How do you get the balance right?

danielle1977

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

You never think you have the balance right but you probably have. Guilt is an essential part of motherhood, unfortunately.

At least you don't have to feel guilty about work as well!

I gave up work as I felt guiltly not being with them, not having time to do shopping-now I feel guilty when my other half has to get up at 5:30 and doesn't come home till 5, I worry about him driving for 1.5 hours each day (trying to sort out moving close to his uk base), worry about him when hes out of the country, and feel guiltly that I can't buy the kids as much or help pay bills, I don't think you can win!

Js_Other_Half

DH does all the ironing and vacuuming . I do the laundry as and when during the week, and he irons in front of the tv over the weekend. I cook the meals, he clears up afterwards.
I think it depends on the type of house you have, as well as what heating system you have, as to how much dusting needs doing. Where I grew up we had a coal fire, dusting was a daily occurence. We have central heating here so dusting is a very occasional thing. I have some (very expensive!) enjo cloths for the bathroom and kitchen that clean everything with no fuss or bother.
I work part time, so the house doesn't get messy for 3 days a week. We have some huge wicker baskets for DS toys, and at the end of the day when he's gone to bed they get put away.

Glamazon

I think I've got the right balance!

I work full-time, have an 11 month old son and have my OH & BIL to cook for. I must admit housework is not a priority in this house

I don't feel guilty for working full time because my son needs lots of attention from different people and gets bored easily with just one or two people so creche is fantastic for him and I enjoy working so we are both happy. We spend a couple of hours together when we are at home, any cooking, housework etc gets done after he's gone to bed.

Mostly housework gets done on a Saturday or Sunday when LO has his nap but other than that I just wing it!

Oh, and despite sleeping through from 12-19 weeks he know wakes between 1 and 5 times in the night *yawn*

(did someone say it gets easy as they get older????) :rotfl:

ukjoel

I regularly tell the other half that I would never divorce her and leave her with three young kids cos the house was messy and hadnt been hoovered but I would run away with another woman if I wasnt getting my leg over on a regular basis.

I put it in a slightly more romantic way but the point is - dont neglect the hubby and kids - neglect the mess.

Isksta

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton


I have this up in my house for a very good reason :T