I need someone to give me a good slap!

[SJP83]

I had a mini breakdown today, tears, panic, palpitations, anger, you name the emotion I've demonstrated it today. Much to the annoyance, derision and pity of DH. I'm now in bed mulling things over with a glass of red. What could have caused all this you ask? I'll tell you, housework, laundry and general to do list type jobs. I'm 7 months into my maternity leave with a man, a 6 month old daughter, a dog, two guinea pigs and some fish to look after. I wouldn't consider myself a domestic goddess by any stretch of the imagination but I do think I am giving myself a hard time here. I mean yes, my cream carpets might be speckled with fluff but it's not like we're living with half an inch of dust or with poo speckled toilet bowls. So despite the house appearing to the slightly blind eye relatively clean I cannot seem to gain any perspective. I spend my days sweeping, picking up, cooking, washing up but can I find time to dust the skirts or clean the curtains. My to do list is off the page. Please help ladies, do you feel like your home is more sty than style? Am I being far too much of a perfectionist? Or if not how on bloody earth do you lot find time to clean your oven and wash your blinds?

I would love a high tech house with anti-cleaning devices. I fancy bathrooms that spray themselves down after use, self cleaning windows, roombas on each floor, that kind of thing. The science is there but gadgets are expensive because female labour is cheap.

i often get a bit stressed with dh when he adds to the need to clean ie not cleaning the toilet after he's been to the loo (no further detail required) or trimming his sideburns over the sink and not cleaning round the sink after he shaved, what i think is the best solution is to set aside time to clean, like a cleaner would (or better still get s cleaner) ideally engage a baby sitter e.g your mum or a friend so you can give it two hours (or whatever you are happy with ) once or twice a week. then make sure the rest of your week you are busy with playgroups activities and playdates meaning less mess is created and you also don't sit around noticing the cobwebs in the corners!

I'm 7 months into my maternity leave with a man, a 6 month old daughter, a dog, two guinea pigs and some fish to look after.

This right here is your problem. Cross the man off the looking-after list. He can look after himself (and the guinea pigs). And if you're worried about keeping the house clean, get rid of the dog! Your baby will be crawling soon.