done a thousand times, but can't keep up with housework. I'm lazy, unmotivated and my kids are pigs. It's all going tits up. Sort me out if you think you can

[cuppa]

OK, I admit it.

It's not due to a health problem. My house is a state because
I hate housework (I know everybody does)
I am lazy
I am fed up being at home and can't be arsed to do anything.
can't work out how to do it with baby in tow - if I clatter about I wake him up, so I mn instead.
Kids & dp are so friggin messy - dump books on sitting room florr & they just get stood over, wear clothes to bed, cos can't be arsed to change into pj, which effectively doubles my washing load.
I could go on.

It is bad for me mentally though. It gets me even more down when it's a mess.And when it's a mess, the kids and dh get even messier. Vicious circle.

So, apart from telling me to stop being lazy, stop moaning (tried that), how do I turn myself & mucky family around?
Where does the fizz and motivation and sparkle (in eyes and taps) come from. God, I am so bored being the worlds worst house wife.

Get thee to the slatterns thread ,I can't chat I am not here I am meant to be getting dressed right now .

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/672794-Come-on-you-slatterns-get-your-arses-in-gear-I

One corner at a time.

I'd start with YOUR bedroom. Allocate one full hour to it today and clear it. It's your sanctuary.

Just start quitly working your way through the house, one corner, on cupboard or whatever a time.

For generally keeping on top - as soon as you see it - DO IT! So you see the shoes kicked all round the hall, quickly put them on the rack.

Don't look at the WHOLE! Break it down and promise yourself just one hour each day to do SOMETHING. The rest of the time is your own!

Agree with Wine, come and join the slatterns thread - it really does help. Ican't promise it will make your house a palace (mine is not) but it makes you do stuff, you will feel better and see how much you do do.

You have to divide it all up into little projects, sort out each project one at a time, and then keep on top of each sorted project while moving onto the next one.

For example, take clothing. Each person needs the right quantity and type clothing for his/her life. This involves sorting it today and then, every month or so, going through wardrobes and deciding whether things need to be sent to recycling and whether anything new needs to be bought. Once you have got on top of quantity/type, you need to ensure everyone has the right storage solutions - wardrobes, hangers, shelving etc that each person can manage themselves. So you might need to buy some new furniture (and finding this can be a project-within-a-project) and/or have a trip to Ikea for hangers and boxes etc. And then, once you have all this sorted, you need to work out a good laundry routine such that you aren't doing laundry permanently.

I have the theory, I think. Will pop into slattern thread, sounds just what I need.

It's the motivation to keep doing it.

I feel like I'm constantly doing, or avoiding doing stuff, I'm sat in everybody else's mess all day, we're constantly lurching from 1 disaster to another. from forgotten pe kits to lost library books and stroppy notes from school.

I think the kids are naturally 'bad' (messy & lazy & forgetful), but made worse by the fact that I am.

How do you make yourself do it. I guess that's the bottom line. When you're a lazy cow, how do you make yourself do it. Is there a magic answer (hopeful)

And with a baby in tow, it genuinely seems to make it harder ( or am I just shifting blame?) I am, I know I am

You sound just like me, cuppa, but I joined the slatterns and it does make it easier, my home will never be a showhouse but its a lot cleaner than it was and I dont get embarassed when people call unexpectedly.
As regards washing, I have bagged mine into colours,darks and whites. I try to have ready what they need for the next day washed, Ie knickers, socks, tracksuits, clean shirts for school etc. It lessens the stress factor and you dont end up screaming the next morning at them about how lazy they are.

cuppa - come and join us on the slatterns thread honestly it makes you do stuff!
i'm no domestic goddess and 'stuff' just builds up but i like ticking things off lists and having a public list makes me want to tick things off even more!

see you over there!

I think you have to do what I did and turn into a nagging housewife for a couple of weeks. If you see the kids shoes lying, tell them to put them on the rack, if they drop a book tell them to move it, they will object at first but then it will become second nature (I hope, I am still at the nagging stage). You will all get into a better routine and it wont be as bad. Just keep nagging all the time, 'plates away, clothes in the wash when you take them off, rubbish in the bin, pack own schoolbags, etc etc'. They will eventually learn and maybe start pocket money on a scale depending on what they all do. If clothes are left on the floor write it on the calander and they lose 10p. It all mounts up and they will soon learn. And you will have less of a mountain to tackle.

for me the motivation comes after i've done it - when i can see it all sparkly and lovely it feels so relaxing. (disclaimer: this happened v rarely in the past for me, although it seems to be getting better recently, not sure if i'm better at it or we're more organised or you reach a kind of critical mass where it becomes easier to keep on top of).

the flylady thing is sink polishing which i pmsl'd at when i first read it, but as a motivation i think it's a good one - something small you can tackle in 15 minute or so (if you count drying up/putting away as part of it). we have a stainless steel sink so having that all gleamy and "under control" looking is a good boost for me.

don't necessarily pick that, find something of your own which is a quick fix that you can always start with.

the other tip that works for me is doing 5 minutes here and there, rather than letting it all mount up so it becomes an impossibly big job. things like cleaning the mirrors in the bathroom after a shower, or wiping over the sink quickly - not thinking "i must clean the bathroom" which becomes a 45 minute job. little bites.

honestly, i feel your pain and i've been there. i would get medieval on your family's arses too mind everyone has to pitch in, otherwise they'll never learn how to keep on top of it and will carry that chaos and out-of-control feeling into their homes as adults - it's for their own good