The Organized Parent

Book: The Organized Parent: 365 Simple Solutions to Managing Your Home, Your Time and Your Family's Life

Author: Christina Baglivi Tinglof

Publisher: Contemporary Books (2002)

I have been reading a very good non-fiction (yes I do read non-fiction at times) book called "The Organized Parent". I like this title, "The Organized Parent" versus being a "Disorganized Parent". There are many days when I feel more disorganized than organized. Life seems to take over at times and the whole idea of structure at my house falls apart. So I often pick up books that will change my life and turn me into a brand new, super organized, person. Sometimes they help and other times they fall flat with me.

Synopsis:

From household chaos to orderly oasis.

{In this indispensable book, noted parenting author Christina Baglivi Tinglof helps busy parents create an organized and efficient home and schedule. By tackling parent-specific organizational problems, Tinglof shows you how to take control of your daily life so you can actually spend time with your kids—and even have some time left for yourself. From conquering morning chaos and messy closets to meal planning and learning to say "no," The Organized Parent offers effective solutions that fit your schedule and your budget. Start with a Quick Fix—something you can accomplish right away with minimum effort and expense—or take on a Major Tune Up—a project that takes a bit more time or cash but has a long-range payoff. Whichever you choose, you'll discover that you can meet a range of challenges, including:

-Controlling kid clutter

-Organizing school papers and childhood memorabilia

-Staying on top of bills

-Making the most of the space you have

-Planning stress-free parties and vacations

-Scheduling appointments

-Simplifying housecleaning

-Creating task zones in the kitchen, bathroom, garage, and attic

-Choosing the best organizing products

. . . And much more
Style Tips, Time Savers, and a resource section listing websites and catalogs help you get organized. Arranged alphabetically, this easy-to-use book will be a lifesaver for parents who crave order in their hectic lives.}

The best thing about this book is how easy it is to read and use. The actual book is so organized, that you can find help for any problem that may be hindering your life. Let's say your closets are a mess, go to the chapter titled closets, and you can find sub-headings such as Key Organizing tips, Quick Fixes and Major Tune-Ups. Any solution is right at your fingertips, so you do not need to search too hard for what you are looking for.

I borrowed this book from the public library. Would I recommend this book to others? Yes! I will probably even buy a copy of this; that is how useful I found this book. The bigger question...am I seeing a difference around my home because of reading this book? Today I cleaned out my son's closet, bagged up two huge sacks of too small clothes, tossed out another large bag of old and broken hangers. Now all of my son's clothes are organized according to pants, long sleeved shirts, short sleeved shirts, church clothes and nice outfits(shirt and pants/shorts together) that are easily chosen for when school starts in a week. I also cleaned out his dresser, adding to the bags of give aways.

The Organized Parent is well worth your time, and I know how precious every minute is as a parent. I would much rather be doing something fun with my kids, than cleaning up constantly. If a book can help me accomplish this, then it scores high with me.