Category: Organzing

  • Top Tips for Managing the Flu

    The arrival of old man winter also brings with it peak flu season.  How can you keep yourself and family healthy during this time? Here are our top tips for managing the flu.

    We all know the basics of washing our hands frequently with soap and water, coughing and/or sneezing into our elbows or a tissue, staying home or keeping your distance from others when sick and to disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school.  Many local food/retail stores also offer wipes to disinfect shopping carts for your health and convenience. 

    What are some other ways of keeping your health in check?  Some of you might be feeling run down after the holiday rush and getting back into a routine of work or school with your families.  Here are a few tips to assist:

    • get plenty of sleep (7-9hrs. per night
    • be physically active (at least 30min. a day and a 15min. standing/stretching/walking break per hour for each hour while sitting at a desk)
    • manage your stress (exercise and planning can help – consider a life coach or a new form of exercise {yoga or meditation} to keep your mind fresh and engaged in a new activity)
    • drink plenty of fluids; stay hydrated
    • eat nutritious food (fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamins A and C; vitamin D & E)

    If you or a family member does become ill, here are a few tips to assist in keeping the rest of the family healthy.  Gather some items to put into a “health kit.”

    Health Kit items:

    • thermometer and thermometer covers, if necessary
    • box of tissues
    • disposable gloves
    • bottle of water
    • disinfecting wipes or your own mix of disinfecting agent
    • paper towels
    • plastic tub or bowl

    Keep in mind the symptoms one may have while being ill with the flu – fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and/or fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea.  You could also keep any over-the-counter or homeopathic remedies for these types of symptoms in your kit.  Be sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth while caring for someone whom may be ill before washing your hands thoroughly and disinfect doorknobs or any other shared surfaces throughout your home.  A humidifier could be helpful to the person whom is sick as well.  The No More Piles team wishes you and your family a happy and healthy rest of winter.  Bring on Spring!

  • New Year’s Resolutions – Week One

    accountability in team
    There is accountability in teams

    So, we are one week into our New Year’s Resolutions 6 week accountability program and we are off to a rough start!  Like many of you, we are busy getting back into the swing of real life after time off over the holidays.  I would say that our current success rate is about 10%.  Sounds terrible, right?  Actually, it is just the reality of starting a new habit.  We begin with the best of intentions, but actually putting a plan into reality takes work, discipline, creativity and organization.  Our team is proof that the best of intentions only get you to about 10%.  Here is what we each learned over the last week:

    Tara – Flossing your teeth sounds easy, but remembering to do it every day (or not blowing it off to go to bed and get an extra 2 minutes of sleep) is harder.  I am going into the next week by carrying flossing supplies with me everywhere: in my car, my purse, kitchen, etc.  My goal is that if I remember AND the supplies are convenient, my chances of success are higher.

    Joan – Didn’t get those 5 hours of exercise in, but realized that exercise is a necessity, not a luxury.  She has booked 6 days of exercise into her schedule for the next week, so if one gets derailed, she will still hit her target.  She has also downloaded an app called 7 minute workout https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-minute-workout/id650762525?mt=8. This way, even if she can’t make it to the gym, she is still getting in a workout.

    Tracey – She bought a nutribullet so she can pack more fruits, vegetables and nutrients into her (and her family’s) diet.  She isn’t getting any more complaints from the kids about ‘having to eat’ their veggies.

    Terri – Instead of losing, she gained a pound.  So, she cleaned out her pantry and frig of all the holiday, bad-for-you remnants and has restocked to restart!

    Krista – Krista realized that it is easier to have accountability when her husband is not traveling for work and is there to work out with her.  She is working to put a secondary accountability in place (like her work teammates) to hold her to her workout schedule.

    Accountability is about self-flagellation for not getting it ALL done exactly right the first week.  Accountability is about noticing what got in the way of you achieving your goals and gathering your resources to restart and try again.  Noticing what gets in your way, whether it is self-talk, scheduling issues, lack of will power, lack of organization or all of the above, will help you take an honest inventory and strategize ways to avoid those pitfalls.  So, if you are off to the same slow start that we are, find a partner for your own accountability.  If you can’t find one, use us.  We are available for coaching or you can just post questions or successes on our facebook page.

