Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To need some sort of domestic coach?

113 replies

Embarrassinglyuseless · 19/12/2024 22:40

I recognize this comes from a position of extreme privileged but I am drowning! I married a man who has become extraordinarily financially successful - I stay at home and look after our two children (no.3 on the way) - the deal being that I have a pretty unlimited budget, but I need to manage the house and I am TERRIBLE at it

I have a housekeeper who comes for 6 hours twice a week - she does and puts away all laundry, changes beds / sheets - and does all the usual cleaning

I have gardeners who come in weekly and do the yard work

my oldest is at school five days a week - youngest at nursery three mornings

I CANNOT get it together or stay on top of…

  • keeping the fridge clean and stocked
  • keeping things basically tidy
  • making sure the dog has everything he needs (annual check ups / insurance)
  • managing all the crap about the cars (mots, insurance etc)
  • keeping my car clean and tidy (it looks like I live in it full time. It’s embarrasing)
  • paying all the bills etc
  • making daily beds
  • feeding myself sensibly (the children always have nutritionally sound meals at appropriately scheduled times
  • Managing all the homework and reading
  • scheduling play dates
  • hosting dinner parties occasionally so people keep inviting us
  • scheduling travel and holidays
  • trying not to be a terrible friend
  • occasionally schedule a date or two
  • working on house Reno projects

basiclly I feel like life happens to me rather than me happening to my life. I feel like I’m constantly working to fight fires rather than working to a system - I know that I have more time than most people but I really really need help getting it together.

YANBU - take a domestic management course! Or find a coach (bonus points for pointing my useless ass somewhere)

YABU - no one can teach you this - you just have to do it.

OP posts:
tellmesomethingtrue · 20/12/2024 01:29

Why did I post? Because this sounds like a stealth boast of much 'help' they can afford.

ilovesooty · 20/12/2024 01:25

LetsNCagain · 19/12/2024 23:08

Op does not need more lists or systems or coaching. She just needs to look up from her navel and do. Sorry to be harsh but that's my opinion

And some people just don't find it that easy. If she could "just do" she wouldn't be posting here.

OP, I'd consider hiring a professional organiser for a bit to look at how things might be done in a more structured way and work with you on some systems. It's hard if it's not something you're instinctively good at and if you get stuck in guilt the harder it feels. With someone working with you you'll feel more motivated and accountable.

Applepoop · 20/12/2024 01:18

tellmesomethingtrue · 20/12/2024 00:52

Get a grip.. I work 5 days a week without a cleaner and have to do all that. Think yourself bloody lucky.

Perhaps you don’t have ADHD, like the OP

Why did you post?

QuitChewingMyPlectrum · 20/12/2024 01:13

Get a VA OR PA.
Worth their weight in gold

Applepoop · 20/12/2024 01:10

each of the problems has a different solution

  • keeping the fridge clean and stocked
you can get all your dinners from hello fresh and just keep wipes handy so that any spillage in the fridge can be dealt with immediately
  • keeping things basically tidy
this is difficult with a busy young family but essentially it comes down to a place for everything and everything in its place. You need to figure out what works for you - if you need to see things to function, then store them in see through containers.
  • making sure the dog has everything he needs (annual check ups / insurance)

a large A3 sheet of paper on the wall (behind the door if you don’t want it in your face). Put all dog info on it. Set any reminders to ping on phone for checkups. Put insurance on direct debit.

  • managing all the crap about the cars (mots, insurance etc)

one ringbinder per car. Write on the front the month of the MOT and tax. Insurance on direct debit again.

  • keeping my car clean and tidy (it looks like I live in it full time. It’s embarrasing)

keep a roll of freezer bags in the glove compartment. And baby wipes in the door pocket. Every time you stop for petrol or park somewhere with a bin, fill a bag full of crap. Use wipes to clean anything and add them to the freezer bag of crap. Put in bin at petrol station/wherever.

  • paying all the bills etc

direct debit for the lot

  • making daily beds

Fuck that - doesn’t matter.

  • feeding myself sensibly (the children always

hello fresh as above

  • Managing all the homework and reading

do it all immediately on the day it’s set

  • scheduling play dates

doesn’t really matter unless kid is asking

  • hosting dinner parties occasionally so people keep inviting us

they’ll invite you - sack this off until the rest of the shit is organised.

