Good Lazy Parenting

ognum

glitter03 wrote: »

I don't think the OP meant lazy as a serious term....I took it as a light hearted comment.

I think some people are taking the thread too seriously and are halfway to calling social services lol

I agree with you but the problem with forum speak is a word that may be a throw away comment is often read differently by others and that seems to have happened here.

DKLS

Slight Whiff of Mumsnet mental on this thread, It was obviously a light hearted thread from the very beginning.

jess1974

Some people are so rude and nasty, i dont know why anyone bothers to post threads on here anymore !!!

kingfisherblue

Well, as a busy mum, I have some time saving tips. I'm sure others have as well. Batch cooking is often mentioned on this site, not just for time saving but for money saving as well. Some families who have packed lunches also 'batch up' the week's sandwiches - just pop them into the freezer once made, and lift out each morning. They'll be defrosted by lunchtime.

I try to keep on top of the endless washing (and it's easier now I have my new washing machine ) by putting a load in before bed. I also get up at least thirty minutes before the lads, pop some more washing in the machine whilst making a coffee, and take my cuppa back to bed before my day begins properly. It means that in weather like this, I can get it out on the line before the school run .

I only iron what is necessary, and at the end of thew week I make sure I have enough clean uniform for the following week in case I do get behind with the washing. washing is always folded/hung as soon as it is brought in from the line or lifted out of the dryer. - fewer creases that way

Baskets near the front door are handy for letters from school, items to be taken into school, completed homework, etc - one basket per child.

Mopping the floors is usually done once the lads are in school, so they don't walk muck all over it, at least for a few hours :rotfl:

When I'm cooking, I can usually be found tidying around, cleaning sink, whatever needs doing, as you can watch a pan at the same time as doing other stuff. It's also a good time to chat with the kids about theri day if we haven't had a chance earlier (no flitting about then, though).

It's quicker for me to sort toys, books, clothes, etc without the lads there, as if they help, you can guarantee that there is something they need to keep, even if they haven't used it in over a year :cool: - so I do this when they are in school.

Both lads have a couple of jobs that are specifically theirs. My disabled son has to bring down his milk cartons for disposal, and also pop his nappies into the nappy bin. He also puts away the cutlery from the dishwasher. My younger son takes out the bins every Friday, and puts away the other stuff from the dishwasher. Both help with general tidying of their own stuff, putting away shopping, etc. Youngest doesn't mind cooking, so helps with that as well, often getting older son to pass items from fridge or cupboards (older son cannot be trusted near a cooker, or with sharp knives).

They also help with changing their own bedding, put their dirty washing downstairs, and put their clean clothes away.

Although my older son will never live independently due to his disabilities, my younger son will be able to manage when he leaves home. The time saved is debatable, as I have never added up how long it takes me and how long it would take me if I did things differently, but it works for me . Whatever housework I have, though, I always spend some time individually with both lads every day, the only exception being last week, when we were all in the same hotel room - then, I sat in the bathroom reading for ten minutes to have some time to myself :rotfl:

Tiddlywinks

glitter03 wrote: »

I don't think the OP meant lazy as a serious term....I took it as a light hearted comment.

I think some people are taking the thread too seriously and are halfway to calling social services lol

Eh... The OP is suggesting cauliflower cheese as just being cauliflower with a bit of cheese sprinkled on top plus not allowing toys in the bath to save on tidying... That's lazy!

shegirl

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Eh... The OP is suggesting cauliflower cheese as just being cauliflower with a bit of cheese sprinkled on top plus not allowing toys in the bath to save on tidying... That's lazy!

That's why it got me,it was the 'ideas' rather than time saving itself.

pigpen

I have a small box in the bathroom for toys.. couple of plastic ballpit balls, 2 teapots (1 each!) few little teaset pants/cups. And a few ducks.. we scoop them out of the bath pull the plug and get the girls out.. hardly a hardship.

Cheese sauce.. you can buy granulated stuff like gravy to make it up super quick.. grate cheese on top add breadcrumbs voila.. dinner.. My breadcrumbs are whizzed crusts. Noone eats crusts so I sling them in the blender and freeze them.

I have NEVER fed my children cauliflower cheese.. it is disgusting!

Get a dishwasher.. 5 minute to load, 5 to unload.. saves a lot of pot washing time.. get rid of excess crockery.

Get the children to help with housework.. it teaches them it has to be done before you can play, how to do the tasks and gives them a sense of achievement and pleasure at helping mummy.

Nicki

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Eh... The OP is suggesting cauliflower cheese as just being cauliflower with a bit of cheese sprinkled on top plus not allowing toys in the bath to save on tidying... That's lazy!

Opening a can of spaghetti hoops is lazy. Chopping and cooking fresh veg is not, whether or not you choose to make a bechamel sauce from scratch to go with it. As for the bath toys, she didn't suggest taking ALL the children's toys away or even giving them nothing to play with on the bath.

I think you are being petty and a bit of a mumzilla on this thread to be honest. I'm not surprised the poor OP hasn't come back after you and others have been so unwarrantedly horrid

marisco_2

I think you have the right idea OP. It's not a matter of being lazy, more that you want to simplify day to day activities in life in order to free up some extra spare time. As a busy mum of three children there never are enough hours in the day hey.

At mealtimes I have a good few tried and tested dishes that are easy to prepare, quick to cook and we eat those on a regular basis. No faffing around with anything elaborate though I aim for meals to be healthy. I do cook a lot of things from scratch, however if I am pressed for time then I use ready made jars of sauces rather than make my own. Why add pressure and stress to an already busy schedule when you don't need to is my motto.

My two sons are beyond the ages where they want bath toys. When they did enjoy this though, I had a big string bag that was hung from the tiles above the bath. As they got out the bath the toys were placed inside. Quick, easy and no bother. I reasoned whilst they were happy sinking ships and letting plastic animals race the length of the bath I could get on with other jobs in peace. Win, win really.

In good weather my children spend a lot of time outdoors. Over the course of a day fresh air and activity gradually wears them out, helping them stay relaxed and calm, and bedtimes easy. They get to socialise with current friends and make new ones. In all truth my number one reason is whilst they are out in the garden, indoors stays clean and tidy requiring less effort from me to maintain this preferred state.

They don't have all the latest gadgets and gizmos. Hours of fun can be had from bikes, scooters, skateboards, paints, chalks, play-dough, bat and ball, puzzles, bubbles, yoyos, skipping ropes, two chairs with a huge blanket slung over it and you have a den.

I am all for making life easy on yourself and being able to have the energy and time to enjoy watching your children grow up.

Tea-and-Cake_3

Eek what a scary thread this has become! Thank you to all those who have answered kindly with suggestions.

I still hate bath toys - in my experience they get a bit slimy after a while and need to be scrubbed/sterilised. I'd rather do without. I am sure my kids will not grow up with any issues related to this.

I am happy that my kids will eat a plate of cauliflower with some nice cheddar on top and then I can wash up quickly and we can go back into the garden together or grab a book and look at it They are great with their food btw, eat loads of fruit etc (easy to wash an apple/handful of grapes or peel a banana....perfect lazy food )

This makes me a bad parent!! Hmmm!