  • Top 5 Tips on Organizing for Summer Camp

    There are only a few more weeks of school and then summer is upon us.  The kids are thrilled that summer is almost here, but personally, it brings me another set of ‘to dos’ in the form of prepping for summer camp.  Whether your kids are going to one summer camp for all 9 weeks or they are switching camps week-by-week, these tips will help make your summer run a little smoother.  Here are my top 5 tips for organizing for summer camp:

    1. Buy enough of each clothing type so that you don’t have to do laundry mid-week.  Most kids need swim suits, towels, shorts, socks, sneakers, water shoes, etc.  My recommendation is that you go find 10 towels, 10 bathing suits, shorts, socks, t-shirts, etc (not shoes, but at least 2 each of those).  Trying to do a full load or two of laundry on Wednesday just to ensure that you have enough clothes for Thursday and Friday just adds more stress to

    Over-the-door-pockets
    Use this over-the-door organizer to keep things at your fingertips.

    your week.  You can find cheap towels in a 5-6 pack at Sam’s Club or Costco.  Hit the consignment stores for bathing suits since they won’t last more than one season anyway.

    2. Label Everything!  I can’t stress this one enough, unless you have unlimited funds to replace all the items of clothing that will get lost if you don’t.  Lovable Labels has great self stick labels that adhere to the tags of the clothes and stay on even through the wash.  They even have a camp pack that includes labels for water bottles, shoes and clothes.   https://www.lovablelabels.ca/     Enter code TaraRLB1 to get 10% off your order.

    3. Make lunches easy.  There are 9 weeks of summer, so if your kids are in camp 5 days per week that means you have 45 lunches to pack for the summer.

    a. Pre-label all 45 bags (our camp requires disposable lunch bags) with your child’s name, bunk and other necessary information.  If you want to get fancy, use 4×4 shipping labels and just print a few sheets of them to affix to the front of the bag.

    b. Pre-pack 5 bags for the week with all the non-perishable items: snack, fruit leathers, spoon/fork, napkin, water bottle, etc.  This way you will only have to add a sandwich or main course.

    c. Don’t over pack. Our camp tells us that 50% of all packed lunches end up in the trash.  Only pack what you think your kids will reasonably eat while having a fun lunch with their friends.

    4. Streamline your morning routine.  There are so many things that need doing in order to get out the door in the morning, so make your life as easy as possible.  Hair needs brushing, ponytails put in, sunscreen on, bug spray, back packs packed, etc.  Keep all the items you need to get this done in a bin in your kitchen or mudroom or get an over-the-door hanger with pockets to keep everything at your finger tips.

    5. Prepare for summer first aid.  No matter how great the camps are at supervising our little ones, there will always be sunburn, bug bites, bee stings, cuts, scrapes, water in the ear, red eyes from chlorine in the pools and any number of minor first aid situations.  Make sure you have a good stock of all the necessary cures on hand.  Whether you like to use aloe, Calendula, peroxide or cortaid creme for whatever ails your little people, stock up now before the need arises.

    Summer is a time for the kids to step away from the books and enjoy all that summer has to offer, just make sure that you are ready to handle the the changes before they hit.  By getting organized for summer camp, you can ensure that both you and your kids have a fun-filled and stress free summer!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own newsletter or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer and Life Management Expert, Tara Donohue Rudo, helps working moms and families focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

     

  • Don’t Forget! Organizing Tips for Remembering Things

    On any given day we need to remember a ton of things: what to get at the grocery store, take our vitamins, brush our teeth, call someone, email someone else, send a birthday card, etc. How can we possibly remember everything that we need to do? In my humble opinion, it is virtually impossible to just ‘remember’ everything that we need to do. So, if you are relying only on your brain to remember everything that you need to remember, you are setting yourself up for failure.

