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Organizing The Perfect Playroom

I am a very lucky woman to have one of these special rooms. If I didn’t, I would double-up, triple-up, even quadruple-up kids so I could turn a bedroom into a playroom. I believe in the “no toys in the bedroom” way of living. Why would I send my kid to a Matchbox-Lego-Barbie-TV-VCR-DVD-Computer-PlayStation filled room when they get in trouble?

By the way, we do have a computer for the kids in the kitchen, which is mine, and a TV/DVD player in the playroom. However, I am ANTI Nintendo, GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation, blah blah blah. I did buy the Ms. Pacman Plug and Play. (I’VE ROCKED ON MS. PAC MAN SINCE I WAS A KID, AND MY KIDS THINK I AM WAAAY COOL... SAY I’M A GAMER. THAT‘S RIGHT... A GAMER!!!)

Back to the subject at hand - organizing the Playroom.


I started off by separating all the toys into different categories. Blocks, Legos, Cars, Animals, Super Heroes, etc. Then, I headed down to Ikea and bought these great shelving units (about $80) with buckets that slide in and out. So, If you want to play
with blocks, you know where they are! I picked buckets I couldn’t see through. Why? It just looks messy when you can see the toys!! I know your asking, “Well how in the hell did you know which bucket had which toy?” Simple my friend, I labeled them. Then I realized I had a problem. Three years ago, I only had one child that could read!! Solution? I took pictures of the toys inside the buckets and taped them to the front! Check it out!

Now I know that probably seems SOOOO time consuming. It was. It took me days to get the damn shelves built, then separate and photograph all those wonderful little toys!!

THERE IS A HUGE PLUS TO ALL THE TIME I SPENT DOING THIS!!

My kids know exactly where everything is - even the three year old. I rarely get, “Mommy, I can‘t find my Buzz Lightyear!” Why not? Because it is in the Buzz Lightyear box, with the Buzz Lightyear photo on the front!!!! Get it?

The best part of my set-up is... cleanup!! My kids know where things go. When friends come to visit... they know what and where to put all the toys as well!! Slap a picture on your buckets and your world will change.

When the kids can clean up by themselves, Mommy gets to hang out a little longer!

Parenting

Muthahood Ain’t For Sissies | Motherhood Ain’t For Sissies

The Red Washcloth

Do your kids freak out from the sight of their own blood?

It’s crazy how children react when they see blood streaming from their bodies. I understand that it can be scary. I’m not heartless, but it can be ridiculous at times. Getting hurt at my house is likely to happen on a daily basis.

A few years ago, when when the three older boys were 2, 3 and 8, they had each already graduated from ER University. They all had received stitches by that time. Our doctor was already used to the weekly phone calls. The nurse would answer, “Who is hurt/sick this time?” I would laugh and rattle off the injuries/symptoms of the day.

One day, I had the “AHA” moment when I reached for a red and white checkered dish towel for whatever injury had occurred that particular day. I could still see the blood, but it wasn’t as noticeable as with the paper towels that I always seemed to use. The kid did not freak out as bad and the incident was not as traumatic as usual.

The next day, I ran down to Target and bought myself a red hand towel. I took it home, cut it up into smaller squares and voila... injury rags. They work like a charm! When the kids start to bleed from the head, I hand them the red towel. They always pull it off and take a look, but they can’t see the blood!!

BRILLIANT I TELL YOU!!!!

But I must warn you. When you do have to head over to the Emergency Room, please let the charge nurse know that it is a red towel. They tend to freak out when they see a “blood soaked “ towel on a child’s head! :)

Tags: Parenting | Motherhood | Tips | Ideas

Muthahood Ain’t For Sissies | Motherhood Ain’t For Sissies

Stop Hitting Your Brother With Your Monkey

The stuff that comes out of my mouth is amazing! I never dreamed I would sound so ridiculous. “Stop Hitting Your Brother With Your Monkey” is without question my favorite of all time. Remembering all of the stupid things that have tripped out of my mouth, unfiltered, would be impossible, but here are some of my other favorites:

• “We don’t put forks in our ears!”
• “Get your brothers foot out of your mouth!”
• “Dude, mommy doesn’t have a penis.” ...in an Old Navy dressing room
• “Boys, hamburgers are made from dead cows.”

OK! OK! I’m guilty too. My kids have said to me, “Mom, stop licking my armpits!” :)

What are some of your favorites?

Muthahood Ain’t For Sissies | Motherhood Ain’t For Sissies