New baby and still feeling behind in everything!

I find that "to do lists" are the best way to get things done. Really. It sounds silly and to simply to work, but they do if you stick to them. Everyone's life is different so what is important to one, might not be to another. Here's what I'd suggest Write down EVERYTHING you have to do...from the dishes to shopping to doctors appt to anything else you need to get done. Then make a list for URGENT, WEEKLY and DAILY. Now go through and put what's on your EVERYTHING list onto these specific lists. (You might do one also for "gotta get done..eventually" too) At this point, you only have to do this once...so as to get caught up now with current things. Once you have your calender completed...you just make a list of everything which is smaller and do your scheduling once a week or so. What you will need: a monthly calender -any style of days/weeks/months you feel comfortable with. I buy a thin book style 12 month calender (dollar store for a buck!) and it opens up and both facing pages are the month. It has squares for each day and note space on the side. It also has a small date calender for last month and for next month if you need to count days. Colored highlighters - I use highlighters to color coordinate repeating things...Green is for doctors appointments. Pink is for my grand daughters - when I pick them up and days I have them etc(I do day care for them). Blue is "other appointments" like my hair appt every 3 months or just things that I need to do specifically on that day that month. I can't tell you how much this has helped for research. If I need to see last time I was at doctor... I can just flip backwards and look for the green highlights! I also have specific days I always pick up a GD so I will in advance..pink those day for the whole month and even into next month. Now... first, cause you have a child...take off anything for any of the lists and put htem on the calender. Have monthly doctor visits? Right now, call and make the appts and put htem on your calendar and highlight them in your color for doctor appots. I'd do mine in green. Do this if you yourself have doctor visits. Next...take your URGENT list and start working on that one first. Whether daily, weekly or monthly..if you have to do it that month...make the appt for it now and you can make it around the already scheduled doctor appts. THis also helps to combine trips. Instead of going to that same part of town, three different days of the week, combine them and do them all on the same day...saves time and gas! Another note....if you have a doctor or a place that has a phone number...on the side of hte page where there is note space..jot down the phone number of the appts you have for the month(do that as you make the appt).That way, if something happens that you have to cancel/reschedule...you have the number right there and you don't have to go searching for it...saves time and frustration! Now take your DAILY list - first schedule just things to do outside the home. Now, take your WEEKLY list and whats left on DAILY...prioritize it as to what is more important. Now, start scheduleing those things. I would always schedule my grocery trips on friday mornings cause I take my GH to school that day and I stop at the grocery on the way home. I am already out, moving around and it happened that fridays were mark down days at my grocery so I get there about 8 and by 9 they had the meats and bakery stuff marked down so I picked those things up last and got the sale price. Once you get things all written down and you visablly see your monthly..you can at this time change some things around to accomodate gas...such as I stated above...do all of certain things on the same day. With a child..this is really important as he has to have diaper changes, feeding, nap time etc. So you might block off every day the time for his nap time... then while he sleeps, either you do other things or maybe sleep too. But you know never to schedule anything to do that time of day and you have it for the entire month. It sounds like a lot of work and complicated...but really it isn't. THe first time you do it...it might be a little more work and some time arrangeing things, but since alot of what you do this month, you will also do next month..you only have to schedule it this month and hten just copy it to next month...like my GD daycare days/times. My issue on this is both my kids are police officers...they have to have me on call too but their schedules are the same and not changed month to month. But next month...just copy over regular things (like I do with my GD days) and if no doctor appts this next month...then no green on the calendar and look at the time you have to work with! It really works so well. I know having a child with you at all times is a challenge and you have to schedule around all that requires, but it can be done, and once done...you have the hard part done.. now you just know how your month goes and can easily know what you are doing and make the most of your time. Now that you have that down...just keep a tablet handy... on the kitchen table or wherever is most noticable so that when you think of something you have to do...write it down. Just one list for everything. Now...choose a time... I used to do this Sunday night so as to schedule my whole week... but you choose what works for you. It really works and having that in your hand to actually see an entire month with one glance instead of just the week is a HUGE plus to this system. You have your month in your hands to do as you see fit...works great! GOod luck with whatever you find works best for you!

Hi XandersMom. Being a mother of a newborn is a tough job. I remember when my daughter was born and how difficult it was for me to take care of her, myself and my husband and do all the chores at home. It happens to all of us too. And don't worry, it will get better once he grows. You will get used to it and find ways to do your chores. And it is great to hear that he is talking already! But he needs to rest in the daytime too. So put him to sleep after his lunch and you will get some free time for yourself too.

Congratulations for the 25th of March when your dear little son was born. Welcome to motherhood. It is challenging to do baby care and household work. It is lovely that you play so very much with your 8 month old son. He seems to be way ahead in his learning. You are doing well at entertaining him and it is understandable that you are behind with your housework. I have a disabled three year old son and he is very frightened of the vacuum cleaner. I can only use it when he isn't home. I have times where I know my son and my baby daughter are playing happily. Then I can do the washing up, load or unload the washing machine, pot the dryer on, sweep up the floor and do dusting. This morning I went shopping and then this afternoon I cleaned plus tided my kitchen when my children were playing nicely and through the hatch I could see what they were up to. Sometimes I am busy with my kids and simply don't get time for the housework. Once your son joins a nursery school it might get easier for you to do all you wish in your house and keep up with paperworks too.