    Here are some of my tips to keep you organized and looking like you remember everything with ease!

    1. Have a central calendar.  By this, I mean have a calendar that has ALL of your information on it.  It doesn’t necessarily need to be in a central location, although that would be preferable.  This calendar should contain all the appointments, birthdays or events that are happening at a specific time in the future. Tip 1a of this is: You need to check the calendar at least once per day.

    2. Write it down.  If you are busy and most of us are, don’t rely on your brain to remember something you were thinking of as you fell asleep by the time you wake up in the morning.  Keep a note pad by your bed, in the kitchen, in the car or wherever you have thoughts OR, if you are techno savvy, make the notes on your phone or tablet.

    3. Set alarms or timers.  If there are certain things that need to happen at a certain time, set an alarm or timer.  Most of us are not very good a judging time, so this will ensure you are punctual.  This could be for picking up Johnny from school, taking medications or baking something in the oven.  You can use a manual timer, your calendar program on your computer or there are several apps where you can set alarms or reminders.  My favorite is Alarmed.  You can set alarms with multiple reminders.  Have to make an important dinner and you are notorious for trying to get ‘one more thing done before you leave’, you can set it to chime 30 minutes before, 15 minutes before, 10 minutes before to really light a fire under you to get out the door on time.  There is an upgrade from the free version for $1.99 that will allow you to repeat reminders throughout the day to get up and stretch every hour or drink your water.

    4. Make lists of other’s good ideas.  We have all had those conversations where your friend tell you about the great movie, book, restaurant, wine, etc that you MUST watch/try/read.  You think it is a great idea and can’t wait to take their advice.  The problem is that the minute you get home you have already forgotten what restaurant/book/wine you were supposed to remember.  This is what I think Evernote or SpringPad apps are perfect for.  I have a ‘notebook’ in SpringPad for each of these great categories and every time someone tells me about their great idea, I have someone to put it AND somewhere to look when I want a new movie, wine, restaurant, etc.  I also have a notebook for gift ideas, so that if I see something when I am out and about, I can log it in.

    5. Make checklists.  If you are someone that needs a checklist to get out the door in the morning, pack a suitcase or complete a project, then make one.  You can do it on paper,in a word document or on an app like paperless lite, reminders, toodledo.  This way you can set up a check list once and reset it each time you need it without starting from scratch.

    6. Create visual reminders.  If you absolutely CAN’T leave the house in the morning without the really important work file, put a giant note on the door leading out of your house reminding you to get the file.  It is not silly to have a giant note on your door.  It IS silly to forget the really important work file.  I have a weekly reminder of my kids daily activities where they need extra items for school and it is on the door to my garage.  It is easy for the kids and me to check the board before we leave the house to ensure we haven’t forgotten the gym shoes, library books or special projects (see picture).  It is dry erase, so it can be easily changed for schedule changes.

    Remembering details, being prompt for appointments, sending timely emails or calling someone on their special day makes everyone in your life feel respected and cared for.  Remembering to take necessary medications, test blood sugar and eat on a regular schedule can prevent unnecessary side effects of chronic illnesses.  Taking the time to put systems in place will help you take better care of yourself and those around you.  It will also reduce your stress knowing that you don’t have to ‘remember’ everything!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important.  Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

  • Organizing for the Flu

    With all the news reports of a record flu season, you better get prepared.  Today, we are organizing for the flu.   Even if you escape the flu, there are still a bunch of different viruses that are circulating around throughout the winter months.  You can do everything right: wash your hands, eat healthy, get plenty of rest and still get sick, so here are some of our tips and tricks for surviving flu season.

