old style family?

mrsbez_2

What a relief to hear that you have the same problem as me! I think there are alot of mums in our situation.

My DD is 2 1/2 and DS is 5 months old. I find some days are better than others and i can get quite a bit done, but other days the house looks like we've been burgled!!!!!:eek:

I'm very embarrassed about the state of my home, i can get it right, i know i can, but i wish i had the time! its so frustrating sitting in a messy house and your children demand your 100% attention.

I did manage to go through some toys last week and throw away things that they don't need. I think i need to be more ruthless really, we have lots of clutter and we don't use half of it. I need to get rid of all the old clothes and i really need some more storage.

I just need a good day when i have had a good nights sleep and i am in the cleaning frame of mind. DH will help, but he works so much i really feel it is down to me to make it a tidy home.

I love my children so much and i am so lucky to be able to spend time at home with them. But i don't know how people can run a happy home and have happy children.

Gingham_Ribbon

another one going through it here! i am on top of the cooking but the housework? not likely!

tealady

If it makes you feel any better many years ago I had a friend with 4 kids. One day I went to visit her and she kept apologising for the state of the house. My response was to turn around and start talking to the wall (honestly!!). When my friend asked what I was doing my reply was "I ve come to see you not the house" From my point of view I would rather visit a happy friend than a tidy house.

paddy's_mum

There's a wise old saying - an immaculate house is a sign of a mis-spent life.

When my three children were young, I kept on top of things by putting them for a rest or nap every afternoon (older ones had a book to look at for an hour) and did the important stuff then, uninterrupted. They now, as adults, don't remember what wasn't done only the lovely walks, picnics, mountains of bubbles in the bath, visits to the park or musuem, grandma's house etc - in short, the good times and not the showhome they didn't live in!

Nancy888

Absolutely agree - I've posted this before but I have a motto (saw it on a calendar a long time ago) - 'When your children look back on their childhood they won't remember if there clothes were creased or ironed - they'll only remember that there were plenty of hugs'

debtfreehopeful_2

Thanks all, i have read this whole thread through a number of times and am feeling quite positive now. I have spent today decluttering my living room and am 2/3 to 3/4 of the way done, usually i would be getting annoyed with myself for only doing what ive done but today im pleased as i could have sat and done nothing.

tomorrow i will be starting with the flylady and im going to do what i can and try to be happy with that, tonight im going to get dh to pull out the apliances and clean under them as thats been driving me nuts!

Its good to see other parents feeling the same as me, im hoping if i can get organised it will mean i have more free time to spend with my kids anyway.

im going to attempt to finnish decluttering in here tonight but ellens awake and moody so if i dont get much further ill have a good reason for it which i guess is ok.

thanks again

kazmeister

Hi debtfree

You sound so much more positive today, well done. Just remember do not try to do too much at once because you will feel you are failing if you try to do it all and cant. :A

See you on the flylady thread this week

Kaz

meanmarie

Hi all,

33 years ago when I had four children under 4 I decided that if people called to see how I kept my house they were not welcome, if they came to see us they were....and frequently reminded people of this!

My goals for each day were to do the washing, cooking and look after the children...on wet days we would sit on the couch and I would read, we made playdough and cookies, went for walks and gardened...to this day I am not sorry that they were my priorities.

Debtfree and others, cut yourselves a little slack, you have to live too

Marie

Hapless_2

I have to agree meanmarie, if people are worried about the fact I haven't hoovered, no use them moaning unless they are going to get the hoover out and do it for me! I have far more important things to do, like feed the kids, teach them etc.

balmaiden

When my children were young I used the evenings to catch up. I found that if I did half an hours cleaning/tidying each evening when they had gone to bed,it achieved much more than two hours when they were under my feet.

I know the temptation is just to sink into a chair when they are finally in bed but believe you me you will be amazed how much you can do in just half an hour.

I have passed this advice onto one of my daughters who has two boys under five who constantly demand attention from her in the day, she to was getting very stressed about "keeping up", but is now finding things a little easier by following this advice.