Motherhood is the hardest job in the world. You are in the same boat as so many other mothers so please don't feel bad about it. My daughter will be having her first baby in February and I'm flying out to be with her to help her for at least the first month. I think with all that you have accomplished with your son that should make you the happiest. Don't worry about the chores and everything else. You will never get this time back with your son enjoy it. The chores will be there forever. The time with your son won't lst once he starts school and then before you know it he will be eighteen and getting ready to leave the nest. Eighteen years goes by so fast so take the time to savor this great time in your life.

I think that there are alot of people that get behind in doing things when they have children, or a baby.The reason for people getting behind on things is that routine has gone right out of the window, so it is the case of trying to get into some kind of a routine.Pace yourself so that you allocate say the morning to do the majority of house work, the afternoon to do or have a bit of me time, at lunch times that is your time for the children depending on when they are at their most demanding and needing of you and enjoy the time.Of an evening try to get a few things on like the washing, so that all it requires is getting dried, that way you get to keep up with the linen.

You are very lucky that your son is coming along so well with everything that he is able to do at this point in his life. I also have to inform you that it will be many years before you actually feel like you are able to keep up with things at home if you want to devote a lot of your time to your son. My children are eight and four years old now and I still feel like there are a lot of times that I can't find the time to clean up the house the way that I would like to.

Motherhood is a tough job. My children are all now teenagers and I figured by now I would feel caught up. Nope. But, that is life, you do what you can and move on. It is best to enjoy the time you can with your little ones. When they reach teen status in many cases, you are put on the back burner and they are doing the things that they enjoy. When my little ones were the age that yours is, I actually put them down for at least one nap during the day so that I could get things done. It is good to let them rest during the day at least an hour or two. While mine slept, I cleaned and did a few things then would hop on the computer for a few minutes. Motherhood is very rewarding in so many ways, I can't begin to tell you. I feel very blessed with my 3 guys. They have taught me so much over the years and continue to. Happy motherhood and good luck!

I totally agree...spend your time with your baby, the dishes will not worry, the house will not worry, but, if you don't play with the baby he will wonder why...congrats on your son and his accomplishments!

I think that's a great trade-off. A baby forces you to prioritize everything, and some things will just have to take a backseat. I think you're being a good mother prioritizing your baby's development over daily chores. I do hope though that this is not to the extent that you need help from Clean House, though.

woow, for 8 months you already trained him for potty training..that's good.! yeah but no matter what you still need to clean house for health hygiene too!

You should be really happy and feel proud of yourself. There definitely will be times when you think work is back, and these feelings will help you stay ahead of the game. Motherhood is a tough aspect when all aspects of care are controlled by that single individuals. I think the learning stage will set in perfectly for your babies, and soon enough they will support you. There are cases in which children of age 10 have been able to make enough money to support their families. Growing up and nurturing tomorrow's future is just a part of life that you will miss one day. Keep it up, XandersMom...

You are not far behind, honestly i think you are far way ahead than most people, people who have everything but does not have or can never have a child like yours. All the chores can be well taken cared of, it's just a matter of time management and setting up goals and priorities. The best time to enjoy that little angel is now when he needs you the most and thank God he's showing signs of growing up normal.Take everything as a blessing as well as a challenge rather than a burden, take my word for it cause i've gone thru all that and you will wake up tomorrow refreshed and more than eager to hold that child and tackle those chores, btw avoid things like drinking or staying up too late at night if you can, things like that can derail us sometimes.

My daughter has just turned 10 years old and I am still behind with the housework! I am a single mom and I work full time and I hate that I miss out on time with her. I have worked since she was 10 months old. I feel like I have missed out on loads of her life and I very rarely do chores as when I am not at work I like to spend time with her. I try to make sure I do the basics so that we are not living in a disgusting environment but really, that is it. Motherhood is still tough for me but you have to not be so hard on yourself, you are giving your child the best possible upbringing that you can. Don't beat yourself up so much!

I think you should ask a family member or a friend to help you out for an hour to a couple hours of watching your son. With someone watching him you can more stuff done with out worrying about him and what he's doing!

I so wouldn't worry about housework. It'll get done when it gets done. I have an 11 year old and an almost 9 month old so I know how you feel. I spend my day chasing her around. Like you son, she is really advanced and tall for her age. I find it challenging to me to keep her mentally entertained all day. Have you thought about signing up for classes like Mommy & me? If you are that worried about housework, you could always get a maid to come in once a week and do a good cleaning job.

Hi, Congratulation being a new mother. I should say Motherhood is not easy and very challenging task. I experienced it myself and at first, I feel so tiring and always asking myself whether I can make it or not. But I try my best to be a good mother for my son. Now, my son has reached his toddler aged and I do enjoy spending time with him at home. He has started his nursery class this year. I also has to cope with housechores and it can be quite tiring. However, as long as I managed my time well,everything can go on smoothly. You mentioned that your son does not take a nap. He is pretty young and it is good for him to have a short nap in the afternoon for at least 1-2 hours. For my son, I encourage him to have a short nap everyday,or else, he sure will feel tired and crancky when comes to dinner time. Be strong and read lot of parenting books/magazines or you can simply join some parenting forum which may give you more information on motherhood. That is what I am doing for myself too.