How to help others when you have a lot going on? and what seems like No time

Crickey stacey I thought I was busy with my little part time job, 1 daughter and tiny house to look after! 8 (!) kids to look after?? And look after wheelchair-bound person? I'd get social help with all the hard work for her, and visit couple of times a week for half an hour. You really need to look after yourself first here, it's no good being totally exhausted. I find it hard to be nice to my family if I'm running around trying to please everybody(TBO I'm totally ratty when I'm tired). God help you, darling!

Can you pay someone else to help her out? Get a teenager from the neighborhood and pay them to go check on her after school. Unless it's a dire emergency tell her that you just cannot keep running yourself ragged to help her. Explain that you are more than happy to help her but your family must come first. Start setting clear boundaries so that she knows what you will and will not do. Find out if there are any programs that can help her. In some places they do elderly day care or they have a handi van that can pick her up and take her to appointments and things. Find out if she can qualify for such programs like Meals on Wheels and other such programs. Good luck.

Life can certainly be overwhelming sometimes!! My hubby and I have 8 kids between us and we have really learned how to juggle life!! Perhaps your hubby could tell them he can do one store run once every week or two and to please make a list because that is all the time he has! If there are no social services available (and I haven't lived in Canada in a long time so I don't recall) perhaps you could find a local church youth group, a girl scouting troup looking for a badge or community service idea or a young woman looking for a very part time job (an hour or so per every few days perhaps) and work that angle of it. Many churches are looking to find things for teens or other young adults or even other elderly. They have many many programs available that could really benefit you as a mom to 8 kids and as a caregiver they could assist you in providing such care to your mother in law. You have a lot of responsibility and with 8 kids you have to put your family first. Don't forget to take time for yourself! That is so important! We are down to only 3 living at home (though sometimes I would insist half the neighborhood is living here LOL) and I remember well the days when things were seeming so chaotic. Set your priorities. Keep your priorities. Only do what you can fit in and the rest will have to be doled out to either a church, youth group or scouting troop seeking some sort of badge or community service. Hang in there and treasure this time with them as one day they will pass and you will only have memories. How old are your kids? Children as little as 5 can often help out beyond your wildest dreams! Keep up the awesome work Stacy! You have a lot to be proud of!