To think that the “sod the housework” advice is really unhelpful

[cadburyegg]

Just that really. We have a 3 yr old at 9 month old, I’m on maternity leave yet the advice is now to sod the housework and make memories with the kids. I struggle to keep on top of it all but the bare minimum I need to do is a load of laundry per day, washing dishes, preparing food, clearing work spaces etc because we all need to eat and wear clean clothes.

I think this advice should be changed to helpful tips on how to do bits during the day while making sure the kids get the attention they need. AIBU?

@Gwenhwyfar No, not necessary, but I think it's pretty normal to wash your bedclothes once a week. Towels could stretch to once a week, I admit, but they do look a bit grubby after a few days (lots of little boys in and out of the house, that's who I'm blaming not DH )

"I have a confession. I am 31 years old and I don’t recall ever cleaning a skirting board.
I just wanted to get that off my chest."

First time in a houseshare, housemate (in his 50s) said he'd done the skirting boards. I didn't even know what they were!
Now, I hoover or dust them occasionally. This is the first time I've heard of them being bleached.

I don't think I've ever cleaned a skirting board - I just paint over the dirt every few years

No, it's not necessary, Gwenhwyfar. Towels drying clean bodies and hands don't get so dirty that they need to be washed twice a week.

I wash bedding every 3 weeks unless it’s a heat wave or someone’s unwell.

If that makes me a skank I don’t care

Towels every week. Hand towel prob twice a week.

I think some women, and it is mostly women, make housework for themselves.

I'm a sahm, and one of those sahm's that mumsnet hates who has all her children in full time school and I don't go to work

Anyway, even whilst I had ALL the kids home (so would have been ages 3, 16 months and a newborn) I still managed to do laundry, keep things tidy, make meals, Hoover the floors etc. However I didn't break my back to do so. If one day the newborn was a cluster feeding monster or the toddlers were being a menace well I guess I just didn't get anything done and not one did dh moan. Granted it was never enough for him to actually start doing housework without me specifically saying "dh go and Hoover the hallways" but meh.

Sod the housework just means don't sweat the small stuff. Do what you can and DH can pick it up when he's home.

@madeyemoodysmum no, you're not a skank but I'm guessing your DH doesn't fart in bed as much as mine does

I think I probably would do less laundry if it was harder for me to get it dried - I have a great washing line etc. And my parents sent me to school a bit smelly as a kid, so I suppose I am a bit paranoid.

"I think some women, and it is mostly women, make housework for themselves."

Oh definitely. You see quite a few of them on here.
I think there are persnickety men as well though.