Any SAHMs have "help"?

mummyslittleboy

thatgirlsam wrote: »

but they do remember living in a pig sty! (not saying you do)

just that i grew up in a very untidy house.. and it made me quite anxious and unhappy.. some days didn't have clean underwear to put on etc
... it REALLY did affect me as a child, i was embarressed to have friends round

don't get me wrong, my mum loved us to bits, she just hated housework

as a result i am a clean freak and feel out of control if my house is a mess

its hard work, im a single mum, work 30 hours a week and am studying for a foundation degree

would love some help but hey ho.. gotta get on with it myself

My mum hated housework and I always remember my dad leaving her messages in the dust I was to embarresed to have friends round to I always kept my home clean so the kids wouldnt go through the same as I did, but at the same time I do let them play with messy things painting glueing playdough etc I just clean it up when they are finished. I find it harder since I became ill but have had to learn that I can't always do it all and sometimes I do just have to leave it, its times like this I wish I could afford a cleaner but still it gets done in the end.;)

Ex-Spendaholic

I'm a working mum of 3 (4th on the way). I do everything myself (OH works really long hours). Personally I don't see why anyone who is at home 24/7 would require any help.

Its all about organisation.

themull1

i work full time and have two kids, three guinea pigs, a cat, and a husband in that order!, and i've always done everything myself. If i stayed at home through the day i certainly couldn't justify getting any sort of help, my husbands face would be a picture - i can see it now... as my mother says ' find the time' Obviously too much disposable income these days, and yes, i hate ironing, but i still do it.!

lilmisskitkat

I'm a SAHM and dont pay for any outside help but i do send DS (2) to nursery for 2 mornings a week to enable me to get things done much quicker/easier/peacefully.

He goes Tues and Fri - Tues i have a blitz on the house so i just have to keep on top of it the rest of the week, might do some ironing if i feel like it and Fri i do the food shopping, banking and any other errands.

It means i can get things done whilst he's there having fun with his little friends then when he is at home i'm not worrying about what needs doing and i can have quality time with him and DD when she comes home from school. The other days we go to toddler group, visit friends/family, go to the park/soft play etc.

When baby arrives i'll just cart him/her around in a sling whilst i do the housework

Kate xxx

DaisyFlower

Many working mums manage to juggle work, family time and the housework so cant imagine a SAHM needing a cleaner when they are home all day.

I work part time and also have volunteer commitments yet still manage to do the housework to a high standard. Even when DS was home before he started school it was still easily managed.

I cant imagine being a SAHM before provided for financially by another person and then asking them to fund household help.

bylromarha

DaisyFlower wrote: »

Many working mums manage to juggle work, family time and the housework so cant imagine a SAHM needing a cleaner when they are home all day.

I work part time and also have volunteer commitments yet still manage to do the housework to a high standard. Even when DS was home before he started school it was still easily managed.

I cant imagine being a SAHM before provided for financially by another person and then asking them to fund household help.

Do I presume you only have 1 child? Life and housework is so much easier to deal with if that's the case.

I take my hat off to working parents. But I also take my hat off to parents staying at home. Both are difficult choices for families to make and each has its own stresses and strains.

smartie12

Surely a SAHM has some time to do tasks such as cleaning??? I personally can't see why a SAHM would need any outside help. A child/children of any age doesn't need 24 hour attention!

I've been a working single mum and didn't need any help.

Now have a new baby and once I'm fully recovered from section/other complications I shall be catching up with the housework.

Would hate anyone else doing it anyway!!:eek:

If any SAHM is struggling maybe they should take a look at the flylady thread;). Lists are really helpful and you can do a little at a time.

BitterAndTwisted

Hmmm, some people have started to become a tiny bit judgmental. I don't have any children but I can see the benefit of having someone come in for a few hours a week, even if it just frees up a bit time to get the shopping and some errands done. I can certainly understand how running a home and looking after small children could make a woman feel like a hamster on a wheel. If I was a SAHM and could afford some help I wouldn't think twice about it.

strawberrypud

I would love to know HOW those of you who have said they have very clean tidy homes do it. I have flylady lists and routines. I am happy and willing to do all the relevant chores around my house. In fact sometimes I would much prefer to get stuck into some housework than be entertaining my kids however in the last hour for example I haven't accomplished anything because I have been trying to keep my toddler away from the baby to let her sleep (baby still hasn't fallen asleep and is crying on and off with overtiredness) my toddler has drawn on her legs and jumper with pen so I have had to clean her up, also get her a snack and get out a toy to again get her to leave the baby (and me) alone for 5 minutes!! Now it is time to start preparing dinner which will be difficult until the baby nods off and gives me peace to do it. I am not complaining just explaining why it is so hard to get round to any cleaning tasks on a regular enough basis to keep the place looking reasonable let alone tidy!

I really really would love to know how those of you who have said you can do it actually do. Do you put the kids in front of the tv? How do you stop them messing up a room 10 minutes after you have cleaned it? Do you clean after they're in bed? If so, when do you find time for yourself and OH? Or is it just that your kids are older/not in the house all the time etc??????

I suppose I'm asking what are your kids doing while you clean?

smartie12

I'm not saying a house has to be spottlessly tidy... with kids around that would never happen!!

I'm saying it only takes a little bit of time to dust or maybe a quick wipe down of surfaces etc. When?? When a baby is sleeping, toddler is having a play... or shock horror - 10 mins watching a kiddies programme!

Or how about involving a child in the housework?? While mummy is washing the dishes for example little one could have their own little bowl of water with some toys.

I have never met/heard of anyone in real life who is a SAHM having "help" so this thread is an eye opener to me!:)