    • Have a ‘middle of the night’ emergency kit.  Have a bucket or small trashcan and fill it with paper towels, lysol or disinfecting wipes, old wash cloths and hand sanitizer for when you or someone in your family gets a stomach bug in the middle of the night.  You don’t want to have to run downstairs and collect supplies at 2 a.m.  You may even want one or two waterproof pads to put on the bed if you have small kids.
    • Check your stock of medicines.  Make sure you have everything you or your kids would need for the onset of symptoms: pain reliever, fever reducer, decongestants, cough medicine or their natural equivalents.  If you use nebulizers or humidifiers, check their filters or keep extra on hand.  If you have a full stock, check their expiration dates to make sure all are still current.
    • Have a sick day bin with stuff to keep the kids occupied if they are stuck at home.  This could include: videos they haven’t seen, coloring books, legos, books or other self-contained and not-too-messy activities.
    • Set up a small section of your pantry with easy-to-make or ready-made soups, noodles, Gatorade (or other electrolyte/rehydrating drinks), crackers, jello, etc.  Items that are easy on the stomach or easy to make for the non-sick family member who is stuck cooking for you sick people.
    • Have a back up plan!  If you are working crazy hours or work a distance from your child’s school.  Have a list of people who could and would be willing to pick up your sick child from school and keep them until you get home.
    • Have a list of delivery places for groceries, meals, prescriptions, etc.
    • Have your boss’ or some of your co-worker’s home phone numbers.  If you are sick or need to stay home with a sick kid, be nice and let your boss or co-workers know as soon as possible.  This is especially important if appointments need to be cancelled or if someone at work needs to deal with your work.

    We all get sick from time to time, but if we are organized and prepared we can at least minimize the impact that it has on us and our families.  Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2013!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

  • Stop Playing Phone Tag!

    Do you find yourself calling the same person 3 times and always getting their voice mail?  Are you tired of calling someone back, getting their voice mail and because you have no idea what they needed, leaving a ‘please call me back’ message?  Let’s join forces to stop the phone tag!  Phone tag slows productivity by forcing us to make unnecessary calls that just take up extra minutes in our day.  By being more direct and clear with leaving messages, we can reduce the need for ‘call backs’ and thus gain precious minutes in our day.

    Here are 4 tips to stop phone tag:
    1. When inviting people to events or just out to dinner, leave details and be specific, so they can check their calendar and make a decision before calling you back!

    Example 1 – Mary, this is Tara.  I was calling you to see if you wanted to join me and the kids for dinner on Thursday night at the Pizza Place  at 5:30.  Hubby is working late and I thought it would be fun to take the kids out.

    Example 2 – Tara, this is Jane.  We would love to have you on our upcoming radio show next Friday, January 11th at 11 a.m.  The show would last about 30 minutes and we would need you in our studio by 10:45.  Would that work in your schedule?

    2. With clients or prospects, leave all the pertinent details, so you can make the most of your working hours.

    Example 1 – Client, this is Tara.  I just wanted to remind you that we are scheduled to work together on Monday, Jan 7th from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.  When we last spoke, our plan was to work on your home office.  See you then.  (This allows the client to only have to call you back if they want to change the plan.)

    Example 2 – Prospect, this is Tara.  I got your email and would love to talk to you about how No More Piles can help you with your organizing project.  I will be in my office from 9-2 today if you would like to call me, or you can leave me a message and let me know a good time to call you back.

    Example 3 – Tara, this is your Accountant.  I have received the paperwork to start on your taxes, but I am missing your bank statement for July.  If you could please scan it or fax it to my office, that would be great. (No need to return the call.  I can just send over the missing statement.)

    3.  If you are looking to hire someone and you are making the call for the first time, leave the details and repeat them.  Sometimes, cell phones break up or call waiting puts gaps in your message.  Repeating your name and phone number, at a slow pace, will ensure a call back.

    Example 1- Roofer, this is Tara.  I got your name from Joe Shmoe whose roof you did last month.  I would like to get an estimate on replacing my roof.  I will be home this evening or all day Saturday, if you could call me then.  My name again is Tara and my number is 444-867-5309.  Again, that number is 444-867-5309.

    Example 2 – Terry, this is Tara Rudo.  I found your website on the internet.  I am interested in learning more about your services and the costs.  I can be reached on my cell phone at 444-867-5309.  That’s 444-867-5309.  I look forward to hearing from you.

