Full time working mum. Time management tips needed

mashedavocado

We have very, very low standards, which helps


Generally (depending on the day) my 14 month old daughter will either have eaten with the childminder or my mum, so that means I don't have to cook for her before bed. Usual routine is that I get home just before 6, quick cuddle and feed my daughter on the sofa, have a small snack myself, and then get her ready for bed for 7. OH gets home between 6 and 7; I usually do bedtime while he cooks and has a tidy round. I've just come to accept that we might not eat our evening meal until 9 (or even 10...).


Bigger jobs wait until the weekend and we share everything pretty equally.


We still struggle though, and we have another baby due in January, and we can't afford a cleaner. I do sometimes feel like I'm about to crack...

mashedavocado

Also, not to be rude, but... what does your OH do to help? You say he can't cook but I'd imagine he can clean and tidy (he might not want to but then I'd imagine you don't particularly want to either!). Can he do bedtime? Tidy up while you do bedtime? Get up with your son in the morning some days? It does sound like you're doing everything yourself, and that's not fair.

YORKSHIRELASS

I sympathise, its really tough. Life can start to feel like a grind of work, housework, sleep, work, housework, sleep ...

Two things. Someone gave me the Kon-Marie book (there is a thread on here). It changed my life. Seriously - most of us simply have too much stuff. I realised that I could never put anything in cupboards or storage areas because they were full of stuff we didnt use. Once we were able to actually tidy up properly we could clean easily, we could find things we wanted. Of course you have to find the time to clear stuff out in the first place but it is worth it.

Secondly, do stuff as you go along. Take the spray cleaner into the shower with you on a morning, wipe the kitchen cabinet doors while the kettle is boiling, in fact use any spare 5 minutes you can to do stuff.
This is essentially the flylady principle - and it does work.

amalis

ordered the book! hope will help

DomRavioli

amalis wrote: »

ordered the book! hope will help

Why are you unable to discipline your child? Literally it is the cause of your "issues", and after three times of asking it is getting a bit stupid now.

mashedavocado

DomRavioli, you're being incredibly rude. The OP is asking for advice on household management, not childcare.

amalis

DomRavioli wrote: »

Why are you unable to discipline your child? Literally it is the cause of your "issues", and after three times of asking it is getting a bit stupid now.

Because he is a naughty demanding boy whom I love to bits

ska_lover

What the hell - I don't understand cooking twice per evening!!!! - cooking for kids, getting them to bed, then cooking once again for the adults - I find that insane.. Completely insane!!! WHY do people do this???

You cut down on family time as you are not eating together, and wasting time and money

There is no way I would cook a childs meal, and then cook again to eat around 9pm when I have been at up since 6am. I would end up rushing through the kids tea to get them to bed so I could eat myself as would be ravenous by 9pm - not very nice way to spend an evening as people are not often in their best mood when very hungry

Prepare one meal for all - use slow cookers, and prep. Other nights do pasta/pesto or scrambled egg on toast.

Ladies STOP expecting so much of yourselves and make life easier - yes you should be spending time with your kids instead of cleaning up ESPECIALLY if you pay a cleaner to do this stuff. Use a dishwasher and the timer on your washing machine as many ladies have said already.

missbiggles1

ska_lover wrote: »

What the hell - I don't understand cooking twice per evening!!!! - cooking for kids, getting them to bed, then cooking once again for the adults - I find that insane.. Completely insane!!! WHY do people do this???

You cut down on family time as you are not eating together, and wasting time and money

There is no way I would cook a childs meal, and then cook again to eat around 9pm when I have been at up since 6am. I would end up rushing through the kids tea to get them to bed so I could eat myself as would be ravenous by 9pm - not very nice way to spend an evening as people are not often in their best mood when very hungry

Prepare one meal for all - use slow cookers, and prep. Other nights do pasta/pesto or scrambled egg on toast.

Ladies STOP expecting so much of yourselves and make life easier - yes you should be spending time with your kids instead of cleaning up ESPECIALLY if you pay a cleaner to do this stuff. Use a dishwasher and the timer on your washing machine as many ladies have said already.

Personally, I think that having a leisurely, grown up dinner with your husband at a sensible time is worth a bit of effort but I know that not everybody feels the same.

I do think the OP needs to get her husband to do his share. Not only "can't" he cook but neither does he appear to do any housework. On top of that, she seems to be the one to get up every morning at 0500 for her son and then she gets her husband's breakfast for him!:eek:

There needs to be two adults and one child in this family, not the other way round!

AylesburyDuck

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Personally, I think that having a leisurely, grown up dinner with your husband at a sensible time is worth a bit of effort but I know that not everybody feels the same.

I do think the OP needs to get her husband to do his share. Not only "can't" he cook but neither does he appear to do any housework. On top of that, she seems to be the one to get up every morning at 0500 for her son and then she gets her husband's breakfast for him!:eek:

There needs to be two adults and one child in this family, not the other way round![/QUOTE]

Thats exactly it.:T
Doesnt she also say he only gets up 5 mins before he leaves for work! (Edit, sorry that was Thiftylass)
Utterly dreadfull.