This episode is a little different from my usual podcasts because I’ll be focusing on the seasons of parenthood and how each one brings new changes to our organizational routine.
My Mini Epiphany
The other day seemed ordinary enough, nothing that remarkable or exciting happened. I pulled into my driveway with my daughter, and at the same time, my husband Gregg arrived home with the dog from daycare. Then, my son pulled up to the house, and at that moment, we all arrived home together as a family – and I had somewhat of an epiphany.
Okay, so it wasn’t like a mind-blowing ordeal where I discovered the true meaning of life or anything. But still, it made me realize something very important.
I’m happy.
It may seem like a throwaway thing to say but if you think about it, how often in our busy lives do we take a moment and appreciate what we have? How many times have you stopped to ask yourself, “Am I happy?”
It’s not as easy as it seems, right? And yet, that’s how I felt. Happy.
Seasons of Parenting
I’m the type of person who enjoys every season of parenting. I live in the moment.
My son Joey is leaving for college soon, and many people have told me that I’m going to be sad when he leaves. But I don’t think I will be that sad. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll miss him when he goes. But at the same time, I love seeing him grow up, and going off to college is just another step in his journey.
If you’re a new parent, you’ll face many obstacles throughout your child’s life, and with each stage that passes, another will take its place. When you overcome these obstacles, your organizational strength will grow, and you’ll have the tools you need to prepare for the next challenge in life.
So, let’s take a look at each season from babyhood all the way through to your child graduating from high school (you may want to grab a tissue!)
The Early Years of Parenting
New parents face a great deal of change in the early years, especially in the baby, toddler, and pre-school stages. Babies are a handful, and they can quickly go from one diaper size to the next. You always need to change your stockpile of diapers and then you need to organize what your kids will eat and drink.
As you continue to expand your family, you’ll also develop your mental bandwidth to include not just yourself, but each additional little human that you’re responsible for.
Grade School: The Game Changer Year
When you have younger kids, your house can suddenly become overloaded with toys, clothes, and apparatus such as strollers and car seats, etc. But as the kids grow up, you can start to move the toys into their bedrooms and put the strollers and things into storage or give them to another family member if you don’t plan on using them yourself.
And once the kids go to all-day school, your home and organizational routine will change drastically.
This is a time that I like to call “The Game Changer Year.”
It’s dramatic, I know. But seriously, when the kids are in school for most of the day, you’ll not only have more time for yourself, but you’ll also have more time to organize your home. Everything seems to flow a lot easier, and you can treat yourself to some quiet time now that the kids are off to school.
Even those of you at work while your kids are at school will notice a distinct difference in the function of your home and the organizational progress you make will STAY!
FYI – I highly recommend taking a day or two off work while your children are at school to reclaim your home. 🙂
Middle School: Gaining Independence
Oh, middle school – how I’ve missed you!
If you didn’t know, I used to be a 7th and 8th-grade school math and science teacher, so forgive me if I get a little nostalgic thinking back to the good old days.
What I love about this age group is their ability to form their own opinions, and being able to witness their brains process change and develop as they progress through the school year.
Middle school is a time when kids are starting to become more independent in their actions.
High School: Graduation & College
Whether you love it or loathe it, high school is one of the most memorable times of a child’s life. Their independence starts to take shape, and they begin to think about driving and colleges.
I don’t know about you, but I love helping my kids take their beliefs, ideas, and unique talents and figure out what it is that they want to do with their lives. It’s up to us as parents to launch our kids into adulthood with the tools and strategies they need to make decisions that will help them succeed and live a fulfilling, happy life.
Eventually, my kids will be done with college, and maybe someday they’ll get married, or they’ll travel around the world with their friends – and I’m really excited for all of it. I have enjoyed each season of parenting and the organization that goes along with it and I hope you do, too!
