Large familes, (adoptive or not,) how are you doing it?

[carlyincali]

I will try to keep this short and sweet.

We have 5 children, 4 living at home, and we are in the process of adopting a 5yo girl from Guatemala.

Our 18yo has moved out.

I am currently homeschooling our 11 & 9yo girls. They have been homeschooled from the start.

We have an almost 4yo ds and an almost 2yo adopted son, who's been home for 9mos.

We started the process of adopting our 5yo dd basically in January of this year. Most adoptions from Guatemala take about 9mos to 1yr. We thought we'd have about a year to prepare for her, but it seems that we may be bringing her home much sooner than we thought. Now I am scrambling. We are so unprepared for her. (We were not planning on adopting again, but the Lord had something else in mind.) We know no Spanish, (and she knows no English,) but we are now trying to learn as much as we can in a very short time. Lord willing, she may be home in as little as THREE MONTHS!

Okay, now my situation. I lack in organization skills. I am terrible at scheduling. I can follow a schedule to a "T" and that is the type of person I am... a follower. I just can't make one to save my life. I bought MOTH (manager's of their homes,) but I feel like I don't have the time to read it and learn how to implement it. I NEED someone to come here and organize my days for me. I need someone to tell me what to do. (What is wrong with me?) Is there a such thing as "Super Organizer Nanny"?

Okay, back to reality. Are there any of your with a large family that can take the time to tell me how you do it?

(One of my biggest problems is spending way too much time at this darned computer. I need to set boundaries for myself.)

TIA

[Sue G in PA]

I came from a small family. Just me and my little brother, mom and dad. I was/am so unprepared to raise a large family, but that is what I have. 6 dc with #7 due any week now. We live in a moderately sized home (read small :)). I'm not born organized. Clutter is everywhere and it overwhelms me to the point of immobilization. I read organizational books, invest in great programs like MOTH, tried FlyLady for a while, etc. I know *how* to organize and could probably come to your house and do it for you. BUT, when it comes to my own home...I have this ridiculous "block". Just.can't.do.it! So, I hear you, I sympathize with you. I take it day by day. Whenever I get some advice and implement it and it works...I rejoice. I take deep breaths, try to declutter each day a little at a time. As for scheduling my dc and hsing...our schedule is very loose/flexible. I can't function on tight schedules. And yet, my ds6 with Asperger's NEEDS that type of schedule and I'm failing him miserably in that category. I'm a great planner...not a great implementer. :( My advice is to take it one step at a time. I wish I had a "magic potion" to give you (to give me!), but I don't. I do know many on this board who have helped me in the past so hopefully they will post! Congrats on the adoption...I've always wanted to adopt from Guatemala!