With the addition of The Family Board - our newest family craft project - this little corner in our dining room just got a little more cluttered with the "stuff" of our days. But hopefully, this is clutter of the peace-making, flow-producing kind. I think it is.
It's a basic cork board, with linen fabric stapled tautly over it. I used a sweet bird fabric from good-ness for the pockets, and included some button tacks I made inspired by Button It Up.
It's purpose is...well, to help us keep a little more organized about our weekly tasks, goals and activities. We began by all talking about and writing up index cards with the household tasks that need attention and care on an everyday/weekly basis. The kids drew pictures and wrote the task, and then laminated the cards. (I have one of these for laminating. Certainly not a life necessity, but ridiculously fun.)
The pockets - one for each babe - are where the cards go. The fifth pocket is for "extra" chores - those above and beyond the everyday and weekly chores, than can be done to earn money if there's interest from the kids (and oh, is there interest in that). Above the pockets is space for tacking the weekly dinner plans and a grocery list - all things the kids really, really like to be a part of knowing and planning. It also seems to be a good place for putting our goals and hopes for the week. Cleaning the shed, going to the skate park - you know, priorities like that - all of equal importance when you put them on pen and paper.
Talking about it like this makes it sound a bit more structured and rigid than it really is. It actually flows quite nicely - starting with our Sunday dinner at which we switch the tasks around for the coming week, and talk about what might be happening in the week to come. This little board - so far - has eliminated a lot of confusion and discord by giving us all a bit of clarity and a visual reminder of what needs to be done to make the house run smoothly. It's resulted in a bit more peace, and rhythm to our work. And somehow - it makes it all just a little bit more fun.
