I like to think that I get more organized with the birth of each child. In reality, I think it almost becomes necessity. And that must be why my grandmother, with 15 children, seemed to have an efficient method or system for just about everything. I learned so much from her.

I've been feeling the urge "to crack the whip" (as my mother would say) around here the past few weeks. I'm at the point where my body isn't able to do all that my mind knows needs to be accomplished. I can't get it all done by myself. And my children are definitely eager to help when I present it well.

They love a system. A routine. (And anything in chart-form that hangs on the refrigerator.)

One of our usual "nagging sessions" comes in the morning and the evening as I dole out the daily chores. Who's going to feed the chickens? Who did it yesterday? Who feels like they always have to let out the chickens?

I'm finding that this simple visual system is saving me boatloads of nagging and the jobs are getting done much more smoothly.

The chart I'm using is from Joan Goldner at BusyBody Books. She makes great planners, but this blank 7 column grid pad is by far my favorite. It's 3 hole punched and magnetic. Ours hangs on the fridge. (I also got an email in my inbox from BBBooks last week. They are moving warehouses and having great sales right now...)

I'd love to hear what chores your children help out with around the house. Do you have a system? A chart? A list? How do you crack the whip? :)