In most households with children, coming in and out of the house can generate enough chaos to make you forget what you need, what you were doing before your little one dropped the milk, and make you feel like you are never in control of things.
As a mother of three young boys, if I don’t pay attention, things can spiral out of control pretty quickly in the morning, and when we return home, to our homework routines.
Because I want to spend more time doing the things I enjoy with the people I love, and I want my house to feel welcoming, I created what I call Mommy Central.
Mommy Central is a convenient location, close to your most frequently used door, for your “landing” and “take-off”, where you will find the following items readily available for daily use. With these tools in place, you will be able to smooth the morning and afternoon routines and help the kids develop responsibility for their belongings.
– Wall hooks for coats, jackets, and backpacks – there is a vast array of types of hooks. You can get very creative with them by using cute drawer knobs, painted in different colors, installed at various heights, or by buying a ready-made one and hanging it on the wall.
– Shoe storage solution – Ikea cubby bench, revolving shoe tower, behind-the-door shoe storage, a small, inexpensive bin for each child, anything to curb the clutter and dust from the shoes.
– Gloves, hats, and scarves storage area: bins, baskets, see-through mesh bags hang on hooks on the inside of a closet door.
– File box with labeled files for each child, teacher, volunteering activity you participate and school communications. If your children have additional activities like sports, music, arts, tutoring, include an extra labeled manila-type folder inside the file with their names. You can use a color for each child to make it even easier to find! Cute Pencil Cups!
– A calendar – in my case, because our Mommy Central is in an obvious area, where guests will walk through when going to the powder room, I decided to use a tabletop one, from Post-it. You can use anyone you like and that works for you, on the wall or the tabletop.
– A message board – I use a magnetic one to avoid push-pins falling on the floor and causing accidents. Shoe Storage Bench: Make it yours!
– Pencils and pens, paper clips, and small Post-it notes. Cute Pencil Cups!
– Two magazine holders for each child, labeled with their names.
– One for school materials that don’t need to go back to school every day, like a language class book, called “BRING TO SCHOOL”; and another one for the work they did in class, tests, etc., that comes home in their folders, “LEAVE AT HOME”.
Have fun with it and remember that this project is a time and money well invested: you will have less stress, your home will look organized, function better, and you won’t be complaining with the kids all the time. One less thing on your list!
Product Options:
IKEA Expedit ($69.00) – can be used standing or sideways. If standing, you can use the side of it to install hooks for jackets and backpacks, as well as to hang your calendar and message board. It is a very versatile product that always looks good and delivers! The most versatile IKEA Product ever!
IKEA shoe storage bench – I have an older model with cubbies, which has served us well for a very long time and is still going strong. You can paint it in any color and have a cushion made, too! Now, Ikea has this model, it’s an excellent solution for only $49.00. Shoe Storage Bench: Make it yours! Or get one already done!
Revolving shoe tower – This has been a new solution for us and it’s working great, because the boys see it and use it. Plus, they have fun turning the tower! It’s available in several heights and finishes, and it’s very easy to assemble.
Message board – You can find all sorts of message boards in stores these days. From Ballard Designs to Target, you will find all shapes and prices! If you have small kids, stick to magnetic boards. Kids love to use the push pins, and accidents will most likely happen, even more so if, like us, you don’t wear shoes inside the house. Real Estate in San Diego
Calendars – again, the selection is vast. Go with your house flow and pick one you like. Here are some Mommy favorites! Up a notch, calendar!
Here is our version!
