A few weeks ago I posted a Spring Clean Challenge! Summer is right around the corner; how is spring cleaning going for you? In my household, we have taken small, steady steps to organize clutter and do some deep cleaning.

Consider clearing out your closets and drawers (and chests and boxes) of all the clothes that both you are no longer wearing and your kids have outgrown. For items that are still in good condition, host a clothing swap. Clothing swaps are ecologically smart, economically thrifty and fun as well.

Something that you are sick of wearing or never wore might just be the dream outfit for a friend. A swap is also an opportunity to socialize and chat with people you might not ordinarily see. And you might just find a new “look” that you wouldn’t think to choose in the store!

In my hometown, we have a great group that holds regular clothing swaps.PDX Swap hosts well-organized swaps every month around the Portland, Oregon metro area. Consider doing some research to see if there is anything similar in your area.

If you want to host your own clothing swap, have no fear - it's easier than you might think!

1. Invite at least 10 people/families. Make sure everyone knows that they can bring more than they take or vise versa. Have everyone bring a bag (or two).


2. Organize the clothing into sizes. Small, medium and large usually work for adult sizes. For women’s clothing, make a decision on what numbered sizes go into the categories. For children’s clothing, size by age.


3. Place the clothing on tables, nicely stacked. I have been to swaps where the clothes are on the floor and it is a chaotic mess.


4. Make sure everyone helps sort but waits to take clothing until the set “start time.” Usually the host determines when it is time to grab and bag.


5. Determine ahead of time where the left-over clothing will be donated. At the end of the swap, make sure a couple of people help the host to bag the clothing that was not taken. It is best to go ahead and load it into the car of the person donating it. No reason to have bags of stuff just lying around.


6. Why limit yourself to clothing? Consider swapping shoes, handbags, children’s toys and books!

In these challenging economic times, creating community while supporting your values is a win-win!

Is the sun peeking through your windows casting light on all the dust balls? Is it time to go through the kid’s clothes and sort through your outgrown winter wardrobe? Ready to dig out the camping gear that’s piled behind boxes in the garage?

There is something about the energy of spring that inspires people to clean and organize. After the dark of winter, huddling in our caves, we are ready to lighten our loads!

But, you are also a busy parent and the thought of a spring clean can be overwhelming, right? I know it is for me. So, I am going to challenge you to a Six-week Spring Clean Plan!

If you follow the rules below, I promise this can work for you! At my house, last week we did the fridge, this week we worked on the yard and next week we are sorting out all the outgrown baby clothes.

The Rules

1. Make a list of all the areas in your home that you would love to clean or organize.


2. Pick your top six areas. If you can get your family enrolled in the challenge, let them help you pick the top areas. That gets more buy-in for help.


3. Break your top choices into tasks that can be done in less than one hour. Keep it reasonable for the amount of time you have. Set yourself up to succeed!


4. Choose at least one task per week for the next six weeks. This will have you complete by the time summer rolls around.


5. Pick a time that you know will work for you and put it on the calendar. When you work on your task, set a timer or watch the clock. Commit to being done in one hour - or less!

Quick cleaning ideas

Here are some suggestions of Spring Clean ideas that can be done in less than one hour:

• Clean out the fridge – for real. You know, with a sponge, cleaner, etc.


• Sort and organize the kid’s clothes. Sell unwanted items on Craigslist!


• Wipe down the baseboards in your home. No fun, but they’ll look great.


• Clean the windows in the main room of your house. Do another area the next time.


• Rake the yard, pull some weeds, organize the kid's outdoor toys.


• Go through and sell books, CDs or DVDs you don't need.


• Move the furniture in the common rooms and mop/sweep/vacuum under it.


• Clean out your email box and computer desktop. Then back up all your files.

Making it work

Answering some basic questions about your needs and habits can make the difference in a challenge like this. Here are some to ask yourself:

Who can help you? Get your family on board to enjoying a cleaner, more organized space. Or invite a friend to trade time with you. You go help organize your friend’s garage and she/he will do the same with you.

How can you make it fun and easy? Pick some great music or listen to a podcast while you work. Bribe yourself (and family members) with a yummy treat when you finish. One client shared with me that she cracked a beer and cleaned out the fridge on a Friday night while her husband played with their toddler. And, she said: “It was satisfying...as satisfying as a bubble bath and a glass of wine, believe it or not!”

When is the very best time to do it? Probably when the kids are more needy or fussy is not ideal. Neither is a time when you are feeling tired or scattered. Perhaps mid-morning on a weekend day before everyone gets their activities started.

How can you involve the kids? For older kids, keep it fun and don’t pressure them to participate. You might be surprised when they volunteer. And with younger kids, find a special way to help them feel a part of the activity. They are at an age where “helping” is fun! We started in our yard yesterday and my toddler had a blast picking up pinecones. Remember, your kids feed off your energy and mood. If you have a positive attitude about what you are doing, they are more likely to participate.

Be SMART about it! Revisit our post about making goals work for you.

So, what can you do this week to help spring clean your home? Leave a comment and share your plans. In a few weeks we can chat again to see what we've all accomplished!

I’m feeling better already!

Have you noticed how your assumptions, especially about the people in your life, can cause you a lot of worry and frustration?

For example, if your partner forgets to do something you asked him to do, you might assume he didn’t care enough to remember. Or if your friend says something you think is insensitive, you might decide she doesn’t respect you very much. And when your kids act out, you immediately decide you need to change their behavior so they “learn” how to behave.

But, you have another choice you can make. You can choose to assume “positive intent.”

This choice can literally change your life and your relationships. And it is so simple.

It begins with a willingness to assume that the people in your life have good intentions and are doing the very best they can with their resources and challenges.

This is an attitude that you consciously choose because it does not tend to come naturally to most of us! In our culture, we tend to assume the negative. When someone does something that is upsetting for us, we might assume they are trying to hurt us or don’t care about us. If the person is our child, we might assume they are being “bad.”

These reactions get in the way of you truly hearing the people in your life. And our assumptions are often based in previous experiences and not even connected to the present circumstance.

Everything a person does is a strategy to meet a need in the very best way they can in the moment. By assuming positive intent, you make a commitment to uncover the unmet need underneath the behaviors or actions that are causing you to be upset.

For example, when your toddler has a tantrum, assuming positive intent means understanding this his behavior is a signal that he is processing strong emotions. Instead of shaming or punishing him, you can create a safe space for him to release his feelings. Similarly, when your partner forgets to do something that is important to you, instead of blaming her, you consider how she might be overwhelmed or need more support right now.

When a friend makes a remark that hurts your feelings, you can respectfully share with him the way you felt when you heard it and ask him to clarify what he meant (instead of jumping to conclusions!).

When you assume positive intent, you set up an opportunity for increased connection and for creative thinking. When it comes to your children, assuming their best intentions is acknowledging that they are growing and learning and your job is to guide them in the most positive way you can.

And this starts by seeing them in the most positive light possible. As you focus on their strengths and their motivations, you will find creative ways to teach them how to get their needs met while still respecting boundaries.

Now, I am not suggesting that you set yourself up to be hurt by the people in the world who really might really have intentions to do you harm. When assuming positive intent, you still can express your own feelings and needs and set clear boundaries. And trust your intuition about situations that might be hurtful for you!

Think how much anger and irritation you can eliminate with this simple practice!