Can you do OS and work full time too?

BitterAndTwisted

Self-discipline and a fist of iron. Check out the fly-lady thread and get some hints on how to get organised and get the rest of you family roped in to share the chores. Even quite small children can be expected to put their laundry away and make their own beds.

Do not be tempted to think you can work full-time and still be able to do everything around the house on your own like you do now. You can't or you'll exhaust yourself so get delegating! Don't forget that no-one ever went to jail for having a bit of dust on the TV screen so maybe a tiny adjustment of standards may be in order

babyshoes

The short answer is - we don't, not really. Cooking is mostly from scratch, but does often include 'quick' meals and/or pre-prepared elements, either batch cooked or bought (such as kievs which go straight into oven from freezer.)

Cleaning is sporradic and tends to happen when guests are expected. I am about to investigate costs of occasional/semi-regular cleaner to vacuum, clean bathroom thoroughly and clean the areas that don't get included in a 'quick wipe'...

My theory is that as long as food prep areas are hygenic, the rest doesn't matter as much apart from the loo, which gets bleached fairly regularly. Others may disagree with me, but we are still alive to tell the tale, so it can't be all bad!

LJM

i think its a matter of doing what you can when you can i echo the batch cooking does make life easier plus a meal planner. if you are both working full time i think it only fair that you and oh both share cleaning duites, the most important thing though is quality time with your lo's as long as they are happy nothing else really matters unless you let it.

ubamother

I agree with the self-discipline!! I currently work full time, still have one child at home (and husband). I am also a bit crippled so only half of me (pretty much cut down the middle) works! I've become an expert in 15 min meals, freezer cooking, and mixing 'instantish' cupboard food with fresh to make a decent healthy meal. Prepping the night before - clothes, shoes, handbags, school uniforms, lunches, evening meal stuff, petrol in car etc. means you can be ready so much more quickly. I found most morning stress could be eliminated by good prep the night before.
A lot of cleaning can happen while you're doing something else - bathroom cleaning while bathing/teethbrushing of children, kitchen tops while cooking toast/boiling kettle. I would suggest that kitchen/toilet/bathroom cleaning is prioritised just for health reasons - the rest - hall, sitting room etc. will be no worse for being a little dusty! As none of you will be in during the day, theoretically the sitting room, hall, etc. may stay tidier (although that's never actually happened in my house, so good luck with that!)

Triker

babyshoes wrote: »

The short answer is - we don't, not really. Cooking is mostly from scratch, but does often include 'quick' meals and/or pre-prepared elements, either batch cooked or bought (such as kievs which go straight into oven from freezer.)

Cleaning is sporradic and tends to happen when guests are expected. I am about to investigate costs of occasional/semi-regular cleaner to vacuum, clean bathroom thoroughly and clean the areas that don't get included in a 'quick wipe'...

My theory is that as long as food prep areas are hygenic, the rest doesn't matter as much apart from the loo, which gets bleached fairly regularly. Others may disagree with me, but we are still alive to tell the tale, so it can't be all bad!

:T:T Ditto although I have got significantly better since doing flylady.


As others have suggested;

meal plan,
online shopping so it can be delivered and you don't have to haul yourself round the supermarket

get your slowcooker out, use it

batch cooking

don't forget to take stuff out of the freezer in the morning or night before ready for tea

a BIG LIST of what you're having for tea on the fridge so no-one is in doubt

a set time say friday evening to do a quick flash cleaning half hour, ready for the weekend

try and do a wash in washing machine every other eveing so its not piled up

Disclaimer, I work full time too (flexi) and do none of the above except sporadically, I am a naturally chaotic, rubbish at planning anything and change my mind 10 times daily re what we're having for tea....:o....I know the answer but can't seem to implement it...:rotfl:


Good luck in your new job. x

rachbc

i have an online shop once a month, meal plan for the month then get fresh veg locally - luckily I work near god asian supermarkets and a greta market so pop out at lunch or on way home for bits.

I put a load of washing on as I leave the house in the morning and hang it up after the kids are n bed - might also pop to the supermarket for any yellow stickerstuff in the eves. I pick up toys etc and wipe down kitchen every eve

WE blitz the house as a family on sat morning - kids inc. doing a dust, change beds and hoover and in rotation one main room a week gets a deeper clean - kitchen, bathroom and lounge. You're house will stay cleaner anyway cos you aren't in it as much!

sooty&sweep

Hi

I have to be honest and say I have a cleaner and she does alot of my ironing for me. We took the opinion that we both work full time and have two children and there are only so many hours in a day.
It does also mean that we have some time at the weekend with the children and if I didn't I just wouldn't clean !
In terms of cooking. I use my slow cooker alot. We usually have a roast on a sunday and I try to put a casserole or curry into the oven at the same time for during the week. I do cook most of meals from scratch but I do also have fish fingers and oven chips in my freezer for when I need a quick tea for the children.
I try to do the washing through the week and hang out on the line or airer before I go to work so it doesn't build up too much. I can also nip to the supermarket in my lunch break if I need to.

Good Luck with the new job !

Jen

NJW69

I also have a cleaner who comes once a week and keeps on top of everything.

My teenage DS who is at college has a list of jobs (one a day) that include emptying the dishwasher, changing towels, emptying bins etc in return for his money every week.

I shop online and use my slow cooker a couple of times a week.

I freeze leftovers for quick meals (make too much on purpose).

Make a large pan of soup once a week

I tend to wash on a Saturday morning and I don't iron enything other than things that are desparate. I don't wear creased clothes just spend time drying them flat and get everything I can on the line as that drys it without creasing generally. I also take stuff out of the drier straight away if I use it.

Get my clothes ready the night before if I'm up early for meetings in London etc.

Make sure you still have some social life.

Ask your husband for help it makes a big difference. I've only just got this after nearly twenty years and it also makes sure they appreciate just how much you do.

Penelope_Penguin

Mamae wrote: »

Hi,
I have applied for a new job and if I get it, it will mean both myself and DH will be working full time. We have two young DD and am now worrying about how we will cope with us both working full time. How do you do it? How do you organise the meals and organise the cleaning? At the moment I do all of these things as I work part time, but am about to be made reduntant :eek: - hence applying for a new job! thanks for any advice you can give.:)

Not sure you can, really

I'm lucky enough to work PT, but if I were full time, cooking from scratch would remain my top priority :T I'd get a cleaner and employ someone to mow the lawns and do the weeding Meal planning, online food shopping, lots of lists, and delegating jobs to DH and the children would figure, too

I'll add this to the exisitng thread later, to give you more ideas.

Penny. x

charlies-aunt

Keep it simple and lower your standards is my strategy.

Home needs to be clean, warm and reasonably tidy

Meals - simple, cheap and easy - either batch cooked or slow cooked.

Dust and housework will still be there when we are dead and buried - so its important to live your life to the full, spendimg your free time with your OH and DD's - there will be plenty of time for housework when the children are grown up and gone