How to stay on track as new parents?!

crazyaboutsaving

Hello,

My OH and I are first time parents (DS is 7 weeks!). We're loving it, but finding it a real struggle to stay on top of all the MS things we used to do (meal plans, budgeting, even grocery shopping and remembering to use discounts/coupons etc.) Does anyone have tips on how to get back on top of things after having a baby and how to stay focused with so many other things going on? There are so many parents here on MSE that seem to be completely on top of everything, so well organised and focused on MS. How do you do it?! What's your secret?!

Krystaltips

The secret is... It takes time... You've only had your little bundle for less than 2 months and they really do take over your life for those early weeks... Gradually, as you get used to him and he starts to figure out what it's all about you'll find it eases off a little... You can start to get a few more minutes a day to meal plan / search for codes etc... Just don't wish these early days away... All too soon he'll be 5 and giving you lip

clairec79

Feed baby while on the computer - but I don't think I figured that one out till my third

Glamazon

Congrats!!!

I am really hoping to be even more MSE when baby comes along.
At present both OH and I work so much we don't have time to go to different supermarkets and meal plan. I plan to freeze lots of meals for the first few weeks as I know these will be difficult esp. with this being my first and then hopefully I can meal plan after this and shop around instead of getting everything at ASDA.

Ishtar

Firstly, congratulations on the arrival of your little one...babies are lovely, but there's a steep learning curve that comes with them. As for staying on top of the MS things, give yourself time to adjust to your new lifestyle - with my first, I found I was doing well if I'd managed to get dressed before 3pm...

I've just had my second child - he'll be 7 weeks on Tuesday - and I have to say things are just as hectic. But, I'm finding that setting myself small targets is really helping. Just little things like getting the ironing done - I generally say 'If I only manage one thing today it will be....' I find it helps a lot, but I know I'm like a swan - serene on the surface but paddling like mad underneath - and I'll bet there are loads of people who look like they're achieving loads when they aren't. There's plenty I miss out; I'm only just getting back to meal planning (but, honestly, whether those meals actually get cooked is another matter) and the housework is still being missed in many areas.

Takes time to fit everything in, just keep plugging away at it and you'll soon find a routine that suits you. Me, I'm still trying to fit in the needs of my baby and those of my 4 year old - getting all 3 of us ready for the school run in the morning is no joke....

You'll soon find that things fit together.
Take care
D

whitewing

The secret is that we only state online what we ARE doing and ignore the bits that aren't going to plan!

Don't be too hard on yourself. Do the best you can in the time you have available. (Lists help)

tessie_bear

dont be too hard on your self...write a small list of what u want to achieve/do and chip away at it dont do too much too soon and congratulations btw

HelenKA_2

And remember if anyone asks you if there's anything they can do have that little list you can refer to!

skintsaver_2

my dd is 3 and only now im starting to get everything together, im so rubbish at organizing

Becles

It gets a bit easier once they get settled into a routine and you can plan things a bit more. For example you'll know 11am is nap time, so you can pencil in writing a meal plan then, then do a bit ironing during the next nap and so on.

You need to accept that things just don't get done anymore and not let it worry you too much. Before you would be proud of cleaning the whole house in a morning, but now you have to be proud because during the whole day, you managed to dust the coffee table

crazyaboutsaving

Thanks all, there's some great advice here! I have started to make a list and try to do one thing each day, which is proving very useful! I've also started making more ready-made meals, i.e. paying a little extra to have pre-cut and washed veg for stew. It's actually saving us money because if we bought veg that needed preparing they would go rotten because we don't have time to prepare for a meal! BF at the computer is a good one too, I hadn't thought of that!