 has it as well, he takes medicine for it. The 12 year old has adhd but not strong enough to be on a prescription. My husband has three times the amount of things that I do. He wants a very clean house yet works outside of home a lot! I struggle at times because I can't find something I need and he has a hard time telling me where certain things are. We have three kids and they have their areas they are responsible for. They are 17, 14 and 12. The 14 and 12 year old (his kids) do not stay consistent or motivated. I am trying my best to stay patient.
I have two other children but they moved for college and work.
I've been following you since before the Rv. You were in the apartment and getting Callie.❤
Another hint, reduce the quantity of clothes. Less to wash and less to fold and put away. Do they really need say five pairs of pjs or 10 pair of shoes.
Hooray!! You’re humans! I’ve been following since long before the RV.
I love both but am always partial to the traditional day to day fly on the wall videos. Especially with your fam! 😊
My home is lived in. We clean up as a team too. I love clean but lived in is ok too. You have a beautiful home and an amazing family. Love you guys 💕💞❤️🙏💪
Making a board with checklist on it with a small reward when great accomplishments
I love the start of this video. It made me feel so much better about my own laundry piles 😂
The video that you posted about cleaning tips such as starting at 12oclock and working clockwise was game changer for me!! I was able to just focus on that when normally bounce clean is what I would call it!
Don’t sweat over the mess Alex. Because one day it won’t be there and you’ll be praying you could back in time when your kids were little and needed you again. No one’s life is perfect. Enjoy your babies while their still little and their messes. Because it goes by to fast. I wish I was back at that time now every day. So enjoy them and the mess.
Amazing! Where were you when I was raising my kids as a single mom? Lol I love this!
We have bins that we keep in the laundry room. Laundry gets washed and dried and as it's pulled out of the dryer it gets put in their bin and usually not folded but at least it's clean and away. Socks have their own bin. if people want their clothes in their room it's easy to take the bin empty it and return bin to the laundry room. If they need socks go through the sock box as we call it and find them. Laundry drove me nuts for 20+yrs but the bin method works. For our family. Also it's not that you don't do the laundry it's a lot of work and boring.
Please check out clutter bug. Cass is amazing and she also has ADHD. She’s going to get your organizing systems so so sorted lol. You should be striving for good enough. Because for goodness sake, you have to milk, a cow and make yogurt and bake bread from scratch my goodness! Nobody would have the time for laundry. You need some large bins with broad categories and just pitch that stuff in there. A giant bin for shoes done. a giant bin with each person‘s name on it and throw their clothes in, bam. Make it again? Everyone has to run around and throw the clothes into the right bin and whoever counts the most items into a bin wins. Stuff like this is so helpful. You guys are so sweet. Been watching you all since your first retrieval before Callie, XOXO
Wow! I'm so encouraged to try the post it thing. My list can feel so overwhelming!
I have 4 adult children, and laundry almost did me in. When they were little. I ended up assigning a laundry day to each of my kids. Of course I did it with them. I also took all laundry out of there bedrooms. Everything was hung to dry (cuts laundry time in half) except jammies and underwear. In the laundry room I hung everything and used plastic drawers from Walmart for socks, underwear and jammies. I stopped folding underware and matching socks.
I LOVE ALL YOUR VIDEOS I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL I HAVE BEEN WITH YOUR CHANNEL FOR EIGHT YEARS I LOVE YOUR FAMILY
Awe hi Kathy!! We are so thankful for you being here to whole time. I can’t believe it’s been 8 years!
One of the things I could suggest, is maybe doing a reward system at the beginning of the day they have to do x y and z. Then they get a reward. It may just be a sticker. If they collect 10 or 20 stickers then they get to do something special
Love the dog making snow angels with Alex in the clean laundry 😂
Yep, get a buddy to encourage you!!
I set myself a schedule for the minimum laundry. I have specific loads that need to be done on Monday, Tuesday, ect. I tried to
Keep it to about 2 loads per day so I could have a day off or a catchup day if I needed it.
The only suggestion I would have is tackle one room at a time and ignore the others on that day. It has to be a family effort also. Turn on music and make it fun with the goal firmly in mind. Maybe a reward of a popcorn movie night in mind when finished. Blessings to you and your sweet family this Christmas season.
