Diana Rene 0:06

You're listening to the Decluttered Mom Podcast, a podcast built specifically for busy moms by a busy mom. I'm your host, Diana Rene. And in 2017, I had my second daughter, and it felt like I was literally drowning in my home. Okay, not literally, but I felt like I couldn't breathe with all of the stuff surrounding me.

Over the next 10 months, I got rid of approximately 70% of our household belongings, and I have never looked back. I kind of feel like I hacked the mom system, and I'm here to share all the tips, tricks, and encouragement. Let's listen to today's show.

My name is Diana Rene, and I am your host, and I am excited to share with you uh this week and then next week also, I'm gonna be playing for you some audios from a course of mine. And these are from the course called Simplify the School Year.

We only sell this course during like the back to school season, and so you might be wondering why we are playing these uh audios for you in January, and that is because I have found that when we are in back to school swing, you know, in like that August-September time, we are all motivated to like figure out routines and systems and all of the above.

And then we get halfway through the year, we have winter break, and it can be hard to just get back into the swing of things with school. I have found, and I have heard it from many of you as well.

So that is why I wanted to share these two audios with you, because I think it's going to help you kind of get back into the swing of things as we kick off the second half of the school year. And obviously, it's the almost the end of January now, so you've probably been back in school for a few weeks, but this is still going to be helpful for you.

Today, we are going to play the audio for you all about the launch pad system. And so I hope this is helpful. Please let me know. Always DM me, I'd love to hear it. Let's just get right into that audio.

Let's talk about one of the most powerful systems you can build in your home, especially during the school year, the launch pad.

If your mornings feel loud, scattered, or stressful, you are not alone. If you're constantly repeating yourself, helping your kids look for shoes, or packing a lunch with one hand while signing a field trip with the other, it's not you, it's just the lack of a system.

And that's where the launch pad comes in.

Why it matters.

The launch pad is not about organizing for the sake of organizing. It's not about aesthetic baskets or matching labels. It's about creating calm before the chaos starts.

Because when your kids can't find their shoes, the water bottle is still in yesterday's lunchbox, and you're the only one who knows where anything is, your morning becomes a pressure cooker, and all that pressure lands on you.

The launch pad takes some of that load out of your brain and puts it into a system your family can actually use visually, consistently, independently.

You are no longer the reminder. You are no longer the backup memory. You're building rhythms that help your home run without you having to carry every detail.

This is about mental clarity, it's about smoother mornings, it's about starting the day without yelling.

What a launch pad actually is at its core.

A launch pad is a dedicated space, usually near the door you exit, that holds everything your child needs for the next school day.

It includes a hook, chair, or peg for their backpack, a designated shoe spot like a mat, tray, or basket, a small bin or cubby for extras like a jacket, water bottle, library book, permission slip, or sports gear.

It is not fancy. It's functional.

Include calendar triggered items.

So this is a key piece people often forget. Your launch pad should include space for calendar-based reminders, the one-off or weekly items that otherwise slip through the crap cracks.

Examples: library books on library day, PE shoes or shorts for gym days, water bottle on hot field trip days, show and tell item on Friday, a band instrument, art smock, or lunch from home.

A whiteboard or a checklist near the launch pad can save you so much last-minute panic.

How to set it up?

Okay, start simple. Seriously. Don't wait until you have the perfect hallway command center. Here's what I would suggest.

Choose your spot, pick the most convenient, least disruptive place. Don't overthink it.

Create a simple setup. This could be as basic as a bin and a hook. Some families use cube shelves or rolling carts. You do not need to spend money to make this work though.

Label it. Use name tags, icons, or colors, especially for younger kids or neurodivergent kiddos who benefit from visual structure and reset it every evening.

This is what actually makes the system work. Do a quick launch pad check each night, either you or your kids. Build it into your evening rhythm like brushing teeth or setting out pajamas.

Why we set it up the night before?

Let me pause here and tell you why the system matters. We don't create launch pads because we're obsessed with bins or schedules. We do it because mornings are already hard.

Everyone's tired. Everything feels rush. And any small thing like a missing shoe or a forgotten folder can be the spark that sets off a wildfire of stress.

The launch pad is your fire prevention system.

When you reset it the night before, you create margin. You give your future self a calmer morning. You give your kids the gift of starting the day with confidence, not chaos.

And you give yourself a little space to breathe, sip your coffee, or just not yell before 8 a.m.

This isn't just about being organized. It's about leading your day instead of reacting to it.

Adjusting for neurodivergent or younger kids.

If your child is neurodivergent or just really young, they may not automatically connect. Put it in the bin with follow-through.

You'll want to make the system extra visual, extra consistent, and extra clear. So here are a few ideas.

You can use pictures instead of words like a drawing of shoes, backpack, or water bottle.

You can use color coding like one color bin per child.
You could create a laminated visual checklist they can physically check off, which we will have that available for you in another lesson.
You can add daily verbal cues like let's go reset your launch pad.

Keep it one step at a time. Start with just the shoes and then add the backpack, then the extras.

Honestly, repetition and simplicity are going to win here. Also, some kids will need your help building this habit longer than others, and that's okay.

Don't measure progress by independence on day one. Measure it by how clearly the system is replacing your need to micromanage over time.

How it grows with your kids.

One of the best parts about the launch pad is that it's flexible.

When your kids are in kindergarten, it might be you helping them place their backpack and water bottle every morning. By second or third grade, they might be doing it with a checklist on their own.

By middle school, they're checking their own calendar and loading their gym clothes or laptop without you needing to say a word. Same system, just more autonomy as they grow.

You can even set up launch pads for yourself. Put your keys, water bottle, and bag in the same spot every night. Model the habit that you want them to build.

Let's talk about the moments when the system is not going smoothly.

Here's what might be happening and how to troubleshoot.

Too crowded, try moving it to a hallway, a closet, or a bedroom doorway.
Too complex, start with just shoes and a backpack. Simplicity first.
No follow through, add a checklist or launch pad status sign. They flip from red to green when it's finished.

If it's hidden away, make it visual. Avoid drawers or cabinets that keep it out of sight.
You're still doing all the work? Reinforce this as their responsibility. Use natural motivators like no screen time until your launch pad is reset for tomorrow.

Okay, your action step.

Pick your spot. Set up a hook, a bin, or even just a mat. And tonight, walk your child through the first launch pad reset.

Say, let's get your launch pad ready for tomorrow. What do we need?

Don't wait for perfect. Just start small, let it evolve over time as you figure out what's going to work for your family.

Because this system does not have to be flawless to be very powerful. It just has to be repeatable.

So the launch pad is more than a drop zone. It is a quiet anchor that helps your family start the day with less yelling, fewer forgotten things, and more peace.

You don't have to carry everything in your brain anymore. Let the system do the heavy lifting.

Thanks for hanging out and listening to the Decluttered Mom podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean the world if you could write a review or share this episode with a friend or your Instagram stories.

And if you're on Instagram, be sure to follow me @the.decluttered.mom and send me a DM to say hi. I'd love to hear what you thought about today's episode.

I hope you'll come back next week and hang out with us again.