Working mommies, how do you do it?!
By karma118
@karma118 (294)
United States
March 22, 2008 7:56pm CST
I use to be a stay at home mom, I cooked, cleaned, taught my children, made breakfast, lunch and dinner...and more! I love it except I had no time to myself and couldn't even use the bathroom by myself. Well, times got hard and I had to get a job. Now, I have no time to cook or clean and my house is slowly falling apart! My clean laundry is in a pile in my bedroom close to the dirty pile, the dishes are stacked up next to the sink and so on. I work 50 hours a week and when I get home I just want to spend time with my kids and then have some down time before sleeping! Any advice on how to clean and organize?... oh yeah and cook quick meals?
4 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Mar 08
I work 30 hours a week and have the same problem. I do all the house work, cooking, making lunches, etc (everything you did when you were full stay at home). My husband helps out but not everything gets done. There just is not enough hours in the day and house work is so not worrying or killing yourself over. Just get done what you can, don't stress out about what you can't.
@karma118 (294)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I know I shouldn't stress but dang, when I come home to play with my kids, all I see is a pile of dishes and laundry and a dirty carpet that could harm their health! I just have a problem trying to ignore the mess and enjoying the time I do have with my kids! It's just so hard!! Any tips on making quick lunches for everyone since you do that everyday too? You're superwoman!
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Mar 08
Well I don't leave dishes or diry laundry hanging around. I make sure the dishes get done - or at least in the diswasher - every night. The clean clothes, I will run a load at night then worry about folding whatever does not get used the following night. My largest problem area is the kitchen. We cook home made meals almost every night and constantly are cleaning the kitchen.
For lunches I try to do thing the night before. My husband usually gets left overs along with yogurt, an apple (or whatever fruit we have on hand), some trail mix, and a granola bar. For my son, I give him iced tea, a sandwhich and 2 snacks. The sancks are usually a piece of fruit or veggies and a go-urt.
What helps for us, is that when I go to the store I make enough time to seperat things into individual servings - a bag of carrots into carrot sticks, large bags of nut only trail mix + raisins (or other fried fruit) into one person servings, large containers of cottage cheese into one personservings etc. Some things like apples that won't stay for a week or two cut up I buy pre-sliced.
To save us sometime, I bought a roomabe so at least the vacuuming is taken care of.
@beccarose (121)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I know what you mean. - The only time I clean or do anything (and I'm only pregnant right now, havent even had the baby yet!) is on my days off, and half the time I just want to relax so I don't even clean THEN!
I've found that making slow-cooker meals helps greatly. because dinner will be done when you get home, you wont have to worry about cooking. or even cleaning a bunch of pans since its in one pot.
I just started making crock pot meals - one I got from my mom was, boneless chicken (I cooked it before I slowcooked it just to make sure) and you add a small bottle of coke (or like 16-24 ounces if you have a bigger bottle) and then you fill the rest up with ketchup, just till it covers the top of however much chicken you put in. The pop makes the chicken so good! and you might think ketchup would taste gross, but its actually good. You should try it sometime!
For chores, I usually try and clean one thing at a time, I know other things pile up, but once I get to it, I get it all done. Such as dishes, I will do those one night, then the next day I will do however much laundry I can get done. then I will clean the bathroom/bedroom etc... nothing big, just a little pick up here and there and throwing things out lol. I'm finally realizing how much of a pack-rat I am.
Anyways, good luck! if you find anything else out let me know.. I could use all the tips and tricks there are.
@karma118 (294)
• United States
23 Mar 08
When I was pregnant, I couldn't even work most of the time! I had too much cleaning and cooking and helping my family to do! I didn't realize how quick the time would fly and I didn't even get ready for my own baby! Make sure you take enough time to relax while you can and forget the rest!! Haha Let me know what ya need, I'll look for more tips for ya!
@karma118 (294)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Oh how I remember those days.... the dreaded can't even pee by yourself days... The days that seemed to never end...because they never did. It was same old thing, day after day after day. You will have things work out for you though, you just have to find a way to make it work. Get a part time job just for some independence at night while you hubby can watch the kids... At least it will give you some grown up time.