  • scheduling travel and holidays

get this done for you - i haven’t been on holiday for a few years but you can presumably still walk into travel shops and tell them roughly what you want and they can suggest and book it

  • trying not to be a terrible friend

just apologise and say you are a bit overwhelmed

  • occasionally schedule a date or two

delegate task to husband to think about and organise

  • working on house Reno projects

unless urgently needed, sack that off.

overall you shouldn’t beat yourself up or hold yourself up to some perceived standard of perfection that you think other people achieve - or that you see on adverts and social media. Don’t think that you are incompetent, just tackle each of the problems one by one. And ask for help on here with each specific one. And next time don’t write that you have money/help because people on here will type mean stuff that isn’t helpful and will make you feel worse

tellmesomethingtrue · 20/12/2024 00:52

Get a grip.. I work 5 days a week without a cleaner and have to do all that. Think yourself bloody lucky.

Biffbaff · 20/12/2024 00:44

There are apps for these things.

My ADHD sister likes the Finch app. You get a cute mascot and tick off things on your list to kind of nurture it. I tried it but I didn't get on with it myself.

My husband and I use one called FamilyWall. This has been brilliant for us to mutually add things to shopping lists and the family calendar. You can colour code it per person and have immediate visibility on what's going on for each family member.

There are other apps that reward you for doing household tasks, I don't know any off the top of my head but I am interested in downloading one to help me stay on track in the new year.

Good luck OP!

Hayley1256 · 20/12/2024 00:43

This type of household paper planner might you to start. Make sure all you bills are set up on Direct Debit and set yourself reminders on your phone for things like car insurance, MOT - set them 2 weeks before due, 1 week before due etc. Ask the housekeeper to clean the fridge and arrange for a weekly online shop to keep all the essentials in. Write things regarding kids in a planner before you forget. Send the 2 year old to nursery for 2 full days as it will be good for them and you.

To need some sort of domestic coach?
SixtySomething · 20/12/2024 00:39

TryingAgainAgainAgain · 19/12/2024 23:12

I stay at home and look after our two children (no.3 on the way) - the deal being that I have a pretty unlimited budget, but I need to manage the house

Do you actually want that 'deal'?

Would you be more content working outside the home? With you and DH working out what level of management the house needs and employing people to cover that?

Agreed.
Have you considered that you may be neurodiverse? This would easily explain your difficulties.
Alternatively, perhaps the problem is that you don't have a single passion in life that makes you leap out of bed in the morning. Is there anything you're really interested in?
Are you depressed, perhaps even without realising it?

Hedgesgalore · 20/12/2024 00:25

Being pregnant is draining, two small ones are draining. Go easy on yourself, whether you have help or not, just go easy on yourself.

Houses are bloody hard work, I run three (only two have gardens) it was four with my mother's until last year.

Get yourself a timer, mine keeps me on track and stops me getting sidetracked.

I do write a list but don't beat myself up if it doesn't always get done, stuff gets rolled over to the next day.

I've got a paper calendar one of those family planner type where each person has their own column including the dog. If its not on my calendar its NOT happening.

Insurances (cars, dog, houses), my dh does these, he has a spreadsheet that he emails me, no idea why I never look at it.

Bulk buy. I'm a bit of a prepper and have an extra pantry/freezers/fridge in my garage, my weekly shop would look like a panic buyer to most but its my normal purchases which I've done for years. When I need anything I shop my garage first, so does my dd 😂

I used flylady when my kids were little, it gave me a structure to follow. Decluttering helped me as well, less stuff to keep tidy 😂

thehousewiththesagegreensofa · 20/12/2024 00:12

You say you coped pre-DC. Were you perhaps in a job which had non-negotiable deadlines and were you getting your dopamine hits from meeting those deadlines? And did you never know what your boss was going to throw your way (or, better still, number of bosses)?
Whilst you can be constantly busy with small DC and they are delightful, much of it is tedious and mundane and there is very little sense of achievement as there is no instant gratification.
First, I'd consider whether you actually want this lifestyle. I'm not saying LTB but might you be better going back to work part time and getting a brilliant nanny and a brilliant part time housekeeper? Then you don't have to spend time doing the things you don't see the point of or get any pleasure from.
If you do, then now is the time to come up with some sort of systems for reminders as life is about to get a lot more complicated! Automate as much as you can - get someone to come over and valet the car once a month/fortnight/week for example. Also (and this may well be unachievable, especially with a newborn in the mix) but try and see a task as including the ending of that task. So getting home and out of the car involves bringing in all of the bags, coats and clearing out the rubbish rather than getting home and immediately thinking about what is going to happen next.

