Full time working & Cleaning etc

meer53

I work full time and am a single mum. I just do stuff as needed. If you keep up to it it's not too hard.

Irisis

I cope by: A) accepting that my standards will have be be lower until my daughter gets older and having her help as much as possible. She really enjoys helping me cook after work, and is good company when doing the dishes. She's now a whiz at sorting laundry and sweeping, and is a great help when it comes to changing beds. I do my best to get through it all as quick as possible and make a game out of chores whenever I can and this seems to work - she's always quick to offer a hand. My OH works longer hours and therefore does less around the house but is very good at getting on with it when asked/ needed which is a big help.

pollyanna24

gearfreak wrote: »

Anybody else have suggestions on the above?

I don't really want to get a cleaner as its spending the extra money i could be saving for my maternity leave, so looking for suggestions on how to keep the house clean when both me and my partner will be working full time.

Surely if you are both out of the house a lot of the time, there won't be anyone there to "muck it up."

A lot of the mess made in my house is my kids when I'm continually going around after them cleaning when they are there for prolonged periods. Hence why I try to get them out of the house. But you won't have this so much as you are already all out of the house.

Other stuff, as others have said, I split up so I'm not doing a large amount at one time. I do it little and often.

springdreams

gearfreak wrote: »

Thanks guys, your posts have made me realise that I don't need to get a cleaner, just need to get on with it, I think the hard part for me is watching my oh do naff all sat on the computer when I won't sit down until after 9pm, but that's a whole other issue.

It might help if he had specific chores to do that are his sole responsibility.

I find that if a person who is shy to pitch in with the house work / garden work is expected to help with whatever needs doing, they tend not to do their bit. However, if they have specific tasks to do, they are more likely to help as they have a defined task and know when that is done they can go off and do whatever they want.

So maybe sit down with your OH and allocate each person a set of chores that they need to complete each week.

Good luck.

TBagpuss

springdreams wrote: »

It might help if he had specific chores to do that are his sole responsibility.

I find that if a person who is shy to pitch in with the house work / garden work is expected to help with whatever needs doing, they tend not to do their bit. However, if they have specific tasks to do, they are more likely to help as they have a defined task and know when that is done they can go off and do whatever they want.

So maybe sit down with your OH and allocate each person a set of chores that they need to complete each week.

Good luck.

I agree - it could be specific tasks, or it could be that you agree some sort of rota so that one week it is your responsibility to do certain tasks, and the next week, i is his.

If he has never had to do the work, he probably doesn't realise how time consuming it is, so you may need to insist that he does the jobs which are normally your, at least once, so he understands just how much he is expecting you to do.

If he is not willing to discuss it, then follow his example - prioritise the things which which are important to you - e.g. spending time with your child, doing your *own* chores, getting to bed at a reasonable time, and put the things which benefit him to the bottom of the list. That way, if you can't get to everything, he will feel the impact, as well as you.

But try to discuss it with him first, preferably at a time when you can sit down and discuss it, not at the point where you are totally frazzled and fed up with him not helping!

lessaday

Once you're a mum you learn cleaning isn't the end of the world - however i use Flylady to inspire me - the Flylady website and emails are great and its amazing what you can get done with a few simple routines and 15 minutes with the kids and some loud music. I think she's also on Facebook and has a set of techniques for when the kids are old enough to help.