How do you other moms do it?

[TheOtherVillainess]

I just don't get it. I dont' see how other mothers seem to keep a clean house,cook dinner, work and still have time and energy to deal with a husband and kids. I'm bone weary from the time I get up in the morning till the time I go to bed at night and when I get home from work, I pray DS will sleep all evening so I can get some rest myself.

TOV

 

[KathyTX]

It gets easier as they get bigger- I promise!

And the real answer, at least for me, is that I don't worry about trying to do everything. My housekeeping standards changed dramatically after DS was born. Clutter doesn't seem nearly as important as it did in a childless house.

Just take care of whatever's the most pressing thing at that moment- whether it's DS needing feeding or loving, or mom needing some rest.

The housekeeping and cooking falls pretty far down the list of priorities when there's a little one in the house. It's okay.

 

[onecoolmama]

I dont. I am a SAHM and my house is constantly messy because we are always in it! The kids toys are always out and the dogs toys are always out too.

So, DH gets home and the toys get picked up once the kids go to bed. So for about two hours..I live in a clean house.

I am more worried about clean bathrooms and kitchen then a messy house. If dishes get left out or food or bathrooms do nt get a daily wipe down..then I freak out.

I do this when DD naps and DS is playing playdooh. So, to answer your question...we dont. Or at least..I dont!

Edited to add: What is cooking..oh you mean taking the phone and dialing for reservations or when they come to our house and drop the "cooking" off!LOL!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

It gets easier as they get bigger-

yes, but then they turn into teenagers and it gets worse again.

I think I've been bone weary for about 14 straight years now.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I certainely hope so,Kathy, because right now it seems like NOTHING is getting done. NOTHING. And it really bothers me. Yesterday, when he was off, DH managed to clean the living room and the kitchen, for which I am extremely grateful. It just bothers me to not have a clean house and to fall face flat in the mud every day because I'm so exhausted I can barely function any more.

TOV

 

[siouxi31]

Oh girl you're singin my song.
Sometimes the exhaustion comes from being depressed and not knowing it. I know there's alot more to it than that and each one of us has a different situation.
I'm always looking for alone time.

 

[Hillbeans]

I try and limit the # of toys my DS can have out at once to avoid a total disaster...also, now that it's nice outside we go outside and play instead of making a huge mess in the house.

My house is never spotless, and don't feel bad if yours isn't either....just keep the important things clean and only clean up the rec room when the kids are in bed.

We also have a cleaning service every other week which is nice, but I still have to vaccuum most every day or we'll have ants from the amount of food on the floor.

We're all here in the same boat if that's any help!! Feel free to vent anytime.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Hmmm...I don't know of any moms of little ones that are like that. They're always wiped out! My housekeeping basically went out the window at that point. As tempted as I was to clean while he was napping, that was my rest time also. My friends kept telling me to rest and forget the dust bunnies! Welcome to parenthood...constant, perpetual exhaustion! Mine is now 11 and I'm still exhausted. LOL!

 

[pokiemomo181]

Try keeping up with three from the age of 9 months to 8 years when your 56. I have my grandchildren 10 to 12 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week. I can tell you what bone tired is ALL about. They are here their whole waking hours and at home to sleep. Sometimes the older two deceide to sleep here too. I really enjoy any time I get to myself. Housework and laundry get done late at night or not at all. I am too old for this stuff, but the kiddos need me so I am here.


Pokie

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

TOV welcome to The Wonderful World of Motherhood! The longer you're a mom the more your clean house standards lower. James won't remember a **** and span house but he will remember you playing and reading to him everyday.

Lori

 

[Bob Slydell]

How come nobody ever wonders how us Dads do it??

 

[Beth76]

Hey I"m a SAHM and I still don't get it all done. You should come over and see my house. It only gets cleaned when people are coming over. And even then the bedrooms don't get cleaned. I think the last time my ENTIRE house was clean at the same time was before we moved in. I just don't have the time or energy. My son used to be in preschool for 2 half days a week, but that's over now. That was my cleaning time.

I used to cook "good" meals, but now that I'm 9 mos preg with a 3year old, I don't have the energy. I made Hamburger Helper last night.

