Hi
Up until a few weeks ago it was just me and Chad and our high school senior living at home.
Now that our oldest is back home since his college is closed, and our middle son came home for a few days until he had to start working again, our home has shifted into high gear needing to work at the highest level of functionality to keep up with us.
One of the first things I noticed with everyone home all the time was all the extra stuff our kitchen island was collecting.
It had become the most convenient drop zone for all of us as we come in and out of the backdoor.
A few weeks ago I was about to go full out Nellie Oleson about the state of the island. FOR THE LOVE, EVERYONE STOP PUTTING YOUR JUNK ON THE ISLAND.
Instead, I took note of what was on the island: two hats, a jacket, a laundry basket full of unfolded clean laundry and a sleeping cat, a set of keys on a lanyard, mail, a few packages, an open container of Clorox wipes, random car parts because our boys are now at that age, half empty coffee mugs, books Chad and I were reading, and some earrings I mindlessly took off in the middle of the day.
You might already know I'm a big advocate of a cleared off surface, especially the kitchen island. I like to keep it free of decor so it's ready to serve. Well, even without decor, our island was piling up with stuff.
Since everyone was home and adding to the stuff on the island, the problem became obvious.
A clutter collector is not the service we need from the island.
Our entire kitchen constantly felt cluttered and a mess and the reason was 100% because of all the stuff getting set down on the island "for now". You know, until we had the time to put it away. The island had become a literal island of misfit junk we didn't want to deal with. Until three times a day we wanted to eat. Then we pushed stuff around, wiped off a corner of the counter and made space for lunch.
Instead of Nellie Olesoning, I cleared off the island, put everything where it belonged and wrote a little note on a 4x6 notecard that said "Food and drink only on the island, love mom". I just put the note on the most trafficy end of the island and then the magic happened.
Apparently, one of the perks of having kids old enough to drive cars, vote, and enlist in the army is that they can also read and follow directions and I'm embarrassed to say how surprised the I was that everyone simply obeyed the note! Even me!
It's been an entire two weeks since I wrote the little note and I'm happy to report that the island is cleaner than ever!
Of course a few times a hat or keys ended up on the island, and I simply moved them to the top of back porch dresser or to the bench in the window. I don't mind if those hold some clutter. Baby Steps.
After a week of leaving the note out, I ventured onto phase two and dared to get rid of the note.
THE ISLAND HAS REMAINED CLEAR OF JUNK!
The island is still the most used surface in our house, but now it's just used for food and drink and it's always cleared off because if one of us gets something out to eat, the island is so simple and clear that it's easy to just put everything back.
I should have raised the family expectations YEARS ago that the island is only for food and drink. It's such an inviting, expansive surface I assumed we could never break our bad habits of using it for temporary storage of all random things but I've been underestimating us!
It turns out, a cleared off island is a convenience we all enjoy. Plus, it helps that we have other surfaces where hats, keys and sleeping cats can be stashed.
In the past I would have just muttered under my breath that no one respects the kitchen island and everyone is leaving their crap everywhere assuming my family could read my mind. But I didn't even have to have a conversation. Just a little note and now our island is clean and empty which makes our kitchen seem clean and clutter free which magically makes our entire house feel more under control.
I have no idea what the moral of this long story is but friends, I think it means my kids have officially grown up.
Delightful Finds from around the web:
When it comes to cleared countertops, I make an exception for flowers. via @stevecordony
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