Are you looking for something for your family to do together, get them organizing!!!  Okay Okay, I have a huge smile on my face right now because I can imagine your look of disbelief right now.  I am serious, but not the way I’m sure you are imagining.  Here are my thoughts on the topic.  The statements I hear most often when it comes to organizing is that you are constantly picking up and feel like it never ends.  Or you don’t understand why [enter the person’s name here] can’t put stuff back where it belongs.  Well, I’m going to keep it 100…many times it is because they don’t think “where it belongs” is where it truly belongs.  Logically they may think it belongs somewhere else OR they may not know where you really want it kept.  Now wait just a second!  I heard your thoughts just now and I think they do care.  I also think it’s time to try something new because what you have been doing hasn’t been working.  OHHHHH NO SHE DIDN’T!  (I’m cracking myself up right now).

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Ok so here are the guidelines to the conversation.

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	<li>You need to first of all have the conversation at the right time. Don’t do it while watching some sports game or while your spouse is reading the paper or otherwise occupied like on a mobile device.  Make sure you have their attention.  I recommend doing this all at the same time, but you can be sneaky and ask each person individually.  How you get the information is up to you, just make sure you get input from the family.</li>
	<li>Pick one area to work with, don’t try to discuss the entire kitchen because that won’t work, unless they are really interested in the discussion. Start with areas that aren’t too hard and ones that effect the family as a whole.  My favorite starting place is the pantry because everyone likes to eat and usually want it as organized as possible so they can get and go.</li>
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	<li>Tell them you are wanting to get everyone’s opinion regarding how to organize the space. Make sure you explain why and sell the idea as something that is beneficial for them too. Something like, you want to make sure it works for them.  Now, haven’t you learned by now that I can see your face.  I mean I KNOW the house is your domain, but you can’t say no one else goes into it, everyone uses it so you should take their thoughts and ideas under advisement even if you determine it isn’t best.  Despite whether you think you need their input or not you do, because remember you are tired of having to pick things up over and over again.  Everyone wants to be heard and everyone wants to feel important.  By including them, they will take a little more ownership of keeping it organized and where they say they want it.</li>
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	<li>Using the pantry as an example here, ask them what they like and why and what they don’t like and why. Get the dialog going, openly listen to what is being said and don’t try to feed the answers you want.  You will be amazed at the actual opinions that your family has about certain things. Oh and don’t let anyone get away with the I don’t know or I don’t care answer.  If you know they drink coffee and the coffee is kept in the pantry, try to understand the process they use when getting coffee.  Ask questions about the process instead if they don’t seem to understand how this conversation effects them.</li>
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Once you have all the input you can then set out to organize the pantry based on the feedback you were given.  Remember the rules we gave you in the 30 day Challenge and knock it out.  See, including the family in organization is an Event and it is an event that will bring your sanity back!