Tackling Better Habits With FTF

Once again, my tackle for this week's Tackle It Tuesday is one that cannot be accomplished in a day. However, if I am successful the results will also last much longer than, say, a clean fridge. My kids and I are having some serious laziness issues. Please note that I included myself there. I fully understand that I am the first one that needs to change. Yesterday morning my son was rushing around gathering supplies that he needed to bring for an art project at school and when all was said and done and we arrived at school, the bag of supplies was still hanging on the front doorknob at home! I commented to my husband that we just HAD to do SOMETHING to help the kids and I get organized and get things done ahead of time.
After some thinking yesterday morning I came up with a plan and our new family motto. It is F.T.F. which stands for First Things First. I made several little notes with FTF on them and placed them all over the house, especially on the things that we love to be distracted by ... the TV, computer, game cube, VCR, kids' toys etc. I also made a reminder list for the kids and for me of what needs to be done BEFORE we engage in "play" (this means no email or blogging for me until the FTF are done). Here are our preliminary lists which may have to be altered over time but will serve as a place to begin establishing some good and necessary habits.
KIDS:
Morning- 1. Be dressed and fed 2. Bible Read, 3. Have your room House Fairy ready (bed made, floor picked up)
Afternoon- 1. Homework done 2. Lunch dishes cleared 3. Ten minutes in the zone (I divided their bedroom into 5 zones to focus on straightening up for 10 minutes)
Evening- 1.Dinner dishes cleared 2. Backpack and shoes ready for school tomorrow 3. "Give Mom Five" (We set the timer and work for 5 minutes picking up the living room or whatever area needs attention)
MOM:
Morning- 1. School Snacks made 2. Bible Read 3. Laundry started
Afternoon- 1. Kitchen cleaned from lunch 2. Dinner planned 3. Reboot laundry
Evening- 1. Bed cleared and bedroom straightened 2. clothes, etc prepared for tomorrow 3. Sink shined (kitchen straightened from dinner)
I know if just these simple habits are established it will make a huge difference in how smoothly our home runs. I'll let you know how we are doing in a month or so. My biggest challenge will be what it always is ... CONSISTENCY.

Head on over to 5 minutes for Mom for more posts on what others are tackling this week.