Why can't I ever get in front?!!!

[didispunk]

Mmmm I am so thinking I am lucky here!

My DH is fantastic at cleaning the house cooking dinner, taking the kids out while i nap/clean or visit a girlfriend, give me a break, He is FAB!

My kids both nap for 2-4 hours every afternoon so I tend to clean mop and vacuum everyday as it needs it and then get dinner ready. We eat at about 5 or so, so we can all eat together as a family. I put the kids to bed around 7-8 and then I have time to relax watch TV get breaky ready in bowls for the morning, kids clothes layed out, the nappy bag for the next day ready. my clothes ready.

Plus we have friends around all the time or we are out visiting....

I hope you can find more time Amber!!! Poor love

[Fleur]

Much the same here - I find it hard enough to keep up with the basics, let alone do stuff like clean the oven.

I don't like NY resolutions BUT I have decided that THIS year I am gonna get organised
Strangely enough I can do it ok at work, it's at home it all falls apart...
I have been checking out Flylady. You can google it & I think there is a thread on here too. It's not rocket science, lol, a lot of ideas I have had before but gives you good methods for implementing them. ITMS.

Apart from that...I just think, well one day they will all be grown up & gone... & I'll probably miss these days of mess & chaos

[AnyDream]

I have the smallest amount of me time and if I cut that out I fall in a heap and it all gets worse.

Good point Lulu. I need the "me time" in order to fund the housework time! I'm lucky that my DH is very hands on around the house but buck really does stop here.

The best way I've learned is to pay someone to do a regular clean (fortnightly works well) so all you're doing in the meantime is maintenance cleaning and then you've got time for the other jobs. It's either that or Saturday morning - so DH is involved - and the 'weekend' doesn't start for anyone until what needs to be done is done.

[amberj]

What I decided to do was make a list of all the things that have a call on my time when Peter is asleep- everything from making food to tidying the house to having a shower to reading and bellybelly. The list is long.

Then I prioritised them, and I have to say, this was hard. Because I want to get it ALL done, but the fact is that I cannot, so some things are going to miss out.

So now, in theory, I have a priority list to go by when I have some time (like now), so I can do things in order of importance. I know things lower on the list will miss out, and I am trying to make peace with that.

The problem is that I am not following my list!! In theory, bellybelly is actually underneath, say, organising meals for the week, and yet here I sit on my computer and not in the kitchen!!! Hmm....nice in theory.....

But I am going to persist. Off I go to meal plan!!!

[Lulu]

Sound funny coming from me after that big rant, but also prioritise in order of the time it takes to do something.

So if you have 15 mins and there is a 'longer' job on the top of the list, go for the one that you will actually get done, even if it's lower down. It really helps to be able to finish something.

I'm a bit happy with myself today. I cleaned up all the dog carnage in the backyard this morning! woooo.

[Visitor7]

Just start with one job at a time. Try not to think of everything that needs doing, but something that you can achieve while Peter is sleeping. Do you have a laptop, while I'm in the kitchen either cleaning it or cooking, I have my laptop on the bench. That way, I get my internet time and I'm doing something productive
First thing in the morning, while the girls are having brekkie, I usually put a load of washing on. When the girls have finished their brekkie, they'll usually have a little bit of tv time, this is my time to wash the brekkie dishes, get something out of dinner that night, and hang the washing out. When the washing is ready, I put it on the lounge room floor and I get the girls to help me sort them into piles. Emily (like Peter) is still a little young to do it properly, but at least I'm cleaning while playing with them. And it's kind of fun for them.