If you really need to sort your house out how on earth do you do it with dc's around?

[Honey1975]

I feel like I'm in a catch 22 situation. Having moved here 6 months ago we've never had time to organise things properly due to work & everyday life with a busy family. I often feel stressed out and a lot of this down to the lack of organisation in the house.

I would love to be able to just get everything organised and some routines in place so that I'm less stressed and able to enjoy the time I'm not at work with my family.

I've got a week off this week for Easter hols but haven't been able to get anything done as my youngest dd just wants me to do things with her constantly.
If I don't get this house sorted life continues to be chaotic and stressful. But if I try and sort it out the dc's are miserable and challenging!

What is the answer does anyone know? Feeling pretty down and rubbish as a parent right now.

honey I'm in the same boat! No family close by to pitch in either. At this rate we will be living out of boxes until they start high school!!!
Hopefully someone will be along soon who has the wisdom...

Messy it's hard isn't it. I don't have any family who can help by having them so I feel like I'm either at work or with them. Obviously I love having time with them but I can never get on top of anything and just feel always on the back foot.

Can you compromise? 'Leave me in peace for an hour to sort this, and then we'll do (insert exciting activity). If you pester me, no exciting activity and you get to scrub the loo?'

I will be watching this thread with interest and can sympathise with you op. My house is in chaos but I never get the chance to sort anything out, it takes me long enough just to get the weekly clean/laundry/shopping done. I know life would run a lot smoother if things were organised better.

I hired an organiser.

I paid for her to come and sort out two of my rooms. I would have paid for her to come and do more except we're moving again so not worth it.

She was amazing. I got it done with her even with DS there.

Divide and conquer - get DH to take them off and you crack on and tackle an area at a time.

Or put them in childcare while you are off. Or a mixture of the two. How old are the DC? We are in a similar boat and I stick the TV on and get as much done as I can but mine are 4 and 8 now so a bit easier.

Honestly, I just do what I need to and tell them to amuse themselves. My two eldest spent more than 3 or 4 hours on electronics the other day. I, however got two rooms completely decluttered and a further 2 cleaned thoroughly, children wardrobes now totally sorted too. They were happy and so am I.

Hmm, a lot of this doesn't apply with toddlers though? I have a toddler and a reception age child who has gone loopy and high maintenance with the strain of school. We are also stony broke after moving.
Woe woe!
When my eldest was a toddler I got into a very good rhythm with a neighbour where we swapped afternoons- one entertained both toddlers while the other dashed about doing jobs. In fact that is how we both got our houses into a sale le state! The fatal flaw is of course that we have now both moved and it's not as convenient as it was...

Yes, with toddlers it is very difficult. I think the answers are to pay to put them in childcare (obviously this is not always achievable), rope in a family member (ditto) or do childcare swaps. Any meaningful organising with them around is unlikely.

The other option is do what you can in short bursts while they are watching telly or once they are in bed.