Does anyone else feel as though they are just going around in circles & not achieving anything particular

[blossomwilloughby]

I think it is our circumstances which are the problem as, other than for the past two days, DH has been working 12 - 14 hour days (inc weekends), I've been doing 5 - 6 hour days Monday - Friday and we have two primary school aged children who are willing to help lay the table, empty the dishwasher, put washing away & that sort of thing but meals need cooking and the house needs cleaning etc.
In terms of "extra" tasks, we've been through each DC's clothes, I've done things like de-scale various appliances and clear out the airing cupboard. I most definitely haven't done a full scale garden re-design, painted anything or anything else which feels like an achievement.
Is anyone else in this position? All of our neighbours are behaving like they're on an episode of Challenge Anneka or Changing Rooms and whilst I know they have teenagers or several more adults in the house, I still feel like a bit of a failure.

We've got 2 teenagers here and I've done nothing of the sort either, so go easy on yourself. I have been off for 2 weeks for school 'holidays' and have only achieved: cleaning the oven door (you'd need another fortnight to tackle the inside) and planting some sunflower seeds. We tried to tidy the shed but the spiders were massive so we watched a film instead. I think you sound pretty normal. I am finding the stress of the whole situation pretty exhausting to be honest.

Yes!!! It's me, my husband and 8 month old baby. I'm on mat leave and he's home but not working. I really thought that I'd get so much sorted over this time; all the jobs that I've been putting off for months. The reality though is that we just spend the majority of our time trying to keep on top of the extra mess / dirt created by us all being in the house constantly. So far the only 'extra' thing I've got done is tidying 2 drawers 😂

Yes, the amount of time spent on food prep and tidying the kitchen is ridiculous - we normally all take sandwiches to work/college. And somehow we are wearing more clothes although we don't go ANYWHERE so heaven knows why.

We are the same. Kids need almost constant supervision and life seems to revolve around the next meal.

I'm very relieved to find out it's not just me!

Me too! DH is a doctor & has been working as normal, so it’s me & 3 kids (Y7, Y3 and pre school) & the dog just drifting about the house achieving very little.

We're the same, I ordered paint....it's still sitting there. I just drift about and worry about everything. It's not just you at all. All those singing families really annoy me now.

We are the same. Kids need almost constant supervision and life seems to revolve around the next meal.

Same here, too. Except for when we’re asleep.

Oh my goodness, give yourself a break! DH is WFH (NHS) doing very long hours. I’m furloughed on 80% pay, so am with our 3 children all day (5,11,13).
I’m hardly even managing the housework, so seriously how you’re managing to work as well is beyond me. You must be very organised to WFH and run the house between you. This is a time to survive not put additional pressure on yourself.
(I appreciate words on a screen don’t translate as well so if you can imagine your best friend saying this in an I love you voice take care, not you being told off!) ❤️

Why are you even considering extra tasks?