Problem: Kid Shoes/Coats/Jackets/Hats/Gloves (and also mine)
I know, this is a massive category. But this minor improvement is specifically the hallway coats/shoes/jackets/hats/gloves. We use a Kallax with drawers for the big kids shoes and winter stuff, but now that the babies wear shoes I needed a place for baby shoes (and hats). I also didn't have a good place for my own hat and gloves and felt like I had stuff everywhere.
Solution: Shoe rack
This is hanging in our entryway. The bottom row is Lilah's - mittens, scarf, gloves and hat. Same for Isaac. Baby hats and 1 pair of baby waterproof trousers (because we only have 1) are in the middle row. My hat, gloves, and sunglasses are second from top, and the kids knee and elbow pads are on the top row.
I let the kids each keep only 2 hats and 2 pairs of cheap gloves, plus their winter gloves, and 1 scarf. Lilah had 4 hats and Isaac had 3 scarves. The extra scarves are packed away in the past&future clothing boxes and the kids can switch out someday, if they want.
I also sorted the kids socks and got rid of every pair that didn't fit or was broken/stretched out. The only problem with the kid sock system is that the kids and I are the only ones who know whose socks are whose.
My coats/jackets/waterproofs are on the rail. Isaac's jackets and baby jackets are on the top hook, and lilah's coat & jacket are on the bottom hook. The kids socks are in the top drawers of the kallax. The baby shoes and socks are in the right drawer.
Baby slippers and wellies are in the left drawer. Kids shoes are in the basket. I know this will have to change again once the babies shoes don't fit in one half sized drawer... but we are not there yet.
I spend a lot less time looking for stuff now.
Result: A+
Problem: Mealtimes
We started having pretty bad meal times a few months ago. Lots of complaining about food, lots of refusing food, lots of stress and grumps. I'm not sure what started the downhill slide, but we found ourselves downhill. There were arguments over whether making jacket potatoes was too ambitious of a dinner. Andy and I would stare at the calendar during meal planning with almost active dread at the idea of cooking anything. It wasn't working.
Solution: Repeating Menu
I decided it was important to me that kids enjoy food and meal times without fights. This was more important than me eating food I particularly like. For the month of January we are eating the following:
Monday: Soup, bread, and cheese (Tomato soup for the kids)
Tuesday: Jacket Potatoes (with beans and cheese for the kids, potentially chili or tuna for adults)
Wednesday: Pasta (with cheese for the kids, and another sauce or veg if I can for us)
Thursday: Tray bake (potatoes and sausage or chicken and potato or another tray bake)
Friday is usually Macaroni and Cheese or Pizza - except this week when we are having chocolate chip waffles (at the kids request).
Sunday we will try to make something that gives us some leftovers for the week.
Also, I am trying to eat veg with every meal. Others don't have to eat veg. I buy prepackaged green beans and broccoli and steam them. It's working ok.
Result: A- (Because I will get bored)
Problem: British Bathrooms don't have plugs
Okay, this one doesn't have a solution. WTF British bathrooms??! They say it's a electrical risk to have plugs in a bathroom but I do not understand where I am supposed to dry my hair.
Solution: Buy a better hair drier and dry my hair in my room
I've set up a hair drying "station" in my bedroom but I don't want to dry my hair in my bedroom. The lighting is not good, and it's next to the baby room so I can't really do it at night. I also feel like the bathroom is where a hair dryer goes.
Also, my hair drier was from a free pile at work 6 years ago, and I'm wondering whether it's time for me to buy a real hair drier. Is a fancy hair drier worth it? Will my hair look like the photos if I get a Shark speedstyle?
Result: B- (because this isn't really a solution, it's just a different idea)
Problem: I don't take vitamins and I should.
Solution: I should take vitamins
Result: F. This is not a solution. I need to figure out a way to remember to take vitamins.
Do you have any recent problems and solution wins? Do you remember to take vitamins?