With Mother's Day now in our rearview mirror, let's tackle the elephant in the playroom: organization. Whether you're drowning in one toddler's tsunami of toys or navigating multiple kids' worth of memorabilia, keeping your children's belongings from staging a full home takeover requires both mental bandwidth and physical square footage. I shared some of the most common hurdles and how to find the balance on a recent podcast of Raising Me. Because, if there's one thing that can bring an ounce of calm to the chaos of motherhood, I think we'd all sign up faster than free babysitting.

Here's the revelation that changed my life (and might just save yours):

Getting organized is a project, while staying organized is a practice—and you absolutely cannot have one without the other. It's like expecting to maintain six-pack abs without ever doing the initial work to get them. (how fitting I'm writing this while eating the kids' fruit snacks).

Let’s be clear: chaos can be beautiful. Organization is not about becoming cookie-cutter, minimalist (more power to you if you are), and giving up your personality in favor of bland bins and no “stuff.” We, as moms, will forever love buying our kids new toys that make their eyes light up, and their artwork will always make our hearts melt. So, for our sanity, we need to find the balance between what works best for our family, what brings us a sense of peace, and what is a sustainable way to achieve both.

The Project: Tackling the Beast

First things first: many of us are attempting the practice (frantically shoving toys into bins before guests arrive) without ever doing the actual project (creating systems that make sense for our unique homes). No wonder we feel like we're on an endless hamster wheel of tidying without ever feeling truly organized!

This is why so many of us feel overwhelmed. We’re trying to maintain systems that either don’t actually exist or have been outgrown faster than last year’s rain boots. The colorful toy bins that worked for your preschooler are now overflowing with LEGOs, Pokemon cards, and the inexplicable collection of “special rocks” your eight-year-old refuses to part with. Kids grow up, and therefore, so should our organizational systems.

Here's where the true project begins: start small, stay simple. Any parent will tell you there are probably not enough hours in their day. Between school drop-off, work, laundry, bathing, and meal planning, where does tidying and picking up the kids' toys land on your list? If you sheepishly said "umm at the bottom, right under 'find time to use the bathroom solo,'" you're not alone.

However, I firmly believe that having a system to set you up for success might flip your mindset from "this is hopeless" to "ok, I can do this one drawer at a time." Don't overcomplicate it! Color coding and categorizing can improve clean-up time not only for you but for your kids as well. Encourage them to be involved and make it simple enough that they actually can. ("Put the dinosaurs in the green bin" works a lot better than "organize these toys according to their Jurassic period of origin"). One bin at a time, baby.

The Practice: Maintaining Sanity

Next, always remember we are responsible for what comes into the house nine times out of ten. That lingering tenth time? Usually, holidays, when your great-aunt arrives with gifts that seem specifically designed to maximize both noise and tiny parts.

The best time to do some decluttering is right before a birthday or a gift-focused holiday. Make it a practice and let the kids give it a try! My kids have learned that when they do a little decluttering, there is the potential to get something new, and by donating something they no longer play with, they are also making another kid very happy. Win-win-win (yes, three wins - the hidden third win is slowly reclaiming your living room floor)!

You can enjoy buying things for your kids without making more clutter - it's just a matter of allowing decluttering to become a routine practice, like brushing your teeth or pretending you didn’t hear “MOM” for the thirty-sixth time today.

I saved the best for last: Artwork - and I’m not talking about Monet. I’m talking about the scribbles, the paint-handprints, the “best mom ever” collage our little ones seem to be bringing home every. Single. Day. If you’re a seasoned mom, you might have perfected the ol’ Applaud and Toss, but some moms have an emotional blockage that won’t allow them to throw away a single doodle. And that's ok! Display them where it makes sense and rotate them out so you can admire them. They have options that hold over fifty masterpieces in one frame or file folder boxes, where you can have a completely curated era of artwork to look back on whenever you’re feeling nostalgic.

When Project Meets Practice

When we create systems that actually work for our unique families, we're not just organizing stuff—we're essentially giving ourselves the gift of time and sanity. Those extra minutes not spent searching for missing shoes or that permission slip due yesterday add up to moments we can fully engage with our children instead of muttering under our breath about where things "should" be.

There's a certain peace that washes over you when you walk into a space that feels intentional. Remember, the goal isn't Pinterest perfection; it's progress. Start with just one drawer, one shelf, or one category of items. Small victories build momentum, and before you know it, you'll find yourself breathing easier in a home that still celebrates your family's beautiful chaos—just with a bit more method to the madness.

Because at the end of the day, organized motherhood isn't about Instagram-worthy toy bins; it's about creating room for what matters most: memories with the little ones who call you Mom—even if they're usually calling you to help them find something they swear "was right here a minute ago."

As always, thank you for being here.