    4. If your call is urgent, say so!  By the same token, if your call isn’t remotely urgent, tell them.  The is especially important when leaving messages for kids, parents or other family members.

    Example 1 – Child, this is your mother.  Please call or text me immediately.  You were supposed to call when you got home since I had a late meeting today and wouldn’t be there when you got home from school and I haven’t heard from you.  If I don’t hear from you in the next 15 minutes, I am calling the police!

    Example 2 – Mom, this is your child.  I am just calling to let you know that my flight arrived in Florida on time.  No need to call back, just wanted to let you know that I am here, safe and sound.

    By using these four tips, you can help everyone you talk to improve their productivity, reduce calls and even communicate more clearly.  Best yet, utilizing these tips doesn’t take any extra time, but they all add extra time to your day!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.    Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • The 24 Hour Rule

    I was working with someone last week to schedule a meeting with 7 other people. We had sent out an email with all the details and gave a deadline 5 days out to respond to various action items.  On the day of the deadline, we had still not heard from half the group.  I had to send a second email reminding the group about the deadline and promptly got everyone’s responses. Why did they wait so long to respond?  If they could respond so quickly to the second email, why couldn’t they have responded just as quickly to the first?

    I am guilty of this too.  A friend called me on a Friday and when she hadn’t heard from me by Sunday, emailed to make sure that I was OK.  I am sure that you are either guilty of this offense or have been on the receiving end of the ‘no response’.

    In this day of instant messaging and access to email and text messages from our phones which we carry with us everywhere, why is it that so many people don’t respond, don’t call back and don’t RSVP. Are we too busy? Are we just rude?  OR, are we not placing high enough priority on prompt responsiveness and our personal relationships.

    If we waited several days to call our mothers back, we would probably find the cops or fire department banging down our front door.  Whether personal or for business, I think we should adopt the 24 hour rule.  If you are soooo busy that you can’t find the time to call someone, then shoot them an email and arrange a time for the call.  If you have an email that requires lots of time and thought, at least send an email back telling the sender that you need a little time and will respond by____ (fill in the blank). Responding promptly will let the people in your life know that you appreciate and respect them and their time.

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

     

     

  • The Great Purge of 2011!

    I was talking a friend this morning who is undergoing a whole life makeover.  She is reinventing her business, her home and even has a new hair color.  Since the motivation for change was running rampant, she and her husband decided to go room by room go through everything in their house.  They named this project: The Great Purge of 2011!  They are spending evenings doing small purging projects (like a junk drawer) around the home and one day each weekend on the big stuff (like the master closet).  I love this (of course!)!

    I can’t think of a better time of year to purge.  The holidays are fast approaching and that always means new gifts, clothes and toys coming in via piles of gifts.   It also means house guests who may actually need to put clothes in closets that you have used for storage.   It is always much easier to purge and make space for the new, by clearing out the old, broken, worn out or no-longer-used items, then it is to try to find space for them after the fact.  And, if you have kids, it is a great way to show them the “one in, one out” rule by practicing it yourself and leading by example.

    If you aren’t sure how to start your own Great Purge of 2011, I will make it easy for you.  Give each family member a paper bag or trash bag and tell them to fill it up with toys or clothes that they no longer use, they don’t love or have outgrown.  Set up a central large trash bag for all toys or clothes that are broken, missing pieces or are ripped and cannot be donated and just need to be trashed or recycled.  If you are reading this and saying that there is no way YOUR kids would willingly give away their toys, you are wrong.  Help them understand that their old toys or clothes are going to be donated to poor kids who don’t have any and I can guarantee they will find some to put in their donation bag.  Even my 3 year old filled a bag to give to our friend’s 1 year old, but it really helped her to know WHERE her toys and clothes were going.

