If you could afford a few hours help a week...

[misscreosote]

...what would you ask them to do? On top of normal cleaning/gardening?

There's a possibility we might be able to get some help in for, say 2 - 4 hours a week (which would be fab as currently have a 6 week old and a 22 month old). But I'm actually struggling to think of things they could help with. Only things I can come up with are:

• changing the bed sheets and washing them
• maybe cook a big meal (enough to freeze half for later)
• generally be someone to help with the kids, eg watch them whilst I grab a shower

Given that I barely sit down (apart from some light MN relief!) and have about 4 hours sleep a night there must be more, unless I just drift around doing nothing

Any ideas??? Anything that would make your life so much nicer but you never get round to doing?

[juuule]

If you are struggling to come up with things they could do, doesn't that mean that you are on top of things?

Could they plan/prepare/cook evening meal?
That's one of the things I would love someone else to do.

But I've never had outside help so probably not the best person to suggest things

[NorkilyChallenged]

Hoovering?
Cleaning the bathroom? (still haven't figured out how to find time to do that and DD2 is 14 months now!)

Changing beds is a good idea and def some cooking (if there is something straightforward that you could ask them to do for you, freeze-able etc)

Might be getting someone for 2.5hrs a week and am planning to ask for cleaning bathroom, hoovering, cleaning floors (whole of downstairs is laminate but i'ts a small house), cleaning kitchen (basically clean but not really scrubbed properly), maybe changing beds and cleaning windows if there's any extra time but not every week.

[phdlife]

we moved into this house 6 months ago when I was 6m pg. Needless to say about half our stuff is still not unpacked! I'd love to be able to sort cupboards, shop for furniture etc, but it doesn't happen because of the dc's (2.3 and 3m) so for me it'd be all about having the kids looked after.

[NorkilyChallenged]

Gah, just read that you said "on top of normal cleaning". Am an idiot, ignore me!

[NorkilyChallenged]

Ironing? I don't really do any but DP has work shirts/trousers.

[misscreosote]

Juule - if I'm struggling to come up with things it because my brain is too fried and sleep deprived to be able to think!! But also part of me thinks that if we could have this help, then there must be stuff I could offload - but I guess a lot of it is baby care, and as I'm BF, that falls on me really.

Ironing - nice idea, but part of my management strategy is not to do any anyway. Ever. DH has non iron work shirts, I have lots of 'crinkle effect and twist to dry' stuff (oh how I loved it when that became popular) and everything else just gets folded up really carefully or is a bit 'lived in'. I know, slattern. Maybe some help could make me be less slatternly.

[NorkilyChallenged]

No no, I'm with you on the ironing, I don't do any for me and the dc, but even with the non-iron kind of shirt, we leave things sitting in the drier so long they end up needing ironing for DP's work anyway.

How about putting on loads of washing/drying for you? You'll have lots of stuff with a little baby?

Is it someone who knows your children? In which case they would be able to do some entertaining/minding while you get other stuff done (like you said shower, or any sorting out int eh house that you can't ask someone else to do - filing, paperwork etc). I still haven't really figured out how to do a daily shower with my two around.

My friend has her food delivered by Tesco or Waitrose and her cleaner waits in for the delivery (it's timed during the time she is working) and puts it all away for her? Not something I would need though as we don't get online shopping yet.

[misscreosote]

Yes, lots of washing a good idea, can't believe how much more there is with just an extra baby. Putting online shopping away is a really good idea too.

No, they wouldn't knwo the kids, to start with, but hopefully after a few weeks DD1 would be happy playing with her...

[NorkilyChallenged]

Have thought about this long and hard while watching tv doing housework and have decided:

use the time someone is there to let them watch the children so you can... go to the toilet by yourself and without having to rush.

Aaaaah bliss.

This the major reason I returned to work part-time

[NorkilyChallenged]

Riven, I'm sure you are entitled to wish Goodness knows I find myself wishing without all the extra work I imagine you have to do for your dd....

currently thinking maybe I should pay for someone to come and answer DD1's incessant questions to give me a break!

[misscreosote]

Ah, now going to the toilet at my leisure, that I hadn't thought of!

Maybe you could get your DD1 to ring 118 118 and ask them the questions instead?

Riven - I think I should get the help and send them over to you instead, sounds like you have far more to worry about than me.