Definitely a "needs improvement" of mine...
When Little Miss came along, I would put her in the ERGO and clean. {She still goes in most times especially when vacuuming but it kills my back when I'm doing the stairs} No biggie. Showering still was hit or miss but eh, I showered most days so I considered it a positive.
When we moved into the hotel when she was 8 months old, I had two objectives. First, to keep up with laundry. Second, to focus the rest of my attention on her.
We ate the breakfast provided. Lunch was leftovers. Dinner, four days a week, was hotel provided and the other three was easy as we only had a two stove top burner and microwave to cook with so it had to be easy. We took the dogs to the groomer once a month as well.
8 months of life like this.
Moving to our own place with an into everything 16 month old, I not only have to figure out how to cook real meals with a toddler wanting to help every step of the way {I will throw out kudos to Charles here as he has been a fantastic help in doing most of the cooking when he gets off of work early enough!} but also spending quality time with her, keeping up with all the housework, bathing the dogs, showering, and being pleasant for Charles when he gets home.
To say I've been overwhelmed is an understatement.
I've felt like such a failure as a wife and mom most days. I either spend all day cleaning {vacuuming the stairs is soooo time consuming not to mention the rest of the house!} and picking up or neglect all chores and focus 100% on Little Miss. When I "neglect" her, she acts out with hitting and kicking. When I "neglect" the chores, I feel horrible greeting Charles when he gets off work as I'm sure he wonders where the stash of bon-bons are since that must be all I've done that day. I do shower when she takes her one nap at about 1pm. Yes, that does mean I'm in my pjs and a mess until then so please don't come by before then. :-)
So in an effort to become a 1 from a -92389075072309570235 on the 1 out of 10 scale of least to most like Martha Stewart, I'm asking for any tips or tricks anyone may have!
What does your typical day look like?
When Little Miss came along, I would put her in the ERGO and clean. {She still goes in most times especially when vacuuming but it kills my back when I'm doing the stairs} No biggie. Showering still was hit or miss but eh, I showered most days so I considered it a positive.
When we moved into the hotel when she was 8 months old, I had two objectives. First, to keep up with laundry. Second, to focus the rest of my attention on her.
We ate the breakfast provided. Lunch was leftovers. Dinner, four days a week, was hotel provided and the other three was easy as we only had a two stove top burner and microwave to cook with so it had to be easy. We took the dogs to the groomer once a month as well.
8 months of life like this.
Moving to our own place with an into everything 16 month old, I not only have to figure out how to cook real meals with a toddler wanting to help every step of the way {I will throw out kudos to Charles here as he has been a fantastic help in doing most of the cooking when he gets off of work early enough!} but also spending quality time with her, keeping up with all the housework, bathing the dogs, showering, and being pleasant for Charles when he gets home.
To say I've been overwhelmed is an understatement.
I've felt like such a failure as a wife and mom most days. I either spend all day cleaning {vacuuming the stairs is soooo time consuming not to mention the rest of the house!} and picking up or neglect all chores and focus 100% on Little Miss. When I "neglect" her, she acts out with hitting and kicking. When I "neglect" the chores, I feel horrible greeting Charles when he gets off work as I'm sure he wonders where the stash of bon-bons are since that must be all I've done that day. I do shower when she takes her one nap at about 1pm. Yes, that does mean I'm in my pjs and a mess until then so please don't come by before then. :-)
So in an effort to become a 1 from a -92389075072309570235 on the 1 out of 10 scale of least to most like Martha Stewart, I'm asking for any tips or tricks anyone may have!
What does your typical day look like?
Comments
Now that C is here, she's definitely a second born ie she can keep herself busy with books and toys and our pets way, way earlier than E could.
My utility room is currently a wreck but as soon as I get a couple of hours without my assistants, that should be taken care of. And if I ever get the time to organize a yard sale, my room/closet will be emptied of most of the junk!
I shower with my kids much of the time. I also don't expect to shower more than every other day. And I don't wash my hair all of those times, either. I use nap times for getting as much done as I can; I also use time when Mr D is confined in his high chair at breakfast and lunch to do things like dishes and straightening counters. I usually leave dinner dishes in the sink overnight and take care of them while the kids are eating breakfast, so I can spend after-dinner time doing things with them.
Miss K helps with sorting laundry, unloading the silverware from the dishwasher and filling the cat bowls. Mr D and Miss K both help with taking the garbage out. So I enlist whatever help is available to me :-)
I just remind myself this is a short stage in their little lives. Some day I can be a better housekeep again, but for now I keep it sorta clean. It isn't filthy, but dust bunnies might be here or there. Do the best you can for that day. Some days kids play really well by themselves and don't need your attention and somedays they need non-stop attention.
Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton
and one of my favorite quotes:
Cleaning the house while the children are growing is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing. - Erma Bombeck