Comments on: The Freedom to Make a Big, Fat Mess

By: Nathaniel Stott

Nathaniel Stott — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:46:24 +0000

Hi Meghan,

Houses are for “living in” and my experience of life is a cylce of chaos and organising. Like your “big fat mess” its just a stage we all go through, I recognise that here!

Stuff has its place and the most basic organization I find is in the rooms of the house.

Some of these get used all the time, like the kitchen, where a big fat mess is not allowed to build up. Take when the kids help or bake a cake: where is the flour, sugar, milk, butter? And in the chaos of the mix and mixing (speed is an issue we all experience here) we then place it all in the oven. Now that is when the temperature gets really unbearable – when is it ready?

Well first tidy up a bit, when we can get to the table again, then we can prepare for and eat our cake!

I love the lessons of family and GTD @home.

Cheers,

Nathaniel

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:32:35 +0000

I’m inspired.

Tony’s mentioned GTD, and now I see why he loves it.

By: Darla

Darla — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:41:23 +0000

Great article. Thanks for sharing. I like what you said about making a mess: “It’s important for kids — and grownups — to have the freedom to make a big, fat mess.” I found that, with GTD, I can allow myself and family to make messes because I know it will get back on track. It really does allow me to fall off the wagon, so to speak, because I know I have a way to regain perspective when we’re finished.

By: Matt Gray

Matt Gray — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:39:13 +0000

Your daughter’s “office” is more organized than mine at the moment. Inspirational!

I’m glad you focus on teaching, not telling. Imposing a system without teaching its value will just create something to rebel against later: it seems arbitrary. Instead, you are sharing the value of an organized system with your kids and teaching important life skills early.

Have your children made or suggested tweaks to the system yet?

By: Emmeline

Emmeline — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:28:34 +0000

Great ideas, never thought about doing GTD with my 3-year old. For my son (6 years) I made a list of everything that goes into his swimming bag, and before we leave for the swimming lesson he packs the bag all by himself. Now we never have to worry again about bringing towels and dry underpants (it helps that the list includes a snack). This way he learns that he has to do this stuff himself, and that his parents are not his external memory.

By: Jacque Urick

Jacque Urick — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:35:20 +0000

Thanks for introducing me to this Meghan. I’d never heard of this before you started tweeting about it.

I think I might make an attempt to institute your Sunday idea! What a great way to start out the week.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:13:21 +0000

Awsome article. Probably the most powerful GTD principle at work in our parenting is next action thinking. And most of the time that shows up as problem solving. Especially between the two boys.

By: Barbara Younginer

Barbara Younginer — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:17:03 +0000

Very nice article, Meghan! I’m not a mom, but your daughter’s little office will teach her a lot about working for a living too. Kids might as well get that idea early on.