ok SAHM share your schedule with me

[luvmyfam444]

what is your day like? Do you have a daily schedule you follow? When do you get your "chores" done? What do you do with your children while you do your "chores?"
I just don't seem to get a darn thing finished around here (except meals) I really dont' know where all my time goes except for tickling/laughing episodes w/dd & my daily nap....(I'm preg & NEED THIS NAP!!!!or everyone suffers! LOL)
I've got to get some routine going where I see PROGRESS @ the house (laundry is the biggest issue here!) @ feel like I haven't avoided/ignored dd(s) & maybe even find the time to play with them (only 1 is home during the day) but I don't spend anytime playing with her - I mean with baby dolls or anything....

HELP me fix my time...

 

[FreshTressa]

I always make schedules and lists and spreadsheets....

Then never follow them.

Im sure the tickles are more important than any chores you could ever get done.

Some people out there might be able to get everything done, but I've NEVER been able to. Kids are 7 and 8 and in school, and it is still chaos around here.

We have some systems in place that help, but they don't always get followed. I guess that is how it is for us type "B" people.

Enjoy your kids!

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

what is your day like? Do you have a daily schedule you follow? When do you get your "chores" done? What do you do with your children while you do your "chores?"
I just don't seem to get a darn thing finished around here (except meals) I really dont' know where all my time goes except for tickling/laughing episodes w/dd & my daily nap....(I'm preg & NEED THIS NAP!!!!or everyone suffers! HELP me fix my time...

I think it depends on how old the kids are. You also said you are PG so that changes things as well. When my kids were much younger I used the AM nap to do the chores and the PM nap to nap myself. When they went from 2 naps to one things changed. I still needed an afternoon nap so I did a small amount of chores each day. If you take it in baby steps and do a small amount each day you will feel like you accomplished something. You also need to take time out of each day for yourself (reading, scrapbooking, watching TV or doing simply nothing) even if it is for 15 - 30 minutes. You will be more relaxed.

I like to crockpot dinner several times each week to free the 'witching' hour up to be with the kids. I try to do laundry once each week, vaccum once each week on a different day. If the kids are old enough have them 'help' you out. They can dust with a rag, sweep with their own size broom, etc. I know some SAHM who get up one hour before the DH and kids wake up. This allows them to do some things before any interruptions etc. Not me I need my sleep.

My kids are now 7 & 9 and in school from 8 - 3. To be honest I have less time now than when they were little. I am room mom, on the PTA board, volunteer in the class weekly, am a Cub Scout leader and do volunteer week with my local MOMS Club. (at support group for at home moms - www.MOMSClub.org) After the kids get home its homework and then driving them to their after school activities. I have gotten good at bringing work with me to do in the car. Good luck!

 

[disykat]

It's been a while, but when my oldest was small he actually enjoyed doing the chores right along with me. For example -

He was afraid of the vacuum cleaner so when it was time to vacuum we piled all his stuffed animals around him on the couch and he sat there hugging them while I vacuumed. When I pulled out the vacuum he knew it was time to drag all his stuffed animals out into the living room.

When we dusted I put socks on his hands. He didn't do a lot of dusting, but he enjoyed watching me acting nutty by turning my sock into a puppet and trying to eat the dust.

When we made the beds I still remember how much he liked hiding in the sheets while I'd try to pretend I didn't notice him and make the bed around him.

Stupid stuff, but it combined his play time with my cleaning. When my second child got older they could play together while I cleaned.

Bathrooms I saved for when he was sleeping or dh was home. I did the kitchen while he was busy in his booster seat at the kitchen table with play dough or something. When the kids were high chair age I gave them cereal or something not too messy and mopped etc. while they ate.

Gee - reading this I know why my oldest likes to clean and my youngest doesn't. It didn't work when there were two of them.

 

[JennaTX]

I have two children one is 6 and at school all day, the other is 3 and home with me every day except for Tue/Thur when he is at Mother's Day Out at the church.

I use the mornings, while he (the 3 year old) is having his breakfast and then watches Sesame Street to make up the beds, load the dishwasher, and start a load of laundry. I try to take advantage of the early morning time before he is going full speed to get some of my chores done.

We then play for a couple of hours, run our errands, and have lunch together.

He does not take a nap anymore, but around 1:00 he is usally pretty tired. I then will let him watch Little Einsteins while I transfer the laundry, clean up the lunch dishes, etc.

I generally sneak in 10-15 minutes every couple of hours to get some stuff done, he either "helps" me with it, or I will set him up with play-doh while I get a little work done.

 

[briannesmom]

I have only been a SAHM for a few months. My house looks just as bad now as it did when I was working. I can't seem to get a schedule and stick to it. My DD is now 2 1/2 and rarely takes a nap. Looking for any tips I can get

Amy

 

[tnhillbilly]

When I first became a SAHD I could not get everything done I needed to and this was a site that my DSIL used. It has helped to get my house in order. See what you think.

http://www.flylady.com/

It's Anti-Procrastination Day!!
Finish those tasks you have been putting off!!

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Step through the door and follow FlyLady as she weaves her way through housecleaning and organizing tips with homespun humor, daily musings about life and love, the Sidetracked Home Executives (SHE™) system, and anything else that is on her mind.

When you join FlyLady, you will receive daily FLYmail. Your FLYing Lessons will guide you through babysteps to help you set up routines, get rid of your clutter, and put your home and life in order. FlyLady's approach has worked for thousands. Join anytime you want (there is no cost involved)! You are not behind - you are just getting started!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I stopped working 5 years ago. For 5 years we have lived in a pit. I was able to take care of 3 kids under the age of 5, work full-time and have a clean house.

I got more done when I worked. Not enough hours in the day. When I worked, I would come home and still be in work mode. Get dinner, give baths. bedtime, then pick up. Now I am just plain lazy. I always figure I can do it "tomorrow."

 

[buddy&wooz]

I've been a SAHM for many many years and I'm just now starting to get organized.

I'd say, concentrate on the basics- clean clothes, food, and a bathroom/kitchen that don't breed icky things, and beyond that, enjoy your kids. That's the point of staying home in the first place.

I always let my kids help me with chores, when they're little they love it (and a benefit- when they got older and were assigned to do the chores themselves it wasn't a big deal- they always considered chores a "family" thing, not just a "mom" thing.)

It also helped that I was living in small apartments when my older two were little- less to clean up!

 

[diznygirl]

Like JennaTX, I get 10 or 15 minutes here or there to tackle things. It's really all that is needed sometimes - I can get the dishwasher emptied in 10 minutes. The next 10 minutes I get, I fill the dishwasher.

Sometimes my daughter will chase me around the house or play Hide & Seek, and while I'm running or seeking, I'll grab things and put them back where they belong.

Most of the time I leave it all until after DH is home or the kids are in bed. I can get a lot more done in an uninterrupted hour at night.

Enjoy those tickles, and that nap! Been there!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I think the reason that the working mom's home is sometimes neater/cleaner than the sahm's home is that nobody is ever there!!!!!

When the family, including little-ones, are in the house, there is going to be a certain amount of mess and chaos going on. (lunch mess, play-doh mess, toys everywhere, dirt getting tracked in by the coming and going, snack mess, laundry piling up from that second or third change of juniors dirty clothes in one day, etc... etc... etc... it is never ending with a stay-at-home-family!!!!!

I think that vision that because I am a sahm I should be able to maintain a cleaner and more organinized home...
Just a dream folks... Just a dream...

I can have this place perfectly tidy and clean, but minutes after everyone gets home, you would hardly know it, behind the trail of backpacks, snacks, toys, dirt, doggie bones, etc.. etc...

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am assuming you have younger kids. No schoolaged yet??? I am going to say this but it was easier keeping the house clean when they were younger. I know it is hard to believe.
Now my girls are 9 & 14 and it is harder with the house cleaning stuff. Now my focus is on my dd passing algebra, band, girl scouts, school stuff, etc....

So here was my plan back then.....10 years ago!!!
When my kids were younger, I tried to get all "cleaning" done by 10AM.
That meant I worked on laundry and housecleaning, everything that I needed to do. Including preparing for dinner.
(Also as crazy as this sounds, I would cook dinner sometimes early, when the schedule was tight in the afternoon, and then heat it up at supper time. I know that is bananas but it really helped me alot. I wouldn't be frazzled with dinner plans.)

After 10am, then I considered myself "free" and went out with the kids, played, napped, whatever....(no internet back then...)

The 10am rule helped me alot. I should do it again.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, having said that. Here was my strategy when DS was younger.

Ever since he was old enough to understand, DS knew that first thing in the morning was his time to play and let Mama get a few things done. Sometimes he would want to 'help', but mostly, it was easier to try to keep him occupied, and patient, while I went commando around the house to try to keep the upper hand.

I would throw laundry in the wash, whisk through the breakfast dishes, make our bed, throw that laundry in the dryer and another load in the wash, pick up the house if toys and clutter were out of control, vacuuming up at a speed that would be considered my daily aerobic exercise, take a quick break with DS, get a drink/snack, etc.. Fold that first load of laundry, and have the next one in the dryer...

You also learn little tricks of the trade, like have the baby/toddler in the high chair with a snack while you do things like mopping in the kitchen. Or, let them sit on the washer and play with the dials while you fold clothes out of the dryer...

Like I said, it is never all-done, but it can be controlled!!!

I had it down to a system, I had the basics taken care of.. two loads of laundry, the dishes, the vacuuming, etc... and then, we were free to enjoy the rest of the day.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Mystery Machine, your post came thru with mine... Sounds like we have had the same 'morning' system!!!

 

[mountaineer]

Gotta agree with Flylady. It's a great system for keeping up with everything. I make beds every day and have a clean kitchen sink every night. It's a lot about learning to pick up and put away things as soon as you're finished with whatever it is. Each week is a different room and there are missions you do after your weekly "home blessing". Flylady likes the 15 min rule, only work on picking up or putting away for 15 min at a time. It really does help control the chaos. It seems like I'm not constantly trying to keep everything clean and perfect. Who wants it to be perfect anyway? Yes it does look different as soon as my son gets home from school but it only takes less than 15 min to put the toys away.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Mystery Machine, your post came thru with mine... Sounds like we have had the same 'morning' system!!!

Is there any other way? I need to get back to that.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey, it's 8:56... I better get working here!!!