Scenario: It’s Saturday morning and the baseball game is at 10:00am. It is now 9:40am and we can’t find the mitt, we can’t find the shoes, and we are not sure where the shirt is. We are all scrambling around the garage, the bedroom, the backyard, the laundry room, everywhere trying to figure out where everything was put. This is not a happy stress-free environment, anything but. The clock is ticking…
Does this sound familiar? Anyone who has children with sports activities on the weekend may have felt this kind of pressure! Oh and don’t forget the sideline chairs, the blanket, the umbrella, and do we have enough snacks and entertainment for the younger sibling?
This was my family on Saturday morning. I was frustrated and just plain mad at myself for not planning well enough ahead to make this morning go a little more smoother! I should know better!
Luckily and I mean with luck and teamwork from the whole family, we found what we needed and we were at the game on time!
Every experience we encounter can become learning experiences. We can grow from them and make ourselves better. In this situation we needed a better system in getting ready for our games. On our way home, we came up with one, that I think may just work!!
Our Plan:
- From now on, we have a small bin in the garage, right before you come into the house, this is designated for all of our son’s baseball equipment. This includes the hat, the uniform, the mitt, everything! When he gets home from the game, he is to take off his uniform before going into the house, and place everything in this bin.
- I will be sure the uniform is washed and folded and put back into the bin prior to his next game.
- If he takes out his mitt to play, he is to place it back into the bin as soon as he is done.
- The chairs, blanket, and umbrella are staying in the car.
- Snacks and entertainment will be packed in a backpack the night before the game.
- Our son is responsible for his mitt and hat out on the field. If he takes them off, he needs to make sure they are with him when we leave.
The expectations are now set…. Our next game is on Wednesday, with this new system in place, the half hour before the game, should be a breeze!
Happy Organizing!
