I drowning here!....how do you women do it??

I was a single mom (after their dad passed away) raising 5 children on my own. ages 3,4,8,12 and 13. Each had its own demands, not to mention helping each in the loss of their dad. Yes, the house did get messy, but the kids were and still are more important than worrying about how the house looks, etc. When they were all in bed, I managed to make the house presentable for the next days mess. I then tried to unwind with a cup of hot chocolate and a movie or book, not that I ever finished either for I would doze off. But I was ready to do it all again the next day. Children are only children for a short time, housework, etc. will always be there. I am a clean person, and yet today, as I look at my clean house, I miss the messes, etc. Thank GOD for grandchildren!!!!!

And this is the question of the day isn't it. LOL! I think the way I handle it best is I have a daily schedule, now I am not crazy strict on it. But for instance Mon, Wed, and Fri are laundry days. I also make sure that the children help out. All of your children even the littlest can learn to help mommy. I think this does two things it teaches your children some responsibility but it also helps them to know that mommy works hard all day.

Try to get your little ones to help you clean. If they hate cleaning...make a game of it. You had better get them help while they are young. Or good luck when they are teens. As they don't like to do anything than. I am a mother of three kids myself. So, I know the burden of trying to get everything done yourself. I have a disibility on top of it. So, I get to what I can. My kids don't like to help out at all.

I find your plea for help amusing because when my kids were younger my house was clean and now that they are older it's trashed. Why? Because I was a neat freak and everything had to be perfect and I never encouraged them to help. My older kids are 20,18,15 and 12 and are LAZY and messy. My 2 year old is the first one to the kitchen when I open the dishwasher, she hands me everything (no knives)! Biy, is she quick as lightning. I break out in a sweat. She than puts all the silver in the basket when I am filling the dishwasher. In the meantime, I am yelling for my teenage girls to help me with the kitchen. You still have a fighting chance!!!! LOL Make cleaning up a game or fun. Put on one of there favorite songs, give them all a bucket or tote and tell them when the song starts see who can pick up the most stuff. Rewards can be a story or a movie for the winner. Everyone can enjoy it. They just get to select. You know your kids talents. I am sure you can come up with some challenges they can all win!

I have 2 babies: 10 months apart and I know how it feels, trying to keep up with cleaning, their care, and the cooking. By the end of the night I end up very tired! So tired that I still have to gt up 2-3 times during the night!