To have laughed at my friend who said that I should be able to get all of my housework done on a Friday morning when I'm off?

[doublecakeplease]

I teach in FE, 4 days per week. 1 hour commute each way. DH works in a similar job, similar commute. We're out of the house from 7.15 am to 6pm every day and both of us often have prep to do once DS is in bed.

Ds is 16 months - he's at nursery / grandparents when i work so is out of the house for 4 long days.

I was jealously admiring my friends' beautifully tidy 1 bed flat and bemoaning my shit hole of a house. DH pulls his weight (if i remind him!) but home often looks very lived in. We're also doing up our manky old house so it is getting lots better as we build rooms around our needs!

Anyway - friend reckons i should be able to get everything done on a Friday morning whilst DS sits in his highchair and watches nicely. Apparently this would save DH from having to muck in, give me loads of time for our myself and my house would be immaculate!

Was i unreasonable o laugh?? ;-)

[Livinglavidafoca]

ha ha ha, 'sitting and watching nicely from his highchair'... she has no idea...

[doublecakeplease]

Oh how i wish I'd put (lighthearted) after my title...

I just fancied a little laugh at her naivety.

Hi fives to all you fellow funny people. Some of you need to get out a bit more though.

[appletarts]

I clean the whole house every friday morning while toddler 1 is at nursery while toddler 2 plays, I put him in his cot to play with toys for 20min at the end when I do the hoovering. At the end of every day we tidy up and do one job, bleach sink or change beds. I agree with your friend I'm afraid. I think with one toddler this is possible, I do it. I'm sure it'd be nicer for you as a family to do fun things on weekend rather than clean house.Or get a cleaner for a couple of hours in the week.

[auntpetunia]

Assume friend has no kids! Mental.

[doublecakeplease]

No kids aunt...

My house isnt a hovel, i wouldn't be ashamed if someone called round but i DON'T want to spend my one morning on my own with DS cleaning. I take my hat off to the women on here who do everything necessary to run a house in half a day but i DON'T aspire to be them.

[MrsMangoBiscuit]

Well it would be possible. You could strap DS into his high chair (and ignore him entirely), blitz the whole house, then seal it up. Of course, you'll all have to sleep in the kitchen, but that's the only way I can see you keeping it clean all week by only doing the dishes.

HTH

[ParadiseChick]

It's really not rocket science. How bad does your house need to be when an hour or so won't sort it out!

Does your dc nap?

I work full time, home early on a Friday and have lunch with the boys then put some tunes on and have a mad hour straightening up and that's it for the weekend.

I do something everyday though. I think it would be a nightmare not to and I don't understand people who don't! I'm talking 15 minutes in the morning, same after dinner, a load of washing a day and that's it!

[doublecakeplease]

Paradise - this wasn't meant to be a thread about organising my cleaning regime, there are loads of them. I read them and do some of the stuff on them. i was simply telling you all about something my childless, minimalist, immaculate housed friend said about doing EVERYTHING NECESSARY on a Friday morning then needing to do NOTHING for the rest of the week.

[doublecakeplease]

And yes - he naps but sometimes i like to sit and let him nap on my knee (like he is doing now)

It's indulgent and probably not viewed as good parenting by some but i LOVE it. It's my treat

[cathpip]

I have a 2 young dc's and 2 dogs, and I don't work, I clean every day and there is still no chance of my house ever being immaculate, clean possibly but then there will be some who would disagree. Am surprised you only laughed at her:)

[AntoinetteCosway]

I have a friend like this. She and her DH have a massive house, both work full time and their DS is 2. YET her house is immaculate. All. The. Time. Without a cleaner.

I have no idea how the fuck she does it. On my day off with DD we seem to play a game called 'who can make the most mess in under 10 mins'. I'd rather play than clean. I am a slattern and proud (But still a little bit jealous of aforementioned friend. Not jealous enough to get off my arse and clean however.)

[RubyGates]

Ha!
Sorry, just ha!

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Ha!

I mean really - JUST washing up the other days? No laundry, no vacuuming, no wiping surfaces, no chipping weetabix off high chairs, no sweeping floors?!

She is mad.

[FruOla]

YADNBU to have laughed at her

Next time she says it, reply "well, at least I won't die with a Hoover in my hand"

[Lamazeroo]

I don't work during the week, I 'only' have one child, I live in a small flat and I don't do any housework. Of course we sort of keep on top of washing, dishes, mopping up any spills, but I fucking hate housework and am happy to live in a tip while my DS and I read books together, have cuddles on the couch, spend entire days in the park, go to playgroups etc. His childhood and my sanity are far more important to me than living in a tidy flat. I do have the most wonderful cleaner who comes once a week and miraculously makes everything clean and tidy. She's only £9 an hour and does sooooo much in two hours. Surely most working families could spare £18 a week? I would gladly eat out less or stop buying a daily coffee or whatever to have a cleaner.

[florilegia]

Also loving the idea of the toddler sitting peacefully in the high-chair, watching what's going on! Even in his most helpful moods (and sometimes he really does try to help, bless him), DS tends to empty the washing basket, tread all over the clothes while pretending to hang them out to dry, and then runs off with the peg bag. When he's not in a helpful mood, we have no chance!

[nokidshere]

I have Fridays off - well 6 hours! I do nothing. Its my day off!

any essential housework should be done on working days in small chunks thus enabling the life of riley on Fridays

[Scholes34]

No point wasting your Friday morning on housework, as you'll only have to do it again the following Friday.

[Lamazeroo]

Scholes34 I like your style!

[mrsjay]

I actually feel depressed though. DD was born in January 2012 and my house has not been truly clean since then. Not even for a day

DDs were born in 1993 and 1998 people who obsess about their housework bore me to tears , and your friend has a 1 bed flat the silly moo if she is so great get her to come round

[Scholes34]

Pre-DC, my two bed flat was always about an hour away from being clean and tidy. Now my four bed house is very "lived in".

When my parents were coming to visit once, I told my DM "you know how when someone is coming to visit and you rush around cleaning and tidying and pretending that your house is always that clean? - well I haven't this time!" Haven't looked back since.

[Geckoandthemonkey]

YANBU. It's your one & only opportunity to have your dc to yourself for a few hours.
It's amazing how childless friends/family seem to understand the stamina it takes to look after a toddler, run a house & in your case work full time.
Ba!