I only have a 5 year old and a 1yr old, work 40hr a week and homeschool, SOooooo I saw a recent vlog that said my today me with think the tomorrow me, and this has been my encouragement to get things done. I have also chosen to do little to know cleaning when the kids are awake because so spend all day cleaning vs 1-2hrs a night of peace cleaning, and sometimes your beautiful vlogs in my ear while I clean or some good sermons, we can do this together! If not in person together, I hope I can cheer you on to live and enjoy your family and well chores they'll get done one day 7-10 business days 😂
Cleaning the house can be a life lesson. Not all things in life are fun, sometimes we just have to do what needs to be done.
Motivation? I look at all I have as a gift from God. So with that, I take care of things He has given me/us.
I am a type A type A. So I feel much better with a clean house. Teaching my daughter that it’s just as important as paying the bills or reading Word.
I too love lists, I love to cross off.
Who knew you ever needed a phone to help clean a room !!!! This world is just crazy!!!
❤ Alex, I love all your idea’s, good ideas🙏
That list system looks exhausting. I type in to my calendar what has to be completed. If it doesn't get done, it shifts to the next day. I put green check marks beside completed work. Everything gets finished eventually.❤❤❤
I found there wasn't a single fix to cleaning and laundry. Sometimes what worked before wouldn't work the next time. One other option is to set a timer for x number of minutes, say 15. Everyone has to work really hard for that time then can go do what they want. You can even designate a tone or song that when they hear it, everyone drops what they're doing to go where the sound is coming from to work on that area for x minutes. As to lists, that's sooo me! I also found them helpful, yet overwhelming, so figured out I needed to sub-sort and then prioritize each area. The idea of harping on another adult to do what needs to be done just doesn't work for me, BUT I did once create a list for my husband that had some big ticket tasks. I also listed a reward for completion, based on the task 😉. (They got done, ESPECIALLY the bigger items😂)
Cleaning gets so mundane . So we all take breaks from it. 🥰❤️
To get my kids to clean the play room (which gets overwhelmingly messy very quickly) i play The Fart Song on my phone on repeat and we see how many times the song has to play before everything is clean. It's annoying. It's catchy. And for my 6 year old son, it totally works!
You could also make it a game with maybe a little reward like say to your youngest can you pick up and put all the dolls away in five minutes and you’ll earn a quarter. Your middle child could do it but with books and the oldest with shirts and pants. They each get a quarter. It will show them how to earn money and save for something they really want . And if they all work together it gets done faster and they can work Toward something they want.
The more kids you have the harder it gets so you have to push yourself. I have adhd but I’m hating a speck of dust I’m constantly looking for dust, smears on mirrors, crumbs on carpet. You need to have a starter somewhere a room at a time, 💕
MERRY CHRISTMAS ❤ ALEX PHILIP ❤ KINSLEY CALLIE CASSIDY ❤❤
Your children fold clothes better than me 😂 can I borrow them?
I’ve watched since California! Also, how the heck do you not have 80 million someday sticky notes? Where do they do? I feel like I’d gather 100 notes fast hahaha
I’m ADHD and I set myself a timer, I look at the room and decide how quickly do I think I can tidy it, I then set a timer for that time and it becomes a competition to see if I can beat the timer 😂❤
I wouldn’t know who I was without my clean laundry pile mountain.
Your girls are so precious 🥰
I've been here since Callie was 3-4 months old I think, she was itty bitty
I’m so glad your house is a disaster it’s so relatable hahaha my main areas are usually good, everything else mehhhh 🤣
Kids love and enjoy the memories you make with them no child is gonna have the memory of hey I had the time of my life doing xyz but downfall my room or house was a mess nope not even a factor so keep doing what your doing amazingly ❤
All work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy!
