Today's episode is on a topic that was actually requested by a follower! Jesse and I are diving into something very close to my heart: navigating back-to-back senior years with our daughters, Kathrynne and Kaitlynn! It has truly been a whirlwind of emotions and logistics, but Jesse and I are opening up about our experiences - the highs, the challenges, and the unexpected lessons that we have learned along the way.

With our having back-to-back seniors, it has definitely been a mix of emotions for us. From managing graduation festivities to navigating college preparations, listen as Jesse and I share the highs and lows of this journey. Let me tell you, it has absolutely been a learning curve, but we are embracing it all with open hearts and minds.

Grab a cup of your favorite drink, and join us as we peel back the layers of having back-to-back seniors, offering insights, lessons learned, and maybe a few laughs along the way. Also, don't forget to download our free Simplified Home Checklists!

In This Episode

[0:35] - Jesse and I are talking today about handling back-to-back seniors, sharing lessons learned and adjustments made.

[1:13] - I share insights from a devotional from a book, highlighting God's timing and unexpected blessings.

[4:08] - Hear how I discovered unforeseen opportunities through Money Saving Mom, fostering independence and challenging anxiety positively.

[7:03] - Be sure to follow @crystaliscleaning on Instagram!

[9:04] - I begin reflecting on the challenges and emotional intensity of having two back-to-back high school seniors.

[12:52] - Jesse finds our current senior year smoother compared to the previous one, crediting Kaitlynn's self-motivation.

[13:44] - I reflect on simplifying preparations for Kaitlynn's graduation, learning from past experiences with Kathrynne.

[16:07] - Planning a party separately from other commitments helps ease family stress during graduation celebrations.

[19:05] - I reflect on the last-minute rush to meet deadlines for Kaitlynn's senior activities, contrasting with Kathrynne's preferences.

[22:18] - Encouraging preparedness and focusing on the next year makes for smoother transitions for children.

[23:13] - Listen as I reflect on Kaitlynn's openness to uncertainty and evolving plans for the future.

[26:03] - Having back-to-back senior children ultimately brings both challenges and benefits, fostering shared experiences and guidance.

[28:09] - I anticipate the bittersweet transition as Silas approaches graduation, embracing the present while also thinking about the future.

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

Books

Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God Is Holding You Close by Lysa TerKeurst

Social Media

Crystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)

Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)

Crystal Paine on LinkedIn

Crystal Paine on Twitter

Crystal Paine on Goodreads

Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom on Facebook

Money Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook group

crystal@moneysavingmom.com

Do you ever feel like you're just barely keeping your head above water? If so, this episode of The Crystal Paine Show is for you! Jesse and I have been married for 21 years and we've learned and grown a lot in those years -- and tried a lot of different things that worked and many things that didn't.

In this conversation, we share some of our simple systems that keep us sane and help us to have breathing room in our days to enjoy our life and invest in what matters most.

First up, we talk about how we each have our own jurisdictions in managing our house and business and what that looks like. We also share what we expect of our kids and how us all working together really frees up a lot of physical and emotional energy for us as parents.

Then, we move onto detailing changes we've made this year to simplify and how it has made such a difference: like reserving one day a week for meetings and interviews, carefully considering commitments and what that looks like for us right now, and how we have our work schedule set up so we both get time to work in.

We end with sharing a number of different strategies we employ to eliminate decision fatigue and to streamline our lives: things like groceries, dishes, laundry, daily routines, avoiding paper piles, and more! I also give you a little peek into my home life growing up and talk about how my mom's organized systems influenced me.

If you're ready to ditch the overwhelm and reclaim your peace of mind, I hope our ideas serve as a springboard for solutions that might work for you, and don't forget to snag your free Simplified Home Checklists!

[0:35] - Today's episode dives into practical strategies for maintaining sanity and enjoying life even if there's a lot going on.

[1:52] - Delegation and instilling teamwork and work ethic in our kids.

[4:35] - Gradual release of responsibility leads to independence as kids develop their own systems over time.

[8:20] - Everyone is an asset to our home and we all work together.

[11:05] - What simplifying has looked like for our home and schedule this year and one change that has made a big difference.

[15:58] - Our current schedule for work-life balance with both of us working from home.

[18:39] - How my mom's organized systems have influenced me.

[20:46] - Scheduling grocery deliveries and using cost-saving programs like Kroger Boost.

[22:59] - Daily routines, paper piles, and how we prep for our day the night before.

[27:52] - Check out the free Simplified Home Checklists!

• Crystal Paine
• 208. Slacker Parenting (AKA How to spend less time micromanaging and more time enjoying your kids)
• 232. Why We Require Our Teens to Get a Job at 15
• Kroger Boost
• Simplified Home Checklists

• Crystal Paine on Instagram
• Crystal Paine on Twitter
• Crystal Paine on Goodreads
• Money Saving Mom
• Money Saving Mom on Facebook
• Money Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook group
• crystal@moneysavingmom.com