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Full time working mum. Time management tips needed

Dear full time working mums, I have only one question- when do you cook? when do you clean? when do you live? lol
My 21 month old is at nursery. I work long day and when I come home at 6:30 I immediately start cooking (it takes 30-40 min), then we eat and then at 8pm I put my son to sleep. The routine takes 30 min. After he sleeps I wash pots, tidy up the kitchen. I am a messy cook, do the laundry and other little things ta home and then somehow its 11 pm already. And I feel I don't spend enough time with my son :( are everyone same like me or I am missing some life hacks or time management?
Thank you!
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Comments

  • Bluebell1000
    Bluebell1000 Posts: 1,114 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Do you have an OH to help?

    Our routine is that I clean the house for half an hour every morning, on a rota in different rooms so it all gets done over 2 weeks, before going off to work. DH takes the boys to childminders while I'm doing this. He usually gets home slightly before me (5.15ish). We meal plan so that most work days it's just a case of reheating something that we've bulk cooked at the weekend, or pizza / pasta / something very quick.
  • amalis
    amalis Posts: 532 Forumite
    OH works even longer hours. I leave home at 8 and return at 6;30, and he leaves earlier and comes back a bit later.. He cant cook by the way .


    My cleaner comes every 2 weeks, but daily tidying up takes a lot of time
  • Jox
    Jox Posts: 1,652 Forumite
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    Modern life is difficult, mums and dads working long hours to make ends meet.

    My son is 2 and a half and I went back to work when he was 6 months, me and my OH moved in with my parents and my mum looked after my boy during the day.

    We're back in our flat now and I tidy up in the morning, take my boy to the childminder at 9am, work til 6.30pm, get home 7.30pm, my OH collects our boy at 5pm and cooks dinner. I do laundry at weekends and make sure my boy has a good time at the park or softplay, he has the energy to play for 5 hours straight usually!

    I might look into working 4 days a week or cutting my hours, I miss spending time with my little one and he'll be at school before I know it!

    Good luck with your time management, it's hard fitting everything in.
  • DomRavioli
    DomRavioli Posts: 3,136 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    amalis wrote: »
    OH works even longer hours. I leave home at 8 and return at 6;30, and he leaves earlier and comes back a bit later.. He cant cook by the way .


    My cleaner comes every 2 weeks, but daily tidying up takes a lot of time

    You may benefit from flylady - its over on the old style board - for cleaning and house sorting. Shouldn't take you more than 30 mins to clean up after two adults and a toddler daily, especially as they are at nursery for the massive majority of the day.

    You can put the pots on to soak whilst you're putting the child to bed. Then its a quick swish and in 5 minutes its done. Also learn to clean as you go when cooking. Laundry should be put on either in the morning before work or last thing at night, and then put to dry either when you get home or when you get up (if its a good drying day).

    I think you need organisation more than time management, you don't seem to know what you're doing, when, or where your time goes. Perhaps get a set routine - that usually helps most families.

    You might also like bulk cooking - I set one day aside a month and make large batches of bolognese sauce (with mince), chilli, shepherds pie, sauces etc - I just take them out of the freezer in the morning, and then cook what I want with them, which takes 15 mins and I can be doing something else while they are cooking.
  • thriftylass
    thriftylass Posts: 4,030 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 9 August 2016 at 3:53PM
    We both work full time and have a 5 and 2 year old. The washing gets stuck on a timer in the morning and gets hung up in the evening whenever I have a minute. We get home about 5:45 pm. We feed the kids first then. Sth quick like eggs, beans, LO dinner from us etc. but we (I) sit down with them. Then while they play I might join them or do sth in the kitchen/laundry while they are around. Bed time is 7:30 for the youngest and 8 for the older one and we all together help with a quick tidy of toys etc before the kids bedtime. Lunches get made while OH takes the older one and I start cooking our tea (find it relaxing and try new dishes that I couldn't do straight after work). After tea (about 9 pm) I do the dishes and a few other things and then relax or go to bed about 10. The kitchen gets cleaned while dinner is cooking. The bathroom gets cleaned while the kids have a bath. Ironing is a minimum just now but laundry gets put into wardrobes as I get ready for bed. Hoovering and dusting is kept to a minimum too (once a week on weekends). Sheets gets done on a Friday. So I just slot things in. I learnt to let certain things go as there is not enough time or no point with two small kids. Also I get up with the kids about an our before we leave (8 am) so do small things like putting dry dishes away, recycling etc then.
    DEBT 02/25: total £6100 Debt free date 12/25
  • cte1111
    cte1111 Posts: 7,390 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I would suggest lowering your tidiness standards for a bit and also investing in switching your cleaner to every week rather than fortnightly. You then know that all the important cleaning has been done, so as long as you and your OH keep on top of the dish and clothes washing you are all sorted. Perhaps he could take on the dishes and you the clothes or the other way around?

    It's hard when kids are little but it does get easier. Good luck and please don't think you are alone, I think we have all felt overwhelmed at times.
  • thriftylass
    thriftylass Posts: 4,030 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    amalis wrote: »
    Dear full time working mums, I have only one question- when do you cook? when do you clean? when do you live? lol
    My 21 month old is at nursery. I work long day and when I come home at 6:30 I immediately start cooking (it takes 30-40 min)where is your son then, can he play in the kitchen?, then we eat and then at 8pm I put my son to sleep do you do chores during the hour before bedtime of play with him-I try to combine the two. The routine takes 30 min. After he sleeps I wash pots, tidy up the kitchen. I am a messy cook, do the laundry and other little things ta home and then somehow its 11 pm already. And I feel I don't spend enough time with my son :( are everyone same like me or I am missing some life hacks or time management?
    Thank you!

    Notes in red

    I don't feel I spend enough time with my kids but what can I do. We need to work, do the household etc. You have a meal together every night, that is great and then another hour. Don't beat yourself up about it, make the most of weekends. Do you have time in the morning do do some jobs?
    DEBT 02/25: total £6100 Debt free date 12/25
  • amalis
    amalis Posts: 532 Forumite
    thriftylass,
    unfortunately my son is still not playing on his own. that's the main problem. He needs attention and a playmate
  • DomRavioli
    DomRavioli Posts: 3,136 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    amalis wrote: »
    thriftylass,
    unfortunately my son is still not playing on his own. that's the main problem. He needs attention and a playmate

    At 21 months he should be happily playing on his own. Is it really he needs someone to play with or are you just incapable of saying no?
  • thriftylass
    thriftylass Posts: 4,030 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Oh i know what you mean, my first born was a bit like that. But he liked playing with the tupperware cupboard while i was cooking or stirring his own pot on the floor next to me while i was in the kitchen.
    DEBT 02/25: total £6100 Debt free date 12/25
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