Too much, too little time!

[jugglingmonkey]

Help please! I'm finding it very hard to keep on top of everything there is to do managing and running our home.

It's not just endless laundry, which cleaner helps with, but all the other bits and bobs that need doing.

I work three days a week, and we like to make the most of weekends, either visiting family, or seeing friends etc.

Evenings I just want to crash out after DS is asleep, not start on meal prep, tidying, admin sorting etc, never mind get to the gym or do any of my own hobbies!

It's starting to have an effect too - last month I forgot to pay the car tax and we've been fined a huge amount. I feel like I'm all over the place, barely holding it together.

I'm asking because we're TTC#2 now. How do you cope with two?? I know I should 'lower my standards' but they're not especially high now either!

I feel I could just about keep things ship shape if I was a SAHM and with DS in nursery one day a week, and if I never went out in the evening! Does it get easier when they get to school??

For info, DH is helpful, keeps on top of all home maintainance and ongoing improvements. Puts washing on, cooks etc.

juggling I am in a similar position.

I have two DC - one is 7 and the other is 3. So DC1 was in pre-school for 3 mornings a week before I had DC2.

It was only then that I felt I was doing anything other than treading waster when it came to domestic stuff. I held it all together at work (work 3 long days a week), but everything round the house was disorganised. When DC1 started pre school, I didn't have to take him when I did the weekly shop (and therefore didn't forget anything, planned meals, spent less generally too), and had time to sort, tidy, put away, batch cook, pay bills, make holiday plans, shop for clothes etc.

And then we had DC2 . Ho ho ho. We are back to square one. Thankfully he will start pre school after Easter or in September .

Have you considered the possibility of having twins in your next pregnancy?

I feel exactly the same I have 1 dd who is 8 months and I feel like my house is always a tip, I go back to work soon too only part time but I can't keep on top of it now so no idea what state it will be in then I don't know how people manage with more than 1 dc! I should do it when dd goes to bed but I can't be bothered dh is out 7am til 7.30 pm so after doing everything all day then bath and bedtime I need a rest!

I decluttered first - then one room at a time 10 mins then sit on sofa. Next room ten mins then break. It works for me.
Mon - change bed sheets wash towels
Tues wash floors
Wed laundry several loads (then won't pile up at weekend)
Thurs online shop delivery & batch cook & freeze
Fri wash floors
Sat family day
Sun sleep

Would a rough routine like this help?

Yy to cleaning wipes and clean bathrooms when using it (wipe sinks/ clean loo quickly) etc
Kitchen - I cleared my surfaces of clutter and made such a difference.
A shoebox/ containerfor DCs bits and bobs:DH bits and bobs and for mine.

Oh and meal planning saved my sanity

I'm in a similar situation, it's ingoing I'm afraid but starting to make small inroads.

Couple of things that helped me was getting an Organised Mum calendar and sitting down putting everything on it. Put it up next to a noticeboard where you can pin bills/car tax notices etc and have in it view so everything is at hand.

I also turfed DH and kids out one weekend and washed and ironed everything as I felti was continuously washing. Now i aim to do 1 white and 1 dark wash a week and iron it ASAP to prevent anything building up. Plus of course a towel and bedding wash but I tumble dry them straight away and put away/ back on bed ASAP. The washing gets me down if it builds up.

Oh yes, I clean everything with baby wipes and clean the bathroom when kids are having a bath etc.