Insider Look: Take a Peek Into the Weekly System That Changed Marie's Life as a Mom

When things in my household become chaotic, and we have meltdowns and a lack of teamwork, I know that it’s time for a system.

Systems don’t have to be complicated. They don’t need to involve an elaborate chart, or an expensive digital display. 

Growing up with two sisters, I learned that when things weren’t running smoothly, and tensions were high, it wasn’t a reflection on our family and how much we loved each other or wanted to cooperate. Instead, it signaled that we needed a game plan. The blueprints I saw and learned have helped me to build the systems that I’m sharing with you – because Maribou is all about sharing wisdom to lighten the load, and make life easier, together.

HOW HAVING SYSTEMS HELPS: 

Picture this: It’s Sunday evening. Laundry is folded (somewhat imperfectly because little hands helped), tomorrow’s lunch is prepped, little clothes were agreed upon and laid out, and the floor is . . . well . . . visible. This type of system is built to create cooperation and dial down stress. 

All you need is a simple shift in mindset that turns “Mom does everything” into, “we work as a team.” Systems help accomplish this goal and they quickly become second nature. Let’s dive in to a SYSTEM that I recently implemented after facing too hectic school. mornings

SYSTEM FOR CALMER WEEKDAY MORNINGS: 

Step by step: 

KIDS: 

Before going to bed, kids

1. Clean up the day’s toys and put them in their places.
2. Pick out their school water bottle 
3. Pick out their school snack
4. Lay out school clothes for the next day, making them look like a person on the floor, dresser, or chair!

Experienced Mom Tip: All of this sets the tone for a streamlined morning by avoiding deliberations and indecisiveness that come with a need for quick decisions before rushing out the door. That hectic, pressure-filled rush often creates unsettled feelings in the morning for both kids & parents. Plus, having toys in whatever place they are supposed to be (aka the playroom, child’s room, or some other “home” base) makes for less distractions in the morning (PSST– I rarely clean up toys after my kids go to bed; it’s a team effort in our house . . . because when my kids are in bed, that’s my time for me). Few school mornings are without some kind of meltdown at our house (hello to parenting young children) but this system has helped eliminate some of the back and forth that we were having in the morning.

MOM: 

AM: Before your kids wake up:

1. If your kids like to sleep late and that means less minutes in the morning when your kids are awake before getting out the door, prep breakfast before the kids get up. I like to set the table and make breakfast BEFORE my kids get up. It’s one less thing to fit into the 30 minutes between waking up and getting out the door!
2. Get yourself together in whatever state you are going to appear for drop off. I go into my office after dropping my kids at school, which means that I need to be office-presentable when I leave the house with my kids. Developing ninja-like skills (aka another system) for getting ready in the morning– I can go from a post workout sweaty mess to office-presentable in 25 minutes if I need to! 

Systems have been a game-changer for our family. I can't wait for you to try them! You've got this!