Winterscoming77 · 20/12/2024 00:11

This is brilliant because I completely get it. We both run businesses and make plenty of money but the house stuff for me is a complete blank space in my head. We have housekeeper 2 x week who organises everything like bedding and food in fridge etc and cleaner 2 x week and I have a PA who does a lot of the life admin. I know a few good work who work remotely if you want contacts send me a DM!

PerambulationFrustration · 20/12/2024 00:10

I find adding new routine to an existing helps.
Like, the day before bin day, I clean the fridge out so I can Chuck any stuff going bad out.
Homework and reading straight after school snack.
Making beds when I put pjs away
And so on.
Other tasks are put on a timetable. When things are done weekly, it only takes a few minutes.
If your car is clean on Monday, it only takes 10 mins probably to clean it on Sunday.
Things like mot, and admin - do it as soon as you get the reminder.

mathanxiety · 20/12/2024 00:09

Embarrassinglyuseless · 19/12/2024 23:01

I chase my tail. And then spend the whole day feeling like I’ve been working without actually achieving anything.

and sometimes I’m totally paralysed by the list so I make more lists…

Have you ever been assessed for ADHD?

I know this suggestion is so typical for MN but the paralysis and the lists are a red flag.

If you're looking for motivation and some kind of road map, FlyLady (online) might help.

How is your sleep?
How long has it been since your younger child started sleeping through the night?
Any sleep apnoea?
Do you get any regular exercise?

It's very easy to become engulfed in brain fog.

EasyComfortDishes · 20/12/2024 00:03

Ideally you want to frontload everything and set it up and then let it run itself.
Get all the bills including car/pet insurance onto a DD that auto renews and that’s it. You literally never have to think about it again. You just have to find the energy time and brain space for one day to sort it.
Get your food loaded onto a shopping list and a Gousto delivery coming and that will just come every week and you never have to think
about it again.
Holidays - I use a company called Charter Travel but I’m sure there’s many more. I email them where (as in what country) I want to go and when and they sort the options and then I choose the one I want and pay.

venusandmars · 19/12/2024 23:55

It's interesting, I have found in my life that periods when I've had more time available I have been at my most disorganised. When I'm on a tighter schedule everything else becomes more structured.

I don't know whether it's because when I'm busy I know I can't put anything off, I just have to get on with it? Or whether the busier activities give me a structure that I can build other things around. e.g. my library books need to be returned - if I'm not busy I just have it on my list for the whole of the week. If I'm on a tight schedule I can spot an opportunity on Wednesday afternoon when I'll be passing the library so i schedule it in for then. There's also something about urgency... If scheduling the car's MOT is something I can do anytime in the next 3 months I feel no urgency, so it remains on my to-do-list and I just feel the burden of it being always on my list. If it needs done next week, I do it.

If you look at your current daily schedule, is there a fixed time when you can make the beds (e.g. as soon as you return from taking dc1 to school), kids reading - maybe in the 15 minutes somewhere between teatime and bedtime. Can you have one 3 minute tidying blast (involving dc) and another 3 minute blast as soon as they go to bed - that means before you do anything else. It is amazing how much you can get done if you put a timer on.

If you look at your weekly schedule are the fixed days and points when you could clean and stock the fridge, clear the car? e.g. one of the days when you've dropped dc2 at nursery you immediately deal with the fridge, another day you immediately deal with the car, another day you arrange to kick back and meet you friends for coffee, or schedule future playdates, or plan dates nights with dh (i.e. all the nice stuff).

