Alright. Take a deep breath. Today’s FYSF is to clean your junk drawer. Or, your junk basket. When I may need something (usually paperwork) in the future, but I don’t know where to put it, it goes in the junk basket. Some things I come back to, others I throw out months later. Today’s the day! Get to tossing, shredding, or giving away.
It is always a challenge to be a good hostess when you have a few million toys scattered around on the floor after a good day (or few minutes) of toddler play! While I would love to have ALL the toys picked up and out of sight, it doesn’t always happen, nor does it have to! I DO encourage my kids to help me get the house ready for company. This means giving my 2 and 3 year old SPECIFIC tasks to do in the hour before company arrives … pick up a certain toy/book and return it to it’s place and repeat until at least the area around the door is clear :), carry plates (one at a time) to the table, wait and look out the window at the appointed time of arrival.
I also try to let the kids know of our plans early in the day so that we can anticipate the arrival of guests. This helps our day to be focused on others and not just on ourselves … thinking about what the other people (big or small) might like for a special dessert and how we can clean up so that we have places to sit and talk or play together.
If I have actually gotten everything ready a few minutes before company is due to arrive, I like to try to engage the kids in a short quiet activity (read to them or turn on a book on CD.) This is helps my kids to know that they are not forgotten even when Mommy and Daddy are talking with the company and it helps me to sit and ‘be still’ for a moment!
All that said, we have plenty of stories of welcoming friends into a home filled with toys on the floor and children in tears. The last 2 times some of our good friends have come over Zoe has had a bloody nose and been in tears. (She was so excited to see them this last time that I think she tried to jump out the window!) Things like that just happen and I’m learning to make the best of it :)
Hosting people is one of my absolute favorite things ever! I love having people over. I am not really gifted in elaborate parties or themes or decorating but what I really like is just getting to listen and serve people. I am not a very good conversationalist or extremely outgoing so a lot of how I love people is through serving and listening. Here are a few things I do or think through in regards to quick hostessing opportunities (which happen quite often at my house with my husband :)
I really enjoy providing a place for people to come hang out and enjoy making people food :) It is one way I feel like I can serve others. The biggest thing I have found that blesses others in when you have your house and relationships in order. This is not always possible, but when people walk into a calm, peaceful home they feel welcome. When I say “calm” I mean one that is free from relational strife not noise or playing :)
Okay, so confession time: I don’t have a habit of hosting much of anyone in our home…unless it’s summer and we can head outside. :-) So, here are my winter excuses by the numbers:
1. We live in 915 sq. ft.
2. We have only 4 places to sit in our living room.
3. Our home is the smallest in our circle of family/friends.
SO, when it’s time to gather somewhere in the colder seasons- our place is usually not first, second, or even third on the list. Knowing that we spend our time invading someone else’s home, we try hard to contribute to the time while we are there. Helping bring food, prepping the meal when we arrive, clearing dishes or cleaning the kitchen area partway through the evening, making time BEFORE our kids meltdown to help get the toys picked up…etc. Other times I bring a nice hot coffee drink to the mom hosting us, or a loaf of bread or bag of fruit to contribute to the lunch crowd.
Summer tips? Hit the dollar store and Walmart. Buy more squirt bottles, spill proof bubble things, cheap balls, buckets, sponges, and sidewalk chalk than you have children. Make sure there is enough of the cheap, fun summery stuff for your kids AND all of their friends. It’s such an easy way to avoid potential conflict within a gaggle of kids and it lets the parents enjoy their time so So SO much more.
:-) Happy Hosting…!
This week we’ll be sharing some simple ideas we use when we play hostess. The ways I try to make guests to my home feel welcome, Minnesota style:
- Always offer a hot drink and keep lots of different teas and powdered coffees (International Delight) on hand
-Light a candle (my favorites are from Pier 1… the smells are usually nice, but not overpowering)
- Have people over even when there is laundry piled on a chair in the living room and toys around on the floor
-Offer a blanket when people sit on the couch (this is important in COLD Minnesota)
- Put an old towel inside the door so that people can put their shoes somewhere warm instead of on the porch
-Pull a chair into my kitchen for my friend we can chat even if I have to do some work
Not for Sale was one of Gretchen’s picks from Wednesday’s post. I just heard from Molly’s blog that there is a free download of this book during the month of February. You can download it here from the Christian Audio website. You have to sign up for an account and use the code FEB2009 at checkout. It will be completely free.
The description of the book on Christian Audio is as follows:
Award-winning journalist David Batstone reveals the story of a new generation of 21st century abolitionists and their heroic campaign to put an end to human bondage. In his accessible and inspiring book, Batstone carefully weaves the narratives of activists and those in bondage in a way that not only raises awareness of the modern-day slave trade, but also serves as a call to action.
Audio books are a really good way to incorporate “reading” into your life if you are not finding time for it otherwise. I plan to start listening to this book while I ride my stationary bike. And, Christian Audio has a new book for free every month!
This Bible story series has become our favorite right now!!! It is perfect for toddlers with BIG pictures and only one or two sentences on each page. The stories are fun and simple, but accurate. Both of my kids (at ages 2 & 3.5) really enjoy reading them.
Gretchen is flying home with her 4 girls today (pray for her!) and so I am posting a few books I have heard her mention are worth your time.
For the ladies: Not for Sale- David Batstone
For the girlies: Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
My (slightly younger) children’s book suggestion:
Margaret Wang’s Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar. Our kids have loved this book- practically since birth. Could it be because if the holes in the pages? the family pets that are constantly being accused? or the simple fact that in the end: Daddy is the culprit….just as in their own home. Our copy is WELL loved and we look forward to sharing it with Miles soon.
My (slightly older) children’s book suggestion:
Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and The Motorcycle. Our kids have enjoyed hearing the adventures Ralph and his motorcycle before bed many nights of the week. I think it’s a good workout for Mom and Dad’s lungs too. Here’s a little snippet from Ralph himself:
Boy!” said Ralph to himself, his whiskers quivering with excitement. “Boy, oh boy!” Feeling that this was an important moment in his life, he took hold of the handgrips. They felt good and solid beneath his paws. Yes, this motorcycle was a good machine all right.
This week we’ll be sharing some books we have liked and think you might like, too. Just last night, I finished Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. It was a fascinating, page-turning account of Mortenson’s work in Pakistan building schools for girls in remote villages.
I do love Frances books, and this one is very funny. All parents who have sometimes (or always!) picky eaters will enjoy the method employed by Frances’s parents in this witty book.