Been here since the apartment /condo before the RV ❤
First of all,I ADORE YOU GUYS&HAVE THE UPMOST RESPECT FOR THE WAY Y'ALL HAVE CONDUCTED YOUR LIVES! That being said,that laundry would drive me crazy!! I have 6 children(all grown now),but when my first child was born,something kicked in&I have kept my house in perfect order since then.(I am not bragging.! If anything,it is hard for me to say positive things about myself.I really think I have a touch of OCD&I am on medication for ADHD. I only started the medication a couple of years ago,though.) Ok. I can tell ypu that homeschooling 3 children&having your husbamd AT HOME ALL THE TIME would make it feel impossible to complete all your tasks!! That would drive me NUTS!! I really think I know what is happening with you. You are like me. When my husband&children were all home,I honestly believe my brain was dumping endorphins all the time! Seriously,I felt euphoric&that feeling makes it so hard to get things done. For me,it was a long engrained habit&my OCD really helped! I disagree with Phillip on one thing he said. It is NOT easier to get everything done TOGETHER! It is easier when everyone is out of your hair&you can concentrate. You can do a lot more a lot faster ALONE!!! Put on music you love to sing along with or listen to a podcast. I think your life is wonderful&you guys were so smart to be forward thinking with the way you have handled your money! I had a registered home day care when my children were small&I still kept my house in shape because,once you get in the habit,it's like breathing! My motto is: PUT IT UP,NOT DOWN! My daycare was open 6-6&,at 5 I put cartoons for the kids&I cleaned the toys in the playroom up myself. I didnt want the kids to help because I wanted the blocks put in the basket for blocks,legos in the lego basket,etc.. I do not work&am home all day,every day alone&NOW it is getting hard to care about keeping things done. I have gotten out of the habit due to several things that occurred in our family the past few years&it has been hard to do a lot of things because I am not motivated anymore!! I still keep things neat as a pin but,the actual cleaning is hit&miss! I just want to spend my time with my grandchildren,not cleaning my house! You teo are miracle workers&I know you can figure this out!! Much love!!❤❤❤😂❤❤❤❤
I have a daughter with ADHD she is now 23 and is very messy. I could possibly have ADHD but I need everywhere to be clean I can't handle messes. With young children your house will be messy it's lived in and your loving your family life nothing wrong with it
You make me feel so much better admit my house 😂 I’m so glad I’m not the only one
Ive been watching you since day 1 of your vlogs😊
I can so relate!
I make lists but I don’t get it all done before time to do the first thing again!
That would drive me nuts.
I'm totally trying the sticky notes
Girl you should see my garage that is all that needs to be said 😂
Just invest in hamgers and undergarments 3 baskets socks panties and inners
I feel seen! 3 kids here too impossible to keep up with it all😂❤
No memory for me! List for the errands for sure,
I was around during full time rv
I only make a shopping list.
Ok laundry can wait, children do not. I don’t think you have a dirty house. But I am not judging I have been hyperactive since a child… I’m 63 .I can clean my house , maybe backward to my husband in getting it done but if I have pressure ( like dinner , people over at my house ) it gets done and it is helpful to me. So I get it😊
Is your Bennie from Sommers in Alaska ?
Clothes on the floor and having pets makes then dirty again. The girls can be taught to put things away every day and it won’t be such a pain 😊
Don't fold things like underwear, have girls pair up socks. Have a clean laundry basket for each and have the girls pull out their own clothes and put them in there. Buy cotton blend knit things that don't get wrinkly. Leggings and sweats in winter, cotton knit tops and bottoms for summer. Sleep in sweats or cotton knit shorts and tops. Don't need pajamas and they are dressed for next day. European families don't use top sheets - just bottom sheet with a duvet. Have hooks for towels and don't fold when they come out of dryer - just back on hooks. Coat hooks for snow pants and jackets
5:15 😂🤍🌬️
What is Phillip’s job if you don’t mind me asking?
Make a list and then I lose it so I make another… then lose it again cycle
I grew up in a house of 10 , never ever was anything out of place , I married had two boys taught them to keep their rooms tidy all the time , now 8 look at you younger ones and see the messes but it doesn’t matter you have the children first and have fun with them , then the cleanliness , let the house be messy who cares 😂😂😂
Xx
Those girls need some responsibilities.
Ok I get this, lives in home life when my children were little. I let them play all day and then I would try to get them to clean up. Sometimes they would but I became a yelling Momma. My husband didnt help back then. And he hardly helped with discipline. Only when it got on his nerves did he correct. And I would end up doing all the cleaning when they were in bed asleep.
I am only speaking for myself and what happened with us. It will carry over into adulthood. Until they had homes of their own.
I would teach the older girls to do their own laundry. Giving the gift of a work ethic is not a bad thing. Otherwise they will also have trouble working a job.
Another thing I like for myself right now at the age of 60. Minimal things own help keep things clean and in place. Clutter and too much work overwhelm me and cause depression to kick in.
Get rid of the clothes my daughter filled 40 bags and shoes bags boots20all when to cute bins for charity snow kids love helping as lot easy with 8 pairs leggings six jeans put summer things in cases away .six Nightis.blessings to you all nanapolly Scotland x👸👸👸🌞🌻🌺🎅🤶🙏🌹