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MNHQ

What are your top tips for making family life work ?

255 replies

carriemumsnet · 30/06/2008 15:45

While we wait with bated breath for the results of our work/life balance survey we thought we'd tap you for your top tips on how you make family life work, in terms of work/life balance, family time, sharing responsibilities for children/ house /money etc

How do you make the parenting partnership (great phrase eh? ) work in your house?

OP posts:
morningpaper · 01/07/2008 20:12
  • have equally demanding/needy old parents
PussinJimmyChoos · 01/07/2008 20:12

Take the odd 5 minutes here and there and step back to appreciate and enjoy what you have. This time with children only comes once and as hard as what it can be at times, its still so special

morningpaper · 01/07/2008 20:10
  • keep talking, even about the stuff you are bitter about
  • make finances totally fair (IMO this means a joint account and equal monthly 'pocket money')
  • have a partner who has the same housework standards as you (if you are both happy in a hovel, that's fine; if you both like it anally neat, then he'll have spent years doing as much housework as you)
  • if you are a SAHM have a partner who comes home early to do all the evening bath/bed routine (this was a dealbreaker for me at a recent DH-job-related crossroads)
  • Have a life outside the home: volunteering, working, even just keeping up with current affairs
  • Don't turn into his mother / her father
  • Don't spend your life on Mumsnet and playing Scrabulous and only talking to each through MSN
WideWebWitch · 01/07/2008 20:08

lol at living on the moon

filthymindedvixen · 01/07/2008 19:54

will be reading this thread withinterest as I can't make it work
You'd think after 10 years, I'd have some ideas but, nah...stillmaking it up as we go along.

Ok, here is my tip.
Have a plan. By all means, have a goal. Have a destination. Have a dream.
But be prepared to be bloody flexible along the way. And make sure you try and fit in as much fun as possible while you're at it, otherwise it's a wasted journey....

ilovemydog · 01/07/2008 19:44

lots of time away - or at least he goes away for fishing trips to Cornwall and I get time at home alone

MsDemeanor · 01/07/2008 19:40

Ah poor Anna (roffle) if it works for you, do it. But I already live right next to the children's school. Was the work of random moments.
I am totally disorganised person.

MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 01/07/2008 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheChicken · 01/07/2008 19:30

lol

MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 01/07/2008 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheChicken · 01/07/2008 19:29

wlel i knwo UBER rich peopel who love on the moon

MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 01/07/2008 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OverMyDeadBody · 01/07/2008 19:28

I'm glad that works for you Anna, but personally I could not be happy knowing my whole life was planned out so far in advance!!I'd rather be spontanious. I'd rather enjoy 2008 than plan out 2015.

Anna8888 · 01/07/2008 19:25

Oh really? I know very, very, very rich people who looked for years for the right place here.

Maybe your friend isn't very particular?

mrsruffallo · 01/07/2008 19:24

Each to their own, Anna. We wouldn't be happy that way.

MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 01/07/2008 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anna8888 · 01/07/2008 19:23

No, I hate rules and we don't have them.

I hate all this "decide rules and stick to them" (and there is a lot of that on this thread), it kills children's personalities.

TheChicken · 01/07/2008 19:23

well she is barkign then
we will move sometiem when we know where ds1 will go to school
is that a PLAN
oh lordy
ladies i haev a plan

MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 01/07/2008 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anna8888 · 01/07/2008 19:22

We want to move (and for our daughter to change school) in 2015. The area we want to move to is very sought after. We will need to start looking for a flat in the right area in 2012 or 13... or else it just won't happen.

A friend of mine looked for the right flat here in Paris (to house her, her husband, four children and parents with Alzheimers plus two carers) for FOUR years.

TheChicken · 01/07/2008 19:22

rofl at fallen madonna

TheChicken · 01/07/2008 19:22

i knwo my boys will go to university as i ddi, their grandparents adn great granparents did
no big deal

i am not planning for it
we dont have attainemnt targets

mrsruffallo · 01/07/2008 19:21

I am the opposite of Anna.
I think my children will decide to go to uni if they had a passion for education.
I want them to develop into individuals without worrying about some bizarre long term plan I have drawn up for them.

TheFallenMadonna · 01/07/2008 19:20

Do you have disciplinary procedures as well Anna? Redundancies?

MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 01/07/2008 19:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.