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career/home balance

5 replies

hairraising007 · 05/06/2022 21:05

Hi all, I have been struggling to juggle work, looking after two younger ones, running the home and our families social calendars and finding time for any hobbies/seeing my friends.

I have been really stressed and have instigated strategies to reduce stress.

These are 1) hiring a cleaner to come in once every 2 weeks (not implemented yet) and 2) scheduling cleaning and washing for myself (and a little clothes washing duties for my partner) 3) giving my partner the task of organising social functions with two of our non children friends (this has yet to be achieved!) 4) not getting so stressed about what the kids eat i.e. they have to have 5 portions of fruit and veg a day (I am better at this now). I have considered drastically scaling down the children's clubs (they do two each) and scaling down the number of play dates I organise but then worry about their social etc development. I also thought about times when I am by myself (e.g. the train commute to work) where my partner, in this situation, would listen to a pod cast or listen to music. In contrast, I use this time to frantically organise our life (social calendar, holidays, day trips out, clubs etc). I am seeking advice on what you all do and what you have let go. I enjoy working and am going further up in my career but feel like I am constantly failing ( a common feeling for other working parents). Thanks!

OP posts:
MixingPopAndPolitics · 05/06/2022 21:12
  1. Get a cleaner but weekly
  2. See friends as and when you can
  3. Don't organise a play date until someone else does

You seem to be concentrating on (what I feel are) non essentials and stressing due to these. Cut everything to the minimum and build back up.

MixingPopAndPolitics · 05/06/2022 21:13

I work FT in a high pressure role. I accept some things have to give.

Kite22 · 05/06/2022 21:23

I agree with Mixing

I don't understand what you mean by 3

If your dc are at school and also doing 2 activities outside school, they don't need to be "doing playdates" too. If you are out at work, it just isn't practical.

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hairraising007 · 10/06/2022 11:49

Thanks for your responses, I will try and curb my inclination to organise play dates. Also found it useful your suggestion about cleaning once a week. Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 10/06/2022 11:52

How do I Carve out time for myself - 2 nights a wk and one weekend morning I go to the gym. My husband is quite capable of serving dinner, bathing them and doing his share. I book him to take them softplay and give myself an hour- he can have a friend and their children go too.

Play dates are fine, whilst they have one, get on with something in the house you need to do.
It’s about not feeling compelled to do it yourself

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