Hit me with your 'keeping-on-top-of-it-all' tips...

[Ceolas]

'cos I am floundering today!

Laundry, bedrooms, kids social lives have started again.

DH has been promoted and out much longer hours.

Struggling to get through it all atm. How do you keep one step ahead?

[darcymum]

I just relax and don't worry, BTW I do live in a tip although I'm not sure thats the sort of tip you're looking for.

[numptysmummy]

I'm with darcymum i'm afraid. I figure there'll be plenty of time to worry about housework when they have grown up.

[jemart]

me three.
clearly lots of busy messy households out there.

[Ceolas]

Argh, deep down I know that, but it stresses me out when I don't feel in control!

I guess having 5 kids you've got to expect a certain degree of chaos...

[numptysmummy]

How old are they? I have started getting them to do their own laundry - i.e put the clothes away. Takes alot of selr control as i'm a bit ocd about how things are folded but i figured that nothing stats folded anyway by the time they've hunted through their drawers. I also expect them to keep their rooms tidy enough for me to hoover. Other than that i tyr to let it go! Mine are 12,10,6 and 4.

[bebemoohatessnot]

lol
-'I guess having 5 kids you've got to expect a certain degree of chaos...'-
My mom used to say this often ;) :)

Small steps. focus on one thinga day to 'hit hard' and then move on...

I've only got one kid and I find it overwhelming; I still don't know how Mom managed but when you ask she just smiles and says, 'you learn to let things go which you cannot control.'

[Ceolas]

They are 10,9,7,3 and 1. I do get them to put their folded laundry away but it doesn't always get done unless I check. Often discover the older girls' (10 and 9yo) stuff piled on their desk the next morning.

We have only 3 bedrooms so they are sharing. I suppose that makes the mess a bit more intense too.

[collision]

Whilst I agree with the others, it doesnt help you to know that you have to deal with chaos!

I would go and put a load of washing on and tidy the kitchen.

Stick kettle on and make a drink.

Leave the kids' bedrooms for now as they will just get messy again.

Have a tidy round and put other peoples' things on the stairs for them to take upstairs and put away.

Any clean dry laundry, fold it and put in piles for others to deal with.


How old are your children?

[collision]

x post


Why not put on the timer for 15 mins and challenge the children to help. They can Scoot round with hoover and duster and generally help and little ones can put toys away.

[numptysmummy]

Agree with collision on kids rooms - i only tidy them properly once a week. Nothing more soul destroying than doing the same thing everyday and then seeing it get wrecked within an hour. Shut the doors and focus on the areas you need to see. My bedroom and ensuuite are always immaculate because they are my sactuary and there is no reason for children to be in there trashing it! My biggest downfall is washing - i have about 5 full baskets of the stuff to be washed! But as long as it's in baskets and not overflowing onto the floor i cafe not! (And tbh i was no better on the laundry front when there was just me and dh)

[collision]

ooh numpty I do like an empty wash basket myself!

[numptysmummy]

Don't get me wrong - i like them, just never seem to get them

[collision]

A load a day - sorted!

[numptysmummy]

Yeah i know the theory... just struggle putting it into practice! Although i have washed and dried 2 loads and no 3 has just finished. I just forget to do it.

[Ceolas]

Washing's OK. I do at least a load a day. We have nappies too and with 7 of us it's usually 2 a day tbh.

My timer got broken due to a lot of trampolining over the summer holidays so I need to replace that. Good idea.

I wish I didn't care!

[collision]

and only tidy once a day when the kids are about to go to bed!

If you tidy earlier then it will get messy again.

[eightisseventoomany]

hi, just seen this thread...
im mummy to 6 and expecting baby no: 7 after christmas

am feeling the strain of the hols, have all boys, bar 1 little baby girl, who tagged along with a twin brother :) just 11 months ago..

so noone understands the word tidy !!
have just got the twins to bed, am totally exhausted, and my house is still a bombsite..
however, decided to find refuge on a computer rather than face another late night of cleaning
anyone else struggling in a never ending spiral of mess !

[TheLimeFairy]

I get one load of washing on in the morning, tidy breakfast mess and then make lunch and put in the fridge for later. I then feel in control and anything else is a bonus!

Wow mumsylady, how old are your other DCs. Mine are 6 months, 20 months, 2 and 4 and I feel overwhelmed by them a lot. Do you have any advise on staying calm with so many little ones!

[PosyPetrovaPauline]

my washer is on at least 3 times a day...ditto dishwasher

i often try to cook meal lunchtime or early afternoon

i use roomba!

i keep the place perfect - enough havoc with the kids -I just can't do mess too!

[Ceolas]

PosyPetrova, this genuinely fascinates me. I know there are a few on this board who keep their homes meticulously clean and tidy.

How do you have enough time in the day? And how do you ensure the kids rooms are kept tidy?

I think a lot of it is in the mind. Flylady calls it BO - born organised.

[PosyPetrovaPauline]

i am good at binning stuff!

The kids rooms are tidy (aside from daughter!)

[eightisseventoomany]

HI LIMEFAIRY...

TWINS ARE 11 MONTHS (BOY & GIRL)
& BOYS OF 4, 7, 9 & 16
THIS ONE DUE AFTER XMAS.

Oooops..take off caps...
I used to have a lovely clean home...but having 2 babies takes up a lot of time...hopefully when this next one is approx 3, and the twins are then 4...there will be time to get organised once again :)
not long to wait !!!

[bratnav]

I have 4, does that count as a larger family?

Anyway, my tip is to train the dcs :o I have 3 dds aged 6,6 and 8 and a ds who will be 1 on Monday. The girls can all load and unload the dishwasher, dust, fold and put away thei own clothes and all toys are put away at the end of the day. I agree with a previous poster, the dcs are enough chaos in themselves for me to deal with, a messy house would drive me crazy.

[TheLimeFairy]

You must be supermum mumsylady. However, are you managing with pg too. Do the older ones help at all? I have taught my two oldest to take dishes into the kitchen and lay the table but they are only 2 and 4 so this can create more work than it solves!

[eightisseventoomany]

I havent even noticed the pregnancy tbh
Maybe my body is too used to it now :)
(although i probably wouldnt notice if a tornado ripped through the house nowadays)

My 16 yr old used to help (or there would be no pocket money, but by 14, he would rather do without money (or get it elsewhere!! and i dont mean a job) than help me ...last few years has been a struggle with him, i've reached every bartering method I can think of not to mention every method of negotiation to get him to find work!!

my 9 year old son is brilliant...i dont even need to ask him...hes like my guardian angel...
think we are only rationed one of these types of children per family

my 4 & 7 year old boys arn't so enthusiastic!! and needs lots of coaxing,
lots doesnt get done well, lots gets broken & lost, & over the years, even the melamine character plates have been replaced with unbreakable plastic, I have no ornaments,
etc..
fortunately, we're not materialistic....dont think valubles & lots of children mix.

have seen large families run like boot camp on american TV...but im sure like most things in America...its an unatainable dream