I have long thought that mini-vans were more prone to more mess than smaller vehicles.  It is like up-sizing your purse – the more stuff that fits in, the more you are likely to tote.

However, since our family is currently assessing whether or not it is worth resuscitating our past-its-prime mini-van, I have been temporarily driving a sedan.  Recently I found myself thinking that the problem was that this car is just too small to stow everything, so it is a complete disaster.

Hmmmm, wait a minute.

I recognize that I can’t have it both ways – the minivan is too big, the sedan is too small. Yep, so the real problem is the passengers.  And, after reflection, perhaps the driver should take some ownership, too. So, at the risk of airing “dirty laundry”, our cars – no matter the size – have a high “yuck factor”.

The primary rule of organization, whether you are organizing your home, your office or your car, is not to let the junk get in the car in the first place.  Why is this so challenging?

As I inventory the contents of my vehicle, there are school projects, highly sought after treasures junk freebies from festivals, work papers, brochures from museum exhibits and the list goes on and on.

Further complicating matters, there is a contraindication of important stuff that is supposed to be in your vehicle and having these essentials near yucky stuff.  You can read more about sticky situations and my lollipop principle here.  And the more stuff you have in the car, yucky or otherwise, the greater probability of important stuff getting messed up by yucky stuff.

So now what?

Let’s be clear: I don’t profess to have the answers.  Although my Car Organization Board on Pinterest (you can follow me here) demonstrates that there are many good suggestions out there for organizing your car, I need to stop pinning and start doing.

Here are 4 things I commit to remember as the New Year unfolds:

1. Thoroughly clean out cars and detail.
2. Install a storage system for toys and trash (see my Pinterest Car Organization board for suggestions that might work for you).
3. Develop a habit of taking everything with us as we exit.
4. Figure out rules and post in a prominent place in the car.

I have observed clean vehicles with children’s car seats in them.

It is possible. 

If you are one of those parents, please share your secret.  And if you are not, please leave a comment listing the most disgusting artifact you have excavated from your vehicle.

Mary Henry of Henry Bros. Circus, 1940s

I told my husband before we got married that I wanted it all.  However, 10 years later, I still struggle with balance.

My personal experience with motherhood is this: It is the toughest job I have ever done and I was totally shocked to learn this, despite other parents passing on this gem that seemed more like a cliché than reality.  Motherhood has also made me have more compassion, organization, patience, tolerance, and an overall expanded perspective on life.

We all know that becoming a mom affects us.  I have had the same job pre- and post-mom, and I can tell you I am much more efficient now at work, out of necessity.  And no matter which way you slice it, whether you are a stay at home mom, a trying to enter-into-working-outside-the-home mom, or working outside the home mom, it is a challenging job.

It seems that I am always on a quest to find balance.  Many have researched the phenomenon of having it all and keeping those plates spinning.  And Richmondmom’s own Rebecca Suder offers, “…while I can’t have it all at one time, I see no reason why I can’t have it all in one lifetime”.  I think perhaps she is on to something.  All I know is that for me, it comes down to the lollipop principle, which has become my anchor.

One day as I got dressed for work, I chose to wear my favorite jacket — a black brocade print, with tiny multi-colored flowers in my favorite hues.  I remembered that my jacket was in the car and I grabbed it to complete my ensemble as I ran off to give a presentation with an important follow-up meeting.  About 10 minutes into the presentation, I noticed something was uncomfortable.  As I moved in front of the screen, I could feel something sticking to my side and back.  I reached around and felt something sticky.  As I opened my jacket, reminiscent of an old fashioned salesman exhibiting his wares, I revealed a half-eaten green lollypop, stick and all, adhered to the inside of my jacket.   I was mortified.  But I kept going through my presentation without missing a beat, despite having the tacky confection adhered to me.  Now that is a new mommy-enhanced skill-set for me.

Photo Credit: Kyle Slattery

Inevitably, there are some little things that get left by the wayside.  Lollipops are small.  The big stuff at home gets taken care of and I try very hard (sometimes unsuccessfully) not to sweat the small stuff.   A form might get turned into school late or the dry cleaning may wait just a bit too long.  And it still turns out alright, lollipops and all.

What is your most embarrassing moment that you have experienced from trying to balance your different life roles?  Do you feel more efficient as a parent?