The Smash Systems (per request)

I've had some friends and family ask how I do certain things. They want to know our system. We are still experimenting and searching out ways to manage our home in certain areas, but a few things we've got working well at the moment. So, I share with you, The Smash Systems.

1. Mrs Smash's Start to the Day: I wake up at 5am. After I start the coffee pot, I make Mr. Smash's lunch. He is my 1st priority in this household, so I take care of him 1st. I do make his lunch every day. What makes it worth it? He thanks me EVERY DAY!
After that I'll have my quiet time, blog time, pay bills time, or cook something time. Then I'll make a breakfast for Mr. Smash and help him out the door. He thanks me!

2. Indoor Chores: Here are the main ones I require from my A's. I'm at the point where I don't unload the dishwasher anymore. My A's do it. A1 loads all glass and silverware back into the dishwasher as well. A1 and A2 put away clean clothes and they clean the bathroom. This has all taken my help and supervision several times. They don't do it perfectly every time. I will rearrange the dishes in the dishwasher without A1 knowing because it takes practice to get them all in there; however, I'll give her tips some days.
If they do the bathroom every week it gets clean enough. I don't require perfection from that either.
Laundry, well, I've been known to push back bedtime so they can redo the clothes they decided to throw them all on the closet floor or push them under the bed. I've only had to do that twice.

Do they complain? Yep. I tell them that we have to do dishes because we are blessed with food to put on them. We have to clean the bathroom because it smells. You don't want to put away your clothes? Okay, I'll put them in the donation box. That always puts some pep in their step. Chores must be done before bed. If it's not done by meal time then they come eat with the family (it's family time) and, instead of going to play, they go finish their chore.

3. "That's Not Fair": Here in the Smash home we have Princess of the Day. The 3 bigger A's rotate days of being the princess. The princess gets choice of show during t.v. times. She gets 1st dibs at a toy or outfit. She also gets to sit by the faucet during baths, open the chicken coop and other things like that. This alleviates a lot of arguments because they know.

The Princess of the Day also gets to help with dinner. <--This has been fantastic! We do a TON of baking and cooking.  When you have 3 that want to help and a baby on your hip, it is sometimes a bit too chaotic for sharp knives and stove burners. So, the princess of the day gets to help with dinner. The only catch is that it's NOT a choice. So, if you're playing outside you must come in and help. It's perfect because I can actually focus a bit more on the teaching part, AND it's one on one time.

4. Farm Chores: Everyone but A4 goes out in the morning. I will delegate some tasks, but most of the time they end up playing with a chicken while I muck stalls. It's fine. They do learn. A1 could actually go out and take care of the feathers and paws by herself because she's watched me and been with me most of the time. They do get a pass every Sunday and when it's raining. And sometimes when I don't feel like having help :)

5. Me Time: I am a morning person. I get up early and have time to myself. The rest of the day is a toss-up.I always give A1 a choice during the week. She naps with her sisters or she does school work. I WILL NOT take away the option of a nap from a kid whose tired. Not worth it for anyone. So, those days they all nap at the same time, I get a lot done! No, I do not nap. I have before, but 95% of the time I work. Clean house, projects, blog, bills, prep dinner are to name a few. If I nap I'll need coffee and me time when I wake up. It's like starting my day over. It sucks.

When I only had 1 kid I believed that I needed to nap when she napped. Same with #2. Then I figured out that didn't work for me. I also figured out that "me-time" would be few and far between and that's just how it is. I accepted it. I do know when I need it, so I do make it work; but I don't try to fit in a weekly MNO or pedicure. That's just not how I work. This is another post.

So, there you have it. Those are the things I get asked about most.All farm related stuff will be in another post because it's in a category of it's own. But for now.