AboutJan Hayner Expertise If you have questions regarding home organizing, house cleaning shortcuts, office organizing, files, record keeping, organizing your children, teaching your kids how to help you clean and making it fun, I will give you the advice of a Professional Organizer, mom of four and grandma of 8.
Working Smarter-Not Harder is a phrase I live by; taking the stress out of life so you have time for the fun things is my goal!
Experience I have been a Professional Organizer for 9 years, the mom of 4 and grandma of 8,I do work for clients in the home and the work place, and am considered an expert in my field of Organization.
Organizations Faithful Organizers, passed member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), WIM (Women in Management),
Publications I have had work published all over the internet and various webzines and Newsletters. I am also a columnist on Mature Resources.org. and an Expert on all experts.com under Self Improvement/SelfHelp/Organizing Your Home and Workspace.
Education/Credentials I have taken various /classes on organizing on the interent, been taught by the best (other collegues in the field), and when I need to learn something, I find an expert in the field and learn from them. I am a research fanatic and enjoy learning everything that I can on a subject.
Question First of all I am 24 years old and have 3 children. My oldest is a girl age 7, then I have another girl age 4 and a son age 3. My son is hell on wheels. He never stops, which leads me to my first question. First of all he recently dumped car wax into the dishwasher. I wiped it up but when I ran the dishwasher I still ended up with wax on everything. I don't know how to get it off. I already tried running it four more times and once with vinegar. Nothing has helped. I would also like advice on how to get the children to listen. There were with babysitters a lot growing up and now that I am home they just don't listen. I find myself relying on my oldest for everything and the other two just get away with doing nothing. I am tired all the time and feel like everything I do is pointless. Everything I do gets undone within 10 minutes. My son is the worst and he enjoys breaking things, spraying things, and making ridiculously large messes. He never stops I have tried time out, spankings, and even sending him to bed (where he wont stay). I am exhausted and am to the point where I have even had thoughts about tying him up just for 5 minutes of peace. Please HELP!!!
Answer Hi Amber;
Boy, does your life ever bring back memories for me! I am the mom of four (that are grown and married now) but I am really surprised that they lived that long. Just kidding, but believe me, all four of them had their moments that it really came close. So, I have been there and done that and know how you are feeling!!
First answer: The car wax problem. Well, your dishwasher has plastic on the inside and that is part of the problem and I know my answer is really going to sound weird, but it does work. Use Peanut Butter! See, I told you it was weird.
The peanut oil found in peanut butter contains mild acids such as palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid that work to break down and remove the wax. Apply the peanut butter to the wax stain and let it sit for a few minutes. If you don't have peanut butter you can also use 100% pure peanut oil. Then, scrub with a scrub brush or toothbrush and wipe clean with paper toweling. If it isn't a really thick coat, this should do the trick.
IF IT DOESN'T- go to the automotive store and get something called Wax Blaster. Just follow the directions on the bottle and this will eliminate your problems.
But, you have to admit, I bet the inside of your dishwasher shines like crazy.
My son didn't do the wax bit, he painted a dining room table with pink paint right after I refinished it. It was down in the basement and i went down to wash clothes and he came down to paint!!. See, I told you I have been there!
Now, let's tackle the kids ---no, not literally, put down the rope!
The three year old is really doing things that are natural. Number one, it is a boy and number two, they are in their terrible twos from two to five, yes ugh you have a few more years of this.
The four year old is trying to find out just how far she can go and what you are going to do about it.
The seven year old, probably has it together, at least for another year, then her body changes start in.
So, let's get this under control. First of all, everyone sits down and some new rules are made. The seven year old no longer hollers and plays mom. This is your job. You set the rules and the other three follow. It is your job to teach them everything they need to know in about four years time (before they are eight#.This is what you explain to the kids-
Rule #1- I am the MOM and what I say goes. You follow what I say great, maybe some good things will happen. You DON'T and YOU will pay the price and get a dirty job to do! No more taking things away, standing in a corner or getting hollered at. Now you will work off your punishment.
Rule#2- You will always say please and thank you. To everyone, including your sister-brother what ever the case may be.
Rule#3- You will share, without any fighting. If you fight, whatever you are fighting about will be taken and put away and no one will play with it.
Rule#4- If you blame each other for something that was wrong, broke or messed and no one tells me the truth, then ALL of you get disciplined. Because then that means that you all did it and I have to discipline all of you.
No more talking about it or complaining, you get one chance to tell me the truth. That is all.
Rule #5- When there is a mess in the house and toys all over, we will have a 10 minute tidy. I will set the kitchen timer and all three of you will have 10 minutes to get everything put back where it belongs. If it isn't all of the things that aren't put away, get thrown in a bag and either given away, thrown in the garbage or whatever else I decide to do with things that YOU don't take care of. When you are finished playing with something Put it Back!
This may take about two weeks of constant complaining and harassment, but after that, they will be good little angels.
It only takes two weeks to break a habit and make a new one, remember that, and you will do just fine.
Don't think for one minute that 3 and 4 year olds can't pick up toys, throw dirty clothes in the laundry, dust furniture etc. They are very helpful if you just let them help.
Go to my website at http://www.organizingandcleaning.com and check out the parents page and the kids page and you will find tons of ideas and on the free pamphlets page you will find some free checklists too. Hey, these were made with kids and grandkids #I have 8) in mind. So they are really 'kid tested'!
You will do just fine Amber because you are 'the Mom',
Good Luck and give each one a kiss, believe it or not, they really are blessings,
Jan Hayner
