Routine, routine routine. If it's out... g-d help us all.
Mummy turns into a screaming banshee wench.
So the answer is... do your best, and if it won't do... scream louder.


Yip thats me too!

I do have my own little routine that I find helps me out and Im lucky that my older children can help (very reluctantly though)
Typical day here is ..............
Get up straight to laundry to put on first load of washing for the day, get Lady P up and get younger two breakfast.
One of older boys feeds lady while I make my bed DS4's bed and clean up DDs room and get their clothes ready.
Get DD changed and one of boys gets DS changed for me.
Boys finished gettting ready and leave for school after the dishwasher has been loaded.
Younger two go in front of tv or play together while I wipe benches, table, cupboards, fridge microwave etc. Not big clean just enough to clear crumbs and fingerprints.
2nd load of washing goes on and I vaccum the lounge kitchen dining area. Boys bathroom and toilet gets a quick wipe over (big clean there on Wed and Sat)
3rd load of washing goes on and I hang out the first two
Then I shower and get myself ready and the final (hopefully) load of washing hung out.

It generally all going to plan with kids playing nicely and not too many interuptions takes between and our to an hour and half.
Daycare days most of the cleaning waits till we get home from dropping DS off so I can put Lady in bed and do bigger clean. Mop floors, vaccum rest of house, my bathroom etc
Washing gets folded when it starts falling off the chairs and covering the floor but that a real bug bear of mine so DH usually helps and we have a goss and catch up when the kids are in bed.

It works for me and I HATE a messy house. Its certainly not a show home by any stretch of the imagination and I have clutter and stuff not put away (dont get me started about the bookshelf) but with 5 kids it only takes 10 minutes for this place to turn to chaos if I dont try and stay somewhat on top of it.