Is there one morning (or day if dc2 does to nursery for a full day) every month that you can commit to 'big admin'. Check the timings for dog insurance, car admin, pay the bills, schedule dinner parties.

I know that sounds quite structured but if you don't have the structure of working hours then using the structure of you other activities can be a good starting point. Once you get into the swing of it, it soon becomes an easy habit.

Re your own eating - do you make a weekly meal plan? even a rough one that's open to change? You say your dc eat good meals are there things you can swap up to make those more adult friendly e.g. they eat fing fingers and veg, you eat salmon and veg. They have sausages and veg, you have roast duck and veg. Always make an extra portion that you can have for lunch another day. (sliced salmon and salad; shredded duck and salad).

If your dh is working long hours then most on the above is on you, but holiday plans should be about both of you. Make one of your date nights about the next couple of holidays, get a shared agenda then fix the research, planning, booking somewhere into your next week's activities.

There's also a lot about you, how you like to do things, what you enjoy, what makes you feel satisfied. Also how you like to process information. Do you work best with paper lists that you can visualise, or do you like digital reminders on your phone? Do you like to do any of the domestic activities - cooking, gardening, flower arranging, crafts, DIY? If you prioritised them would it help you fit other tasks around it? Do you have other beautiful passions - playing music, drawing, writing? Where do you fit those in.

@Embarrassinglyuseless although you seem to have a fortunate live, you don't sound like you are doing enough that really makes you happy, that thrills you and gives you joy (family and children of course). Find that, and find how you can fit your domestic responsibilities around it.

Olympicscandal2024 · 19/12/2024 23:53

Embarrassinglyuseless · 19/12/2024 23:39

when I lived in the USA I was diagnosed with ADHD - I just dismissed it if I’m honest because I seemed to manage better than most people pre children (held down a job + a relationship etc) - but maybe I need to use some of the tools available to people who have it…

Definitely follow it up. Reading your post, ADHD jumped out at me straight away. I didn't want to post and ask because MN posters often 'diagnose' everything! I have a DH and DCs with ADHD and work in a related profession. There are lots of things that can help, you just need to find what will work best for you.

MildredSauce · 19/12/2024 23:51

TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack · 19/12/2024 23:09

I am excellent at throwing money at problems so this is what I’d do!

  • Keeping the fridge clean and stocked HOUSEKEEPER / COOK
  • keeping things basically tidy HOUSEKEEPER / COOK
  • making sure the dog has everything he needs (annual check ups / insurance) SCHEDULED
  • managing all the crap about the cars (mots, insurance etc) SCHEDULED
  • keeping my car clean and tidy (it looks like I live in it full time. It’s embarrasing) HOUSEKEEPER / COOK
  • paying all the bills etc ALL ON DD, I NEVER LOOK AT OURS
  • making daily beds HOUSEKEEPER / COOK
  • feeding myself sensibly (the children always have nutritionally sound meals at appropriately scheduled times HOUSEKEEPER / COOK
  • Managing all the homework and reading FORGET IT FOR LITTLEST, DEAL WITH BOOK BAG IMMEDIATELY EVERY NIGHT
  • scheduling play dates FORGET THESE
  • hosting dinner parties occasionally so people keep inviting us TAKE THEM TO RESTAURANTS
  • scheduling travel and holidays ENJOY THIS
  • trying not to be a terrible friend BOOK IN TIME TO SEE PEOPLE
  • occasionally schedule a date or two SCHEDULE IT
  • working on house Reno projects FORGET IT OR HIRE EXPERTS

Loving this list. Delegate what you don't want to do and keep the chores you'll enjoy.

Also love that op suggested herself she might need a coach. It's good to learn, even if you can afford not to!

Managing a household no different to managing a business. Did you work before kids @Embarrassinglyuseless ? If so, what did you do??

bringmorewashing · 19/12/2024 23:46

I dislike a lot of these tasks too, so they either fall to DH or just rarely get done. Some you could outsource to paid help. But others I'd just forget about - dinner parties and renovation projects? Playdates? Keeping the car spotless? No mere mortal has the headspace for all of this. Sounds totally overwhelming!

