Karges-Bone
As the writer and host of a series of “parenting minutes” heard on Christian radio, I’m often surprised by what provokes listeners. It is not the “heavy” stuff related to morals or medicine that kindle a reaction. Rather, the practical ideas about home and family seem to matter. Recently, I heard from a slew of folks who wanted more information about research showing a relationship between neat, organized homes and kids who performed better in school. Why is clutter so distracting and even harmful? Perhaps because homemaking is about more than cleanliness. It is the creation of a setting for living, learning, playing and spiritual formation. Celebrate the shortened days and subsequent time change with a natural “pause button” in the rhythm of family life, and take care of details and duties that can easily be overlooked. These 10 tasks can help you to “fall into a more organized home life.”
Task One: At the time change in fall and spring, run white vinegar through coffee and tea makers. Vinegar is a natural cleanser, and you will be surprised at how much better your beverages taste when brewed in a fresh pot.
Task Two: Take time to purge closets of sweaters, coats and shoes. As the autumn temperatures plunge, homeless and less fortunate friends in the community require warm clothing, and may not be able to afford what they need. How many navy blazers or red ski jackets does one need? Drop by Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or a church outreach closet and exchange these treasures for a tax-deductible receipt.
Task Three: The autumnal equinox happens to intersect with the first grading period in K-12 schools and the dreaded “mid-term” reports in college. Parents can make a good assessment of their students’ progress at this benchmark in the academic year. Time for a tutor? Is your child placed in the appropriately challenging set of courses? Too many distracting activities or friends interfering with progress?
Task Four: Clean out the attic. It is finally cool enough to brave the eaves and closets upstairs. In the same spirit as task two, look for items that might be useful to those in need and go ahead and pull holiday decorating boxes to the front for upcoming holidays.
Task Five: Swap closets. Many folks keep winter clothes in a separate closet or set of boxes during the summer. Time to pull those winter garments out and put the summer things away.
Task Six: Check out your fireplace, furnace and filters. The three F’s of fending off winter chills are best attended to before the bitter winds blow. While filter-changing can be done by most sensible adults, a good inspection of fireplace, chimney and furnace is the domain of an expert.
Task Seven: Plant bulbs now for beauty later. The first chill of autumn is a signal to begin scouring the aisles of the nursery and home improvement store for the best bulbs. One of the most meaningful experiences in the outdoor memories of my children came when they chose and planted daffodil and tulip bulbs in the autumn and then observed in sheer amazement when the flowers popped up in March.
Task Eight: Take down curtains and blinds if you can and give them a good cleaning. Air conditioning is marvelous, but it keeps the house closed up, and dust finds a natural nesting place in fabrics and crevices. With so many children suffering from allergies, this kind of home maintenance is almost a prescription.
Task Nine: Purge magazines and paperbacks that have piled up through the year. Ask the local hospital, school, assisted living home or library if they would like your literary treasures.
Task Ten: Make a family calendar for holiday activities. Believe it or not, the winter holidays are just six to eight weeks away. If you want good seats for a special ballet or show, or a babysitter for the night of your festive office party, now is the time to make reservations and phone calls.
With the exception of task number three, these little duties are hardly the stuff of life-changing magnitude. Why do they matter? As I go about them, they give me a chance to pause and enjoy my home and to deconstruct some of the clutter that presses in mercilessly. It is as much a mental process as a physical one. There is research suggesting that homes that are clean and organized offer children a respite from the clutter and messiness of the world. Will it produce a higher SAT score or an honor roll report card? Maybe. Maybe not. But at least your coffee will taste better when you get up on a brisk autumn morning and read 2 Timothy 1, verse 7, as God organizes it nicely: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Controlling the clutter in our homes allows us to focus on our tasks and on God’s plans for our families. That is something to celebrate.
— Linda Karges-Bone is a professor of education at Charleston Southern University.