Taming the Chaos

I sometimes struggle with the noise level in our domicile. And while I often let my two boys (5 and 11) romp and be crazy, there are times when my hubby and I try to encourage a calmer atmosphere. So we’ve come up with a few “tricks of the trade” to help tame the chaos:

• While preparing  breakfast or dinner, we’ll put on classical CD’s.  
• Once the boys get home  from school, we allow them to choose from computer, television, or video games  for a little while. But after about 4:30, we turn off electronics and do  chores and/or homework, prepare the evening meal, and spend time together as a family. (Sometimes, our oldest is busy with activities, like soccer or scouts, or we’re all gone for the  evening, but we try to be consistent with our plan as often as we  can.)
• After we clean up supper  dishes, we spend time outside with our dog or inside playing games, and then  we get the boys cleaned up and in P.J.’s. Then we have some reading time until  it’s time for lights out. Baths and books help get them ready for  sleep.

Those are just a few ideas which work for us. They might help you, too.