A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Organizing The Kid

Maxi started 8th grade on Tuesday. The teachers in our district don't specify necessary school supplies until the first day of classes, so everyone goes on a mad dash to get it all as quickly as possible. Today was my day.

Since we moved to this smaller apartment a few years ago and I gave up my big desk, we've always had trouble handily storing needful desk supplies. We have a drafting table & we have a computer desk... neither of which has cool cubbies. Every now and then I try to come up with a storage plan but they never seem to work well for long.

What with Maxi's Messy Habbit, my attendants not liking to Put Things Away, and my visual problems, you can imagine the tizzy this house gets in when the paper clips go missing again!

But today I had a real brainstorm of a good idea and I'm so proud of myself!

I bought Maxi an inexpensive tackle box! Heavyweight recycled plastic (red, of course!) it has two trays that lift on hinges when you open the lid. Lots and lots of compartments of various sizes! Perfect for paper clips, erasers, white out, glue sticks, etc., in the top trays and deep storage in the bottom area for larger things such as his hole punch, ruler and calculator.

Even better, he can take it wherever he wants to do his work... the kitchen, his bedroom, the library or outside.

No more tearing up the house looking for the silly pencil sharpener we've misplaced yet again. Or worse, going out to buy a new one because nobody can find the old one!

I am so terribly impressed with this idea, I wonder why I didn't think of it before?!

Oh and this is not a complete a non sequitur because it has to do with shopping which has to do with organizing the kid...

Today I had a remarkably pleasant experience at one of the stores.... so much so, that when I got home, I called the store & spoke to the manager and complimented her staff & asked she pass my comments on to them.

You see, I have hated shopping ever since I started using the wheelchair because, sadly enough, clerks are often rude to me.

My attendants always go in the store with me to reach things I can't or to help with narrow spaces. BUT! Whenever I engage a clerk with direct eye contact and ask a question, 9 times out of 10, that clerk will turn and state the answer to my attendant! Or, if I hand the cashier my money, the cashier will hand the receipt and change to the attendant! It is like I do not exist!

This is so troublesome, many of my attendants have gotten in the habit of walking away when I ask a question just so the clerk is forced to answer me directly.

But today, after Wal-Mart & Target (where some of the clerks acted in that standard ignore me way) I went into Staples. That is a big store and I needed help from different departments. I interacted with five clerks and every single one of them answered me appropriately and two even went to get things for me! I was stunned! Not one single person ignored me!

So I just had to tell the boss what a great staff she has got. She was so tickled to hear it, too.





Merme

That shopping experience is really nice, Merme. I'm glad someone trained some people correctly. And good of you to make sure that they knew it was much appreciated. It feels good to pass along compliments.
I use similar tool boxes to organize small items and craft stuff. I use a larger version in my van for a center console. You are a smart lady.

Merme,
Such a good idea ... can I borrow it for our boys stuff- I don't quite know why but all the extra school stuff finds it's way here and with the household office stuff so heltler skelter with no room or one place for it it is a mess- a box for each would solve the problem for sure... think Maxi times 4... all our boys are mess makers ... well except Timba he is to much like me- but he does tend to just go off and leave his mess for later to cleanup..
I like Staples too they have always been really helpful there... I think you should call the management of the stores those clerks treat you badly in and sugggest they train them better - Carrie works in a grocery store and they make sure if a person in a wheel chair or who uses the store provided scooters comes in a courtesy clerk goes around with them to help reach and find stuff... a lot of people shop there because they do that... I never have figured out why people think those who use a wheelchair can't talk for themselves... but I think people who work in stores are in general a lot more rude these days ... we went to a Subway the other day - only customers in line and the person who took our order was so rude and then got our order wrong ... had to remake one of our sandwiches to get it right... and then said it was our fault to boot... we called later and talked to the manager - he tried telling us the person was having a bad day.... geee then maybe they better give their job to someone who would appreciate it- surely there are some people out there who would be glad to have their job..and do it without being surly to boot.

okay off the soapbox.... had a good day today- finally felt halfway decent today- maybe I am kicking this bug finally
Nana

Great idea on the tackle box, Merme!! So glad to hear that the staff at Staples was nice and helpful for your. Great to hear! There are still good people in this world!!! Sometimes it is just hard to find them.

those little plastic shelves with three drawers are amazing, but are a few bucks more than a tackle box. it's great for bigger things like papers and discs.