Does anyone else feel like this

[newmum2018385]

Sorry I think this is just me feeling abit over whelmed. Just wondered if it's normal.
My house is a complete mess, I can't keep up with it. I see friends houses who also have children and their is no way near as bad. I just don't have time to clean. I spent an hour cleaning my kitchen two days ago and it already looks a mess. Trying to feed my DC three healthy balanced meals a day without salt that she actually likes plus bf. My DH who does help out but is very use to having delicious home cooked food by MIL. He never comments he actually compliments my food saying how much healthier it is than MIL. But to me it is just crap. My parents are coming over tonight so trying to make the house look half decent. I have decided tonight when DC is asleep I will just have to clean everywhere. She has just started crawling so I guess the mess is stressing me out more.
Sorry for moan I know it's not a serious problem.

Housework is hard work. It's easy to fall behind with it so don't beat your self up. I bet your house isn't half as messy as you think it is, the reality is most people's houses are a mess at least once in a while. Of all of my friends, only two of them have houses that are truly immaculate all the time, one has a cleaner and the other is obsessed with cleaning. Neither have young children. In fact one doesn't have children full stop.

Oh and also, you don't have to live in an operating theatre so try not to worry too much. Concentrate on one room at a time if you can. HTH.

Totally sympathise OP, it's so hard keeping on top of it all. Is getting a cleaner once a week an option for you? If not, it might help if you try to spend 20 mins in the morning and 20 mins in the evening just having a power blast to keep on top of things - just making the bed, loading the dishwasher, wiping down surfaces in one room each time and sticking on a load of laundry. It can help you keep on top of daily mess and then you don't need to do so much when you have a weekly clean. The other thing I've found is that most of the time when my house gets really messy it's because there isn't actually room for everything - maybe you aren't on top of laundry because you have too many clothes and could donate some to charity, or there is always clutter about because your cupboards are full and need a good sort. I obviously don't know your situation at all and it may be totally different, but it definitely helped me to chuck or donate loads of stuff I didn't want or need any more!

In terms of cooking it sounds like you're doing better than you think if your husband likes it! But if you're wanting to shake things up I always find really good recipes online. Some of my favourite sites are nigella, smitten kitchen and BBC good food.

Finally, don't beat yourself up - you're probably doing much better than you think, and remember that when you see other people's houses you're seeing them when they've been made ready for you to see! I bet your friends have loads of less than perfect days themselves. If your daughter and husband are happy and healthy then you're already doing amazingly x

I'm totally with you. On my second child now and going insane with the monotony of trying to keep up with the house and cooking and time with the kids and failing miserably with all of it. I'll follow thread with interest.

Trying to keep a pin neat home and raise a family is hard work.

My house was never as tidy or clean as I’d have liked it to be when my family was young.

Use short cuts, don’t be afraid to cheat, top tidy can be good enough, cupboards don’t have to be immaculate, skip ironing if you can, try to tidy as you go with things like cooking, bathing the kids, putting stuff away as soon as it’s used.

A swift wipe around the wash basin and loo daily and clean hand towel, that’s the bathroom done.
Make beds as soon as you’re up, even if you only pull the duvet up. It’s psychological but it does help.
Have a big toy box and make putting the toys away a fun game/race/competition.
Beans on toast IS a suitable family dinner once a week.
Try to do at least one load of laundry each day, possibly two, fold dry clothes to reduce ironing. Keep worktops free of clutter, makes cleaning the kitchen much quicker and easier.

There are some YouTube tutorials.

Don't compare yourself to others and don't put yourself down - you have your hands full!

Food is being complimented and is healthy. It might seem boring to you, maybe when you feel a bit more in control experiment with some quick and easy recipes?

My house is relatively tidy as long as you don't open the cupboards

• Things go back where they belong once they are finished being used.
• Dirty washing in the washing basket. (pet peeve)
• A load of washing goes on each morning.
• Make the beds after breakfast.
• Toys go away before bathtime it's a game. Whoever does it first/best etc chooses the bath toys.
• Wipe as you go. Just cooked wipe the sides, just bathed wipe the bathroom over. This takes 2 minutes max.
• Forget ironing unless it's essential hang things that may need ironing on a hanger when damp (damp clothes on hangers on the washing line probably won't need ironing at all then)

I suppose in short it's about building little things into daily routine and cutting corners where possible.

Honestly life is too short for big deep cleans. Maybe do it once to get on top of things and then build smaller bits into your day.

But please don't be hard on yourself, a tidy home isn't the be-all and end-all.

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and suggestions. Would love to have a cleaner but unfortunately just not an option. Although I am thinking of getting one just for a one off deep clean then hopefully I can keep on top of it after that.
Agree that we do have too much clutter and could do with getting rid of stuff aswell.
Think today it just got a bit much I ended up having wheetabix for breakfast and lunch and had no time to shower. I have been trying to fit exercise in which often isn't working out or means the house is even more of a mess.
Anyway thank you I think it's nice just to know I'm not on my own

Oh, OP! I feel you!!!!! I think one of your issues could be that you cleaned your kitchen for an hour 2 days ago have you tried doing just 15/20 mins everyday instead? That's the only way I stay on top of things. If I have a bad day and I don't do it, give it 2 days and that's it, house is a mess and I feel overwhelmed and don't know how to get it back again.

Staying on top of it by doing A bit every day is my best advice.

sirlee66 give good advice. When you do your daily however many minutes, concentrate on the bit where you can make the biggest difference. It's amazing what a difference you can make if you time limit yourself - "I'm going to do as much as I can in this room in 20 mins" rather than "I'm going to get this room finished".

One tip I found useful - give the washbasin taps a quick rub with a cloth - a clean basin and shiny taps diverts the attention from anything else that's going on.

If your parents are coming ask them to give you a hand with things? Cheeky but can't see why not. I think the amount of stuff that needs doing in the house does feel overwhelming a lot of the time. I have 3 dc, a dog and sometimes feel utterly defeated by it all. And before anyone says - yes my dh does do his fair share around the house.
You are not alone op - it's also very boring doing chores all the time which makes it even harder to summon up the energy and enthusiasm for it! I'd much rather spend my days off playing with the kids or having days out.