the take home folder vol 110
maintaining is easier than catching up. so why is it so hard to do? // + more
welcome to the take home folder
It’s my kids’ spring break and we’ve busted out of Minnesota for a reprieve in the California sunshine. With triple digit temps in Palm Springs, we’ve been enjoying the pool at our Airbnb. Todd and I were here back in 2022 (the last time we took a trip by ourselves) and have wanted to bring our kids ever since. I will share snippets of our trip on IG stories if you want to check in there.
Not to get too deep, but I have really felt time slipping through my fingers lately. With our oldest child starting middle school in the fall suddenly things like school dances and driving and college visits and men’s size shoes and clothing simply aren’t that far away.
I’m clinging to our family time and any experiences we get to have together. I feel myself etching memories into my soul. May we all forever remember both the ordinary days at home and the cool things we get to do as a family. Though it sure tugs at the heartstrings, it is a gift to get to watch our kids grow up.
my sunday questions:
What is something I can do for our home?
What is something I can do for/with the family?
What is something I can do for myself?
Today for me it’s hiking Joshua Tree National Park with our kids - so excited!
Please note that I’m taking next Sunday off from writing The Take Home Folder to savor family time this week but will be back in your inbox on Sunday, April 5th.
one // sports basket
Baseball season is knocking on the door for our kids which means it was time to go through the gear and ensure we have everything they’ll need.
So grateful we implemented the sports basket system for baseball and soccer (not hockey because too much gear - that airs out in the basement). A sports basket houses everything needed for the current sport. I wash their uniforms and put them directly back into their baskets. The baskets live in our mudroom. No more searching for gear all around the house or wondering where we stored something. It’s all in the basket.
This is an idea I got years ago from Courtney - linking her original reel here.
Could a sports basket system work for your family?
two // everyone is carrying something heavy
This week, I saw a man crying in his car. He was ahead of me in line at the post office. He mailed a package. When I walked out, I saw him sitting in his car with his head in his hands sobbing.
And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.
His anguish gutted me. Should I have gently tapped on his car window and checked in? Should I have waited nearby until he saw me and offered some sort of nod of care? I didn’t - I walked to my car and shortly after, he drove away.
The truth is that many -most?- people are dealing with challenges and heartbreak to varying degrees. We don’t always see it (I’d say most of the time we don’t), but it’s good to keep that in mind as we interact with people. Literally everyone can benefit from being treated with kindness, patience, and care. And it’s our job to model compassionate interactions for our children.
If what you’re carrying feels heavy, I see you and am sending you strength and love.
three // athleta love
The clothing brand I wear most throughout the week is Athleta. I find their items to fit well, wash beautifully, and look nice. I like a self-decided uniform and Athleta is on my body daily for working out and comfy clothes. Four of my staples as we head into warmer weather are on sale through tomorrow:
seamless tank - I wear this for workouts, as a swim coverup with shorts or a skort, and use it as a layering piece. They finally added a few new colors. It is snug and on the shorter side - I recommend sizing up. (Also want to note that it is very annoying that they don’t have extended sizing in this yet)
shorts - I walk and workout in these all summer long. They’re just the shorts version of my favorite leggings. No chafing. Pockets! I prefer the 7” length.
skort - I wear this all the time in the summer! Cute with sneakers or sandals. Pockets!
linen pants - I was influenced by Merrick to try these last year and have really enjoyed them. They’re easy breezy but also look put together. Lots of colors. I would recommend going with the petite sizing if you’re shorter than 5’4”. They also come in tall and plus sizes.
four // it’s a great time to pass along…
Decluttering feels amazing this time of year. Here are things that I have noticed selling well on FB Marketplace or being hot commodities in my Buy Nothing group:
Any tools for organizing - shelves, bins, baskets, drawer dividers, bike racks, …
Spring sports equipment - cleats, bats, golf clubs, baseball bags, …
Outdoor furniture
Easter/spring stuff including decor, Easter baskets, serving ware, …
Outdoor fun for kids - bikes, cozy coupes, wagons, strollers, …
Outdoor planters and gardening equipment
Are any of these items collecting dust at your house? Perfect time to try to sell them or pass them along to someone who’d be delighted to have them.
five // maintaining is much easier than catching up. so why is it so hard to do?
I think the best kept secret for a clean home has very little to do with cleaning products and everything to do with the art of maintenance.
It’s the second-nature act of wiping down the bathroom sink while your kids are in the tub. Or the automatic once-over for trash in the car while you pump gas. Or putting things back in their places each evening before bed. Or your daily load of laundry being simply the clothes that everyone wore yesterday. Or cleaning the shower when it’s needed but before it gets to ‘gross dirty’ status.
Maintaining our home sometimes feels like a never-ending game of whac-a-mole. The main floor is tidy and vacuumed? The windows and screens could use a good cleaning. The kitchen floor is mopped? Make a mental note about that repair we need to do. Finally decluttered kids’ books? Oh yeah I’m way overdue to touch up the paint around here.
Something I ask myself often is whether I truly am less efficient than everyone else? I don’t think that’s it though. Everyone has different amounts of time and capacity to dedicate to the home. Some people (a lot of the people we see on social media especially) have help1. And admittedly, sometimes I go on a long walk instead of cleaning, ha.
So rather than beat myself up over not having a perfect house or cleaning schedule, we do what we can and call it good enough.
Bottom line - we’re all trying our best to keep up. We know maintenance is easier than catching up. And also, life happens. You’re doing great.
see you right back here in two weeks,
p.s. Need anything from Amazon or Target this week? Allowing my affiliate link to open in your app before checking out supports my work at no cost to you. Thank you for doing this, I notice and am grateful.
recent favorites:
it’s our first time having a shower fixture with a sprayer and it makes cleaning SO much easier
huge woven basket for kitchen towels and cloth napkins at a great price point
this photo my friend/neighbor sent me of our tweens playing outside for hours in a blizzard last weekend
a hopeful future favorite - I’m excited to use this pre-shampoo repair treatment. I ordered it to try when we get home - I’ve heard great things.
I have never and will never knock having help. Outsourcing is brilliant if you’re in a position to do it. Todd has kindly brought up the idea of hiring a cleaning person/service to free up a bit of our time/capacity - one of these days we just may go for it! But also I feel like Morgan has set my bar high for what I’d want a house cleaner to do. BRB moving to Green Bay, WI so she can do my cleaning and organizing. What, if anything, do you outsource?
Totally get that feeling of time moving fast and having little ones doesn’t last. I dreaded not having all my kids with heads in beds under the same roof one day but that day has been here for awhile now and I can honestly say it is both different and wonderful. It’s worrying having them out late, or my daughter traveling internationally, but it’s also fun hearing about their adventures. And our boys have brought such wonderful girls into our lives and my daughter has fantastic friends. Treasure this time but remain open as changes unfold. I truly believe each season and rhythm brings unexpected loveliness.
That said, having lost one of our dogs last week to a sudden illness , I have been like that gentleman sobbing in my car and on walks. My husband and I are gutted. I am glad he is letting our kids see tears and grief are something to express and not hide or mask. We will heal slowly but the right now is just so very hard.
Lastly this January I committed to one daily load of laundry at a minimum and it has been wonderful. If something comes up unexpectedly, I am not 4 loads behind. I am a terrible home maintainer but this has been a game changer. I was always on top of the laundry but this makes it just that much easier to manage and frees me up from weekend catchup. Highly recommend.
The story about the man sobbing, oh gosh that made me so sad!!!! It’s so hard to know what to do in those situations! :( I’m sorry 😞