Controlled Chaos: A Mom Airs Her Dirty Laundry
If you’ve ever looked around your living room and wondered whether a small tornado or your children caused the mess — welcome, friend, you’re in good company. I’m a working mom who can juggle deadlines, school lunches, and the occasional existential crisis, but apparently not the laundry. My house perpetually hovers somewhere between “lived in” and “featured on a before photo.” There are days I feel like I’m the CEO of a very chaotic startup called “Family, Inc.” — except the employees never listen, the coffee’s always cold, and the HR department (also me) is one complaint away from quitting. I love my family fiercely, but let’s just say if organization is an executive function, mine has been on an extended coffee break.
You’ve probably heard the phrase executive function and thought, “That sounds fancy — do I need a business degree for that?”
Nope. Executive functions are simply the brain’s behind-the-scenes managers. They help us plan, focus, remember things, and keep all the plates spinning without losing our minds.
And guess what? One of the biggest executive functions is organization — that magical skill that keeps life (mostly) on track.
So, what Is Organization Anyway?
In real life, organization means you know where stuff is — and not just because it’s buried under yesterday’s mail.
It’s the ability to:
Keep track of your belongings (like remembering where your car keys actually are).
Create systems so things have homes (no, “the floor” doesn’t count).
Find what you need when you need it — without turning into a human tornado.
When you’ve got your organization game going, life just flows better. Less panic, fewer meltdowns, and more time for coffee that’s still hot.
The Moms Who Have It Together (and Make It Look Easy)
We all know that mom — the one who seems to glide through the day like she’s got a personal assistant whispering in her ear.
She:
Never loses track of permission slips or car keys.
Has systems that make finding things a breeze (her shoes aren’t just somewhere; they’re on a labeled shelf).
Gives everything in her house an official address.
Actually finds what she’s looking for — on purpose.
She’s not a magician. She’s just mastered organization as an executive function.
And Then There’s… the Rest of Us
For the rest of us mere mortals, organization feels more like a full-contact sport.
We’re the moms doing frantic treasure hunts at 7 a.m. for the missing shoe or the field trip form that vanished into the void.
Our homes might have systems, but they usually involve “putting stuff on that one chair until it topples.”
Sound familiar? Then you’ve probably run into a few of these struggles:
Constantly losing things and replacing them (why do we own six pairs of scissors and still can’t find one?).
Not having real systems — just hopeful piles.
Leaving things out for someone else to “deal with” (translation: trip over).
Feeling like your house is a stress factory instead of a cozy sanctuary.
But here’s the thing — being organized isn’t about being perfect. It’s about functioning with less chaos. And good news: it’s a skill you can build, not a personality trait you’re missing.
The 3-Step Path to a More Organized (and Less Frazzled) Life
Step 1: Simplify — Declutter and Downsize
Here’s the truth: you can’t organize clutter. It’s like trying to alphabetize a junk drawer full of mystery cords and broken crayons.
The first step is to get rid of the stuff you don’t need.
Start small — one drawer, one shelf, one corner that’s been giving you side-eye for months.
Ask yourself:
Do I actually use this?
Does it make me happy or just take up space?
If I forgot it existed, maybe I don’t need it.
And when in doubt — toss, donate, or hand it to a friend with more patience.
Step 2: Systemize — Give Everything a Home
Now that you’ve cleared the clutter, it’s time to make your space make sense.
Set up systems that actually fit your family’s lifestyle — labeled bins, hooks by the door, baskets for mail (not on the counter, for once).
Your future self will thank you when you can find your kid’s soccer socks in under five minutes.
Step 3: Sustain — Keep It Going with Simple Habits
Organization isn’t a “once and done” situation — it’s more like a lifestyle, but without the fancy hashtag.
Build small daily habits:
Do a five-minute tidy before bed.
Put things back where they belong (yes, right now).
Reset high-traffic areas every day so chaos doesn’t pile up.
Little habits add up. Before you know it, you’ll be that mom who “has it all together” — or at least looks like she does.