3/30/09

I'd Lose My Head if it Weren't Attatched


For those of you who wonder, "How on earth does she manage with 6 kids?" I offer this: The chore chart to top all others. Okay, well admittedly this won't top all others because this one is ugly. Sometimes order is ugly... this chart looks more like a Wal-Mart Organizational Flow Chart than a family chore chart.


The fact is: I forget everything. I completely forget that my kids earned themselves a whoppin grounding for 2 weeks because my intense love for these little punk-a-noodles overshadows my memory of things they've done to deserve my wrath.

I forget that a family of 8 requires laundry to be done several times EVERY DAY. Aren't we all trying to forget about the laundry... it just won't go away! I'm even at fault to forget a couple of days in a row... until I've worn that stretched out bra that I should have thrown away months ago for the second straight day and I have to start acting surprised when friends see the stains on my shirt, "Kids! Darn. I guess I'll have to get this in the wash." That excuse works incredibly well when you have a ton of kiddos. You're always bound to have something stuck to your shoulder or belly. It's sad however, when the same friends hear that excuse several times over the same shirt... BUSTED!


So here's command central at my house.

Use this link to get the PDF of our job chart.
Cuz I'm a dork and can't make it appear right on this blog.

This baby has earned it's rightful place on the fridge next to the Scouting schedule and the realtor magnets.


It's divided into 3 sections; Routines that I need to remember.
Meal schedule: For Breakfast and Lunch (dinners are always different)

Laundry Schedule: This shows me who has laundry on what day. If you want to see my octo-laundry routine check out this post.

Family Job Rotations: This is the meat of the schedule. (Applies to 4 older kids)
It details my kids daily Personal jobs, Trash assignments, Dinner Prep and Clean-up assignments, Weekly Zone, Weekly Job, and Saturday job assignments. WHEW!

Use this link to get the PDF of our job chart.

There you have it. Functionality at it's finest... you can thank the hubby for that one. I'm always worried about whether or not the colors I choose in the chart coordinate with the eyes and personality of the child they represent... and match the hues of the current season.
We're a perfect match!

Any other questions on family efficiency or routines? What are you struggling with in your home?

Photo Credits: SouthernLiving.com

18 comments:

Christina said...

Hmm ... I'm trying to view your job chart but it is saying I don't have permission to? Am I doing something wrong? Help!! :o)

Cathy said...

Having the same issue.

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

I'm not seeing it either.

Tami @ This Mom's Delight said...

I'm not seeing it either. Have you published the page yet?

Tami @ This Mom's Delight said...

I'm not seeing it either. Have you published the page yet?

Anonymous said...

It says I don't have permission to view.

Rachel said...

Help! I don't have permission either???

Mom in High Heels said...

Can't see it either.

Pretty Organizer said...

Ahhhhh!!! Okay... I'll fix it and get back! Sorry folks, newby on posting to an outside site!

Kim said...

You are a HOOT! Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea. You sound organized enough to me!

Pretty Organizer said...

Okay folks, try that one! I think I have it set right now... Yikes sorry. Hubby and I tried it at home and it worked last night... probably because we were administrators and signed in. Hopefully it's working now! Thanks for the heads up!

Anonymous said...

Wow! I'm impressed. :)

It's fantastic - I'm inspired to try something like that at my house.

Crissie said...

BRILLIANCE! I can't wait to print this out and implement it with my family of 7. I keep thinking that I'm raising a small army, but I can't figure out where they disappear to when it's cleaning time!

Kathy's Red Door Welcome said...

Well, I saw it and you are way too organized for me. I only have three kids and they are all grown now, but I would have probably forgotten to read that chart to begin with. Sometimes I wonder how my kids managed to survive my willy nilly way of doing things. L.O.L,

Maya said...

I keep forgetting to finish my taxes these days..., as well as turning off the stove...(these are just my most dangerous forgetables that come to mind). I'm tired using those yellow post-it stickers too...

Anonymous said...

Struggling with getting the laundry dry! Our Swedish dryer was pronuounced dead by three expert repair guys over a few days. So back to using "climate controlled" drying for awhile---just a bit challenging in the "northern tundra" where snow flurries are still in the air!

Your chart sounds like a great strategy for organizing a busy household!

Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm

Anonymous said...

I love your chore chart and even though I'm retired and there is only my husband and I for the work I need this. I feel like sometimes I waste away a whole day. This way I could get everything done in the morning and have the rest of the day to play.

Thanks, Gretchen

Katie said...

I love your charts. Our family tried something similar at one time but it didn't work so well. Always someone feeling it was unfair to them. We then found chorebuster. Similar to yours but we get to rotate family members weekly on jobs. Helps alot being a full time nurse.

 
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