    Good luck and happy purging!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.<p><a href=”https://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=681″>Image: m_bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>

     

  • Oops…I Forgot My Underwear

    You know how it happens. As mothers, we are in charge of packing everything for a vacation. We pack for our kids. We make sure that the clothes are all cleaned before we leave. We pack the food and entertainment for the trip. We make sure that the mail gets collected, the plants get watered, etc. AND….we have to pack for ourselves. Years ago I made a packing list for a basic trip. Unfortunately, time has passed and I am married with two kids and I have never sat down and updated my list. I made a new list for the kids and their stuff, but I never updated my own list. So, as I unpacked the suitcase of my stuff and the kids stuff when we arrived at Great Wolf lodge last week, I was shocked to find out that I didn’t pack a single pair of underwear for myself (LOL, right?).

    What makes this even funnier is that I never put underwear on my list. I never put it on the list the same way I never put ‘contact lenses’ on my list….they were a no brainer! What I have learned in this adventure (had to find a mall and buy some new underwear, pronto), is that with my mommy-brain in full swing there is no such thing as a no-brainer. Here is the valuable nugget that I want to pass along to all of you: Don’t depend on your brain!

    Lists exist so that you can idiot proof the packing process. They exist to take the stress out of remembering what you need to do. Here is a great basic site that you plug in a little information and it will give you a packing list: https://upl.codeq.info/. My recommendation to you is that you take this basic list and add or subtract anything that you notice is missing as you pack. Save that list and then you will have a template for your next trip. This will help you avoid the embarrassment of forgetting your underwear!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com.

    Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • I Can’t Do It All By Myself!

    My husband regularly makes fun of me for always having my ‘team’ of people that I need to run my life. My ‘team’ consists of quite a few people in various categories and I feel that their contributions make me a much happier and successful businesswoman, mother and human being. I have a chiropractor, acupuncturist, house cleaning duo, several babysitters, a virtual assistant, Terri (my right hand organizer), massage therapist (a.k.a. my mother), marketing guru, my group fitness instructors at the gym and probably a few others that I can’t remember off the top of my head. As far as I am concerned, my husband can make fun of me all he wants because I LOVE my team!

    In today’s hectic society, with two working parents who also want to have a life outside of their home, I feel that having a team is a necessity. I can’t do it ALL by myself! I have learned and embraced the Law of Delegation. I am not sure where I learned this and have searched to find out whom I should credit but have had no luck. So, here it is:

    The Law of Delegation: If someone else can do the task 75% as well as you could do it yourself, delegate it.
    The way I see it, there are two ways to delegate. You can delegate up. For example, hire a marketing guru, chiropractor, acupuncturist who is an expert in something you CAN’T do for yourself to tell you or teach you how to achieve your goals in the most effective and efficient way. Or, you can delegate down. For example, hiring a babysitter, house cleaning duo or virtual assistant to do something that you COULD do for yourself, but you choose to pay them to do it so you can spend your time and efforts elsewhere.

    You can’t expect perfection or to have something done EXACTLY the way you would do it, but it will be done and that is more important than perfect. I think that learning to delegate is a difficult skill for both business people and parents alike. You know that some things won’t get done well the first time. Accept that there will be a learning curve as you teach someone else to do these tasks. But, if you are a little lucky and thoughtful as to which tasks you delegate and which people you bring on your team, you can achieve amazing things. You can gain TIME. You can gain better health. You can gain a stronger marriage. You can earn more money.

    If you are a parent and choose to delegate to your children, you may gain some extra headaches in the short term while you teach and train them to take over tasks. But, in the long run, you will gain the knowledge and pride that comes from knowing that you are raising your child to be a self sufficient and responsible human. This is a slow process that starts with toddlers helping clean the playroom, sort socks and set the dinner table.

    My advice: Delegate early and often. The GAINS are worth it!

    If you liked today’s post, you’re welcome to use it in your own ezine or blog as long as you include the following blurb: Certified Professional Organizer, Tara Donohue Rudo, CPO, helps families, solopreneurs and mompreneurs focus on what is important. Get her FREE weekly tips and advice at www.NoMorePiles.com . Photo is courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net