Sorry I don't have any tips or advice. Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.

 

[browneyes]

The secret is to not worry so much about things being perfect. The more you strive to have everything in order, the more stress you put on yourself.

 

[sap1227]

Count me in with the moms who don't. I can not remember the last time my whole house was clean from top to bottom. One room gets cleaned at a time. I am fortunate that my DH loves to cook, I have not cooked 5 meals in the last 4 years. As for the mess, eventually I get to the point where I can not stand it and I will clean up (I am there right now, my computer room is a disaster, you can not even walk in there right now--I am slowly working on it).

You do get less tired as they get older, but your house becomes more cluttered with toys. You just can not win

 

[SC Minnie]

Like everyone else my house is almost never completely clean. I usually hit the 'high spots'. I mean it is 'basically' clean but well lived in. DH helps out a lot too. He does most of the laundry, dishes, and picks up most of the clutter (clutter drives him crazy ) If your husband doesn't help insist that we do somethings in the house. My mother was always amazed at how much DH helped with DD and around the house. I explained to here that we worked the same amount of hours outside of the house so we both help at home.

I used to worry about getting everything else (work, house cleaning, yard, etc) done and sometimes family time got put on the back burner. Dh got sick about 4 years ago and spent 2 weeks in the hospital- he almost didn't make it. That was a big wake up for all of us. Now if we want to go to the waterpark on Sunday after church we go- it doesn't matter if the floor needs vacuuming- it will be there later. If DD wants to play a game after dinner- the dishes will wait until she goes to bed.

Your kids are going to remember the fun times you had with them growing up they aren't going to care if you are the perfect house keeper.

Enjoy your children-- you can have a clean house when they go off to college. And as DH tells me you can sleep when you're dead.

 

[s&k'smom]

Oh this is a fun thread I was just saying to a friend I've entered the pick up the house when the kids are finally in bed club. On Sunday my house looks great but by Friday after work, etc. the house is like a bomb hit it. I just try to keep the toilet clean all week and take the rest as it comes. Nobody, mom, dad, working parents, stay at home parents can do it all. It's a myth.

 

[Christine]

I'm a working mom and I *don't* do it all. I just try for some things. For instance, my house is not clean. It is full of clutter. But I do insist upon cleaning the toilets once a week and vacumming (all done on Saturday). My house is fairly clean for one day a week.

The one thing I do insist upon is a nice dinner meal for my family. That is just my priority. So I cook every night just about. But that is all I do. I come home at 4:00, start cooking. By the time we eat and clean up it is usually 5:30. From there, I do try to do some laundry or just unwind a bit. I definitely don't clean the house.

My kids are older now (12 and 9) so I don't have as much that needs to be done *to* them. But I remember those days of coming home, make the next day's bottles, bathing the baby, etc., etc., etc. It is very exhausting. Don't sweat it. Once the baby is moving around and entertaining himself, you will have some "hands-free" time. The best thing I ever got was one of those bouncing things. My son loved it. He would bounce, I would cook.

 

[oogieboogie]

I'm another mom whose house is a mess and will always be a mess until someone comes to visit.

I've got other things to worry about than a clean house. So what if you don't get the beds made everyday, and plates and cups fill the sink? I know I'll never have my house on Better Homes and Garden, but I have the satisfaction of knowing that my kids are well fed, they have plenty of toys to keep them occupied, and they are happy.

 

[SeaShelley]

Been there, done that. Here's the motto I finally tried to live by....


Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow...
for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow...
So quiet down cobwebs- dust go to sleep...
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!!

Now that my son is 10 (well actually his birthday is Monday) I long for the days when all he wanted to do was be held and rocked. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[sm4987]

I know what you all mean too. I am a SAHM and while somethings do get done, lots of things don't. Now with my son out of school for the summer, dd 5 has someone in which to mess up the whole house with, and believe me they do. Yesterday it was puzzles in the livingroom and games comng from their game room to their rooms to the hallway. I can't barely walk in certain areas of the house eith falling over something. At night I do make them pick everything up and mangage to have the kitchen decent. But doing everything, I don't even worry about that. I make sure all the basics of everything is done, and forget about the rest. Life is to short and I can't pretend to be superwoman