How do you people get motivated?

jcr16

i know it is easier said than done, but try not to worry about it or get into a panic about it as i find when i do this it only makes it seems much worse. I have 3 children , slightly older than you's tho. one is 5, one is 3.5 and the other 10 month's.

The way ( and the only way,lol) i have found to keep up with things is to always tidy as i go. I make sure in morning once kids downstairs it only takes 2 mins to make the beds quickly. i try to make sure the house is always tidy by the evening. kids are usually all in bed by7/7.30. so i then just do a quick whip round downstairs before i chill for evening.

i will always empty the dishwasher in the evening ready for the morning stuff.

As for laundry i do prob 1-2 loads a day but i do it in the evening as it finished i empty it out and fold it ready to go on the line next morning or if it rains to hang on the airer( i have a tumbly but trying not to use it) In morning i try to get up before rest of household and stick it out on line. once dry about 3/4 ish i take it in and fold as i get off line. i only iron what really need's it. what doesn't gets taken upstairs and put away just before i go to bed.

i try to do as much as i can night before while all little ones in bed so then it's easier to get out by 8.30am for school run.

My hubby doesn't moan at me if house is messy , as he know it falls on deaf ears's,lol. he will just tidy up bless him. My inlaws are very laid back with cleaning. My mum however is a complete opposite, she the only person i know who can make laminate flooring shine so u can see you face in it,lol. if she saw my h ouse untidy she would just start cleaning,lol. i don't mind all help's.

but just do a little at a time and once it is all done then you will feel like it not a huge mountain to do and it will be easier.

also as your children get bit older it easier. my 3 year old loves hoovering. he will spend hours wandering around the house hoovering. my 5 yr old likes cleaning the windows ( don't end up that shiney but never mind) and my 10 month old if i attached dusters to his knees he could dust as he crawlled,lol. It all about team work i have found.

fifi_folle_2

Hello
I agree with the things others have said about little and often and I too find the fly-lady thread a good help.
I would also like to second what has been said about relaxing and enjoying your children when they are small. They grow up VERY quickly and will remember the things you did with them and the time you spent with them, not how clean and tidy your house was.
My house was spotless when my kids were tiny, all my laundry perfectly done and delicious nutritious meals sizzling in the oven. Nobody noticed and nobody gave me a medal.
Now I go for a happy medium - fairly clean, sort of tidy and much happier.
Get organised, but don't over-do it!

jinny

All of the above advice is spot on. My boys are grown up now and I long for them to come over so I have something to do. My gran in law used to say if visitors don't like it they don't have to stay. Poor Jade Goody and mothers in her situ are not worrying today how messy their house is. jSo it does'nt get over whelming just clear up the living room/put on a wash load/wash dishes tidy kitchen/swab out bathroom/quickly iron and put stuff out for morning then sit down with oh to relax. My neighbour has Grandkids up till 11pm at weekends! not good for them or your sanity.

lbt_2

I love all of the advice above ... and have taken note!! I am not naturally tidy but my husband REALLY is and he doesn't appreciate too much mess either. He does help out but not as much as he used to because his workload has increased but he still expects everything to run smoothly all of the time. As an example, the other day we were going out for the day so I got up with the children (while he stayed in bed), got them both ready, got myself ready, made breakfast, fed the rabbits, tidied up, and washed up etc... He couldn't understand why I wasn't completely ready with all of us in our coats when he came down. I have begun to get a bit more blunt now, and I just told him that if he had helped then we would have been ready sooner. Not a word more did he utter :rotfl:

Anyway, (sorry I can chat for Britain) the only thing I can add to this is to get the children involved and have a couple of tidy up times a day - particularly at the end of the day. Your oldest will probably already be doing tidy up time at nursery or playgroup, and others love to follow what the older ones do.

I have started to give my two jobs as well - one puts the clothes in the washing basket before they both get in the bath and the other hangs up the towels afterwards. All little things, but it really helps to keep our house tidier - and they quite enjoy being Mummy's helper

csarina

Give them a duster each and get them to help you dust and polish.......look at all the advice for using nautural products as well, you do not need loads of specialist cleaners, just water vinegar and bi-carbonate of soda. Look in the old style links at the top of the page you will find loads of help and advice in there.

My youngest DS had a love affair with the hoover, problem was he wanted to get it out after everymeal, regardless of whether we had all finished eating!!!

nettles77

I Have A Routine As Have Young Children Too.

Monday, Wash Everything Down, Hoover And Mop Floors

Tuesday, Bathroom When Kids In Bed, Wash White Pannelled Doors Around House

Wednesday, Hoover/brush Downsatairs N Mop Floors

Thursday, Wash Settee Or Windows Or Pictures Or Mirrors. Rotate This Every Week.


Friday, Strip Beds, Wash Down Hoover And Mop.


Saturday, Nothing


Sunday, Only Cooking A Roast


Everyday I Wash About 2/3 Loads Clothes.


Saturday Nights Sometimes I Batch Cook.

Soetimes I Just Wash House Down On Tuesday And Thursady As Less Work On Hoovering Days.

My Kitchen I Clean As I Go So Never Need A Day To Spend On It, Though Do Need To Wah Inside My Cupboards.

Ironing, Used To Iron Every Tuesday And Thursday When Lo Had Nap Though Shes Dropped It Now So Its Done At Night.

Think Thats It. Prob 4gotten Something. Hth.

smiler34

Hi guys, thanks for all the advice, made me feel a bit less of a failure lol. My OH does help out when he can, he is supposed to wash up every night but usually ends up being every other night and he also puts washer and dryer on when he can before work, only problem is most of the time when he emptys drier the clothes just getted dumped on the side so get creased. Also have a big problem as my kitchen is in the cellar so can't ever just leave kids in living room with stair gate on while I wash up or whatever. Thanks for all the help and advice and will definitley take it all into consideration. xx

traceys9062

I had three children under three, including one on a special diet (PKU)!!
I remember walking into town with a double buggy & my eldest on an "armband"! very tiring!
Now they are 13, 14 & 16 and I really miss them being young!
Looking back I dont know how I coped, never had any help from their dad :mad: (now Ex husband!!!)
Do remember that I used to put them all in the bath together & whilst they played I would clean the rest of the bathroom (obviously keeping an eye on them)
I also had a playpen that I could put the middle one in whilst the youngest was asleep & do a bit of cleaning, think I just done bits here & there when I had the chance. Never used to pick up the toys till the end of the day because as soon as I put them away they used to get them out again!
Did do at least a load of washing every day (still do) & only ironed things that really needed it (still do)
Hope this helps X:rotfl:

gratefulforhelp_2

Jolly well right OH should help. pregnancy is tiring and with two little ones also! Don't get stressed, in 5 years time it will not matter if you were the world's best houswife, just if the kids and you are happy and well.
Still, am no person to give advice, house is a slum!

Paige

When my girls were small a friend of mine lived close by with two sons, on one thurday from about 9.30-1pm I