Does anyone else feel like they never get to sit down in the evening?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

Minor moan but also wonder if I am not adulting right!

After we get the DC in bed, around 7.30, apart from actually eating dinner we don't really sit down. The kitchen looks like a bomb has hit it so I sort that whilst DH makes dinner. Then there is laundry to do, ironing school uniform, packing bags for tomorrow, batch cooking, picking up the explosion of Duplo that is the living room, admin tasks, etc.... I finish and it's 11pm and time for bed as I know I'll be up at 5.30.

We even have a cleaner but somehow there is still so much to do!

Is everyone like this or are we just somehow missing some top tip for life????

Last night
Cooked dinner and made packed lunches/sorted school bags while it was cooking
Ate together at 6
Loaded dishwasher and set going
Washed up
Wiped all kitchen surfaces and dining table (and high chair)
Swept floor
Made bottle for baby
Bathed baby
Bathed 3yo (dressed baby while 3yo in bath)
Got 3yo into pyjamas (baby sat on floor with a toy)
Read 3 stories while feeding baby milk
Tucked 3yo up in bed
Put baby into cot and stayed with them until they went to sleep (I folded a load of dry washing and put it away during this time)
Cleaned bathroom
Had a shower
Made a cup of tea
Was sat down by 8.15
Older two go up to their rooms by 9

I think it is the different meals that is causing you problems OP. Even if we are eating something unsuitable for the little ones we still eat at the same time. For example last night we had a really hot black bean chilli with jacket potatoes. I made the older two eat it (with lots of sour cream) but knew the three year old wouldn’t eat it (not just the heat, she won’t eat beans, and isn’t keen on potatoes) so put something in the oven with the potatoes for her and the baby had some stuff I’d cooked previously. Added one different component rather than cooking two separate meals (she had a bit of jacket potato and the same veg as us). Looking at the meals you’ve listed I think you could easily do that, or even feed them some of your batch cooked stuff but all eating together. It does take a little adjustment to get used to eating earlier but is worth it to get your evening back.

Batch cooking here involves either cooking extra of what I’m already making, or of peeling/chopping some extra veg and chucking it in the pressure cooker with some chicken or whatever while I’m already preparing veg for that night. It’s never an entirely separate activity.

Regarding laundry are you able to put a load on on the morning? Even if you don’t get to hang it out til the evening it’s still one less load to fit in. I know putting in in the machine takes no time but you still have to wait for it to be done before you get the next load on.

I started typing this last night so apologies if the thread has moved on!

Helen what are your older children doing while you're sorting out the kitchen and seeing to the little ones?

It's just me and 10 yo DS at home and he really likes to spend time with me (and me with him!), either playing board games, being outside or watching telly ie stuff that means I can't get on with other things.

I'm wondering if I've over-compensated for the tough time he's had with me and his Dad splitting (long story, doesn't see his Dad really now). He's also at the age where he doesn't really play with toys as such, but isn't at the age where I'm happy for him to disappear to his room watching gamers on YouTube.

Make a rule to 'Clock off' at 9 pm regardless of what's been done.
Do less washing (bad for the environment)
Eat as a family.
DP can put his skills to use at the weekend.

I agree there is too much cooking,eat as a family and save the special meals for the weekend.
Laundry, throw the bibs and muddy clothes into the machine,a decent detergent should wash this perfectly fine.
Make beds when children wake up.
RELAX in the evening,set a time when you "clock off" and stick to it.

@TheOrigBrave

It’s hard when there is just one child at home I think. My older two are complete sloths so watch tv/read/play computer games etc while I’m sorting the little ones. After 7pm they’re not allowed phones/YouTube. They’re both at secondary school so moan a lot about our technology rules