I wonder where the expectation is coming from that you need to do so much? You or DH? Why should you be some sort of super housewife/professional estate manager? Unless.you've married into the roysl family or something,.I suspect you can probably relax a bit.

healthybychristmas · 19/12/2024 23:46

I was thinking ADHD all the way along and then eventually you mentioned it. Did you really think it wasn't relevant? The whole thing just smacks of it. You have the money, see a doctor about what you can do about this.

SnuffleTruffleHound · 19/12/2024 23:44

Yeah your adhd!

Heyyoupleasekeepgoing · 19/12/2024 23:43

IME a large part of being happily married to a high earning spouse is working out how to effectively outsource all the stuff he’s not got time to contribute any effort at all to - but can’t he at least do the cars or the dogs or something from your list?! Is he doing nothing at all?
It’s hard as well to retain your self confidence when he’s out there running the world or whatever & you’re at home… all the time. It’s vastly preferable to work yourself so this stuff doesn't take up your whole life, maybe something to think about after some time with baby 3 (congrats). I hate housekeeping but me working makes him arrange to have some of it done at least.
The book “How to keep house while drowning” was a useful read for me. Good luck!

Embarrassinglyuseless · 19/12/2024 23:43

Loveautumnhatewinter · 19/12/2024 23:16

Can you treat the ‘house’ like a job? If you were working, how would you organise your time and prioritise the tasks that needed to be done? And then apply this to the house. Work out how much time you actually have each day to do these tasks and plan accordingly. Get an A4 page a day diary and put tasks in for each day, with less scheduled in when your child is not in nursery. Anything that doesn’t get done and is still outstanding, gets allocated to another day. Write down a month ahead of time in the diary when car insurance/mot etc is due to give you some time to sort it out.

My suggestions might be a bit too methodical, but that’s how I tackle the shit I need to get done.

All the best OP and happy to provide mentoring services. 😀

Not too methodical at all - I am a scattered person - I need methodology - thank you!

OP posts:
Embarrassinglyuseless · 19/12/2024 23:40

EasyComfortDishes · 19/12/2024 23:28

If these things bother you I would after Xmas put littlest in nursery adhoc for a few days and just project manage it.
Get a car Hoover and bin that live in the car. Alternatively book an at home valet to deep clean all the cars then put a car Hoover and bin in each one. Set phone alarms for all the MOTs and taxes and get all the paperwork in one place and edit the alarm thar comes up so it shows where the paperwork is. That’s one day.
Ask housekeeper to start cleaning the fridge
another day sit down with Ocado/your preferred delivery app and add all your usuals to a shopping list - all the normal bread fruit milk etc and bits for kids dinners and your lunches. Every week set a phone alarm and just add the shopping list. All the apps have this function where you just click “add my usual list” or whatever
Sign up for gousto or hello fresh for you and DH dinners. That’s another day.
For socialising, spend an afternoon just sending WhatsApps to the relevant parties - would x like to come for a play date on Thursday etc, we need to meet for coffee how about the 14 th blah blah. Aim for one play date per half term per child and set them all up at the beginning of each half term.. Aim for one date set at some point in the further for each adult friend/group.
Once the event is passed, set up the next one. Put aside a couple of hours every first Sunday of the month to review your socials.
Beds/keeping things tidy - meh. Your house is clean. Just do your best.

Thank you for this hugely practical breakdown!

OP posts:
Embarrassinglyuseless · 19/12/2024 23:39

Olympicscandal2024 · 19/12/2024 23:11

Sometimes the lists themselves are overwhelming. In your situation, I'd start at the top and work down. Just go to the top floor of your house and choose a room to start in. If you come across the car documents in that room, set up your reminders for a month before they're due, etc.

You need to get on top of this before the new baby comes. It's not that hard once you have a system in place, especially because you outsource laundry, general cleaning and garden maintenance, which are the most time consuming jobs.

My husband has ADHD and reading your description sounds like him. So I will caveat the above comment and say, it's not that difficult, unless you have some neurodiversity that makes this kind of thing difficult to manage and organise.

when I lived in the USA I was diagnosed with ADHD - I just dismissed it if I’m honest because I seemed to manage better than most people pre children (held down a job + a relationship etc) - but maybe I need to use some of the tools available to people who have it…

OP posts: