Tips for juggling schedules?

[PrincessTeddyBear]

I'm in some desperate need for juggling schedules. Last Friday my mom fell down the steps and fractured her tibula and fibula in the ankle and the back of her leg and had to have surgery. Mom is a SAHM who not only takes care of the shopping and the cooking but my younger brother as well. She's now laid up for at least next 12 weeks (12 weeks of bedrest) plus four to six months in a cast with no pressure on her leg. What that means is I'm now in charge of not only my full time job and my full time school schedule but the shopping, cooking, taking care of my mom and my 15 year old brother's schedule. I'm usually busy with my own schedule but now every day I feel like I'm running a marathon without a warm-up and at times feel like I'm falling behing and like there's not enough time in the day. Does anyone have any suggestions for juggling schdules or even just organizing things a bit better?

 

[diznygirl]

So sorry to hear about your mom. I'm a SAHM to 2 little ones - I can't imagine what would happen if I broke a leg.

Definitely invest in some frozen foods and Betty Crocker complete meals. Shop in the mornings - not after work - the stores are less crowded and you get out quicker. I'm guessing you'll be doing a lot of this stuff on the weekends. Good luck to you!!!!

 

[Megster]

Is there anyway your brother could do some of the things. He probably can't drive, but he could cook meals and mabye try to get rides some places to make it easier for you? Sorry to hear about your mom, hope she (and you) are feeling better soon!!

 

[Marseeya]

Can your brother come live with you?

 

[ToTLaugher]

Hi Jenn,

First off...Sorry to hear about your mom and the rough time you all are having. I hope she is not in too much pain. You're a great daughter stepping up to the plate!

I agree with the idea of getting your brother to help. He can do some cleaning, make his own breakfast and lunch and maybe even be in charge of getting your mom's breakfast for her before going to school.

Don't be afraid of frozen foods and convience foods...this is what they are there for!

Do you belong to a church or have neighbors you know? People are usually thrilled to have a chance to help out someone in need. I love to bring meals to someone in a bind. If you belong to a church they often have a system to help members during times like these. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You need it right now.

Take care and try to get rest yourself!!!

 

[PrincessTeddyBear]

So sorry to hear about your mom. I'm a SAHM to 2 little ones - I can't imagine what would happen if I broke a leg.

Definitely invest in some frozen foods and Betty Crocker complete meals. Shop in the mornings - not after work - the stores are less crowded and you get out quicker. I'm guessing you'll be doing a lot of this stuff on the weekends. Good luck to you!!!!

It's not fun - I can give you that. I've mixed up meatloaf and stuff and frozen them so all my brother has to do in the afternoon is throw in the oven so it's done when I get home from work. Shopping in the morning is a bit more difficult. I have to drop my brother off at school by 7:25 and be to work by 8:00 and nothing is open until 8. But the week-end mornings might be the best bet. I know trying to shop yesterday afternoon at Target was a madhouse.

Thanks!

 

[PrincessTeddyBear]

Is there anyway your brother could do some of the things. He probably can't drive, but he could cook meals and mabye try to get rides some places to make it easier for you? Sorry to hear about your mom, hope she (and you) are feeling better soon!!

He's been doing the laundry, walking home from school since he gets out at 2:30 and I don't get out until 4:30, helping us with making her bed and such, and he's not the greatest cook but he's been having fun making cinammon buns.

 

[PrincessTeddyBear]

Can your brother come live with you?

Oh I live with them. He's only 15 and as I'm still trying to go to school full time (and pay for it myself) trying to find a place to live would be difficult.

 

[malibuconlee]

I agree with the others. At 15 I did a lot of cooking and cleaning around the house. I think it's time to enlist his help. Get him involved in making grocery lists, and even shopping with you. split the list and the both of you gets different things and you meet up.

Ask for help from his friends' parents for rides and things. I know lots of times we'd do it where my mom could drop off and another could pick up.

Sorry to hear about your mom.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Seriously--I'd look into getting a maid service...so you wouldn't have to worry about the cleaning component. (unless your brother happens to be good and reliable with that).

Perhaps on the weekend..prep the meals ahead for the week.

Also--you could prep him for college...Ramen Noodles, Mac and Cheese...easy stuff!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What are you falling behind on? Shopping can be done on the weekends.

With cooking, double up, meaning make 1 meal (enough to have leftovers) and eat leftovers or recreate for another meal next day.

For example you make chili one day in the crockpot, then the next day you have chilimac or chili dogs.
Grill or cook a whole chicken then next day you have chicken sandwiches & salad for dinner.
A pan of Lasagne can go a long way.
Designate a day as "take-out" day, that way you can do what you need to do.

Then designate "Pasta Day". Pasta is quick and cheap.

If you are feeling really up to it you can do OAMC (Once a month cooking). It is involved but for your situation if you did it, it would save your life.
Basically you make your meals and freeze them. You spend 1 day in a cooking frenzy but in the end you are set.

Good Luck, sorry about your mom!

 

[PrincessTeddyBear]

Hi Jenn,

First off...Sorry to hear about your mom and the rough time you all are having. I hope she is not in too much pain. You're a great daughter stepping up to the plate!

I agree with the idea of getting your brother to help. He can do some cleaning, make his own breakfast and lunch and maybe even be in charge of getting your mom's breakfast for her before going to school.

Don't be afraid of frozen foods and convience foods...this is what they are there for!

Do you belong to a church or have neighbors you know? People are usually thrilled to have a chance to help out someone in need. I love to bring meals to someone in a bind. If you belong to a church they often have a system to help members during times like these. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You need it right now.

Take care and try to get rest yourself!!!

She takes care of me so it's only fair I take care of her - and everyone else. He has been helping but he's got so much school work and I don't want him to fall behind. My step-father's been helping to but he works about 60 hours a week. He has been coming home during the day to check on her since he can with his job but it's still a lot of juggling. Frozen foods are good and I've found a love for the full meals in a box where you just dump everything together and bake.

Sadly I'm just a visitor to a local church and no one else in the family goes to church so that's not an option but I do have a few friends who are dropping off stuff to try and help.

 

[EthansMom]

To help with shopping, make a weekly menu and buy all of your necessary groceries on one day. Use a cookbook to figure out ingredients for different recipes. Try to arrange easier-to-cook menus for your busiest days. For instance, when my DS had preschool AND swim lessons on Mondays, it was much easier if I put a roast in the crock pot in the morning because I could come home from swim lessons and dinner would be done!

Each able-bodied person in the house should split the cooking & kitchen cleanup responsibilities, in my opinion. Likewise, with housekeeping.

Use a calendar to keep track of appointments and schedule some down time.

Look for alternatives, when possible. Is it possible that you brother could take the bus to/from school at least part of the time? Or could he get a ride from a friend.

Is it possible that your parents could support you and pay for your school so that you could quit your job to help care for your family's needs? It might not be your first choice, but it sounds like your family needs a longer-term fix other than to just load it all onto you.

 

[ToTLaugher]

Hello Jenn,

Just thought I would post to see how things are going for you all. I hope your mom is starting to feel better. Have you gotten into a routine? I hope things are beginning to settle down for you.

Remember, you can always come here to vent if you need to!

Hang in there - one week is already past!

 

[mom2boys]

Sorry to hear about your Mom. Apparently she raisedc you right - good for both of you.
I agree that if the abled bodied in the household can't get it all done that a maid service should be considered. You mentioned that your brother walks home from shcool. Is there a reason he doesn't walk to school? He can (or can learn) to cook. My 11 yr old son is an omelete making fiend! Enlist everyone's help. DOn't be afraid to ask.