My house is so messy, dirty and awful I need help PLEASE :-(

[namechangedforareason]

I HATE my house. It has got to the point I can't bear to be at home. We go to toddler groups or classes most days and if I am at home I feel awful. I can't bear the state I have let the house get in to. It is dirty, very messy, cluttered etc. I feel bad for my children. I NEED to get it sorted for their sake and mine.

DH is taking the kids out for a couple of hours tomorrow.

So there is my chance to get it sorted. But I don't even know where to start!

I feel like I am always cleaning and tidying. But it is still a right state - how does that work?!

I am not looking for a spotless house, I would hate that. But I would love for it to be safe and hygenic for my kids, and to be able to have friends over at the last min without being embarrassed about the state of the house.

PLLLLLLLEEEEAAAAASSSSSSEEEE Help me. I am really desperate.

Aww if it helps, DD2 is less old than you are pregnant, and my nipples have been fine for a few weeks now

Ooh tis a good list.

I have washed and put away a few loads of dishes (still some pans left but my hands can't take the powder method any more!)

Washed and put nappies round to dry, done another wash load and about to put in another.

gathered random clothes from lounge

In the process of putting away a load of the washing

Tidied the hose and pump from birth pool (randomly scattered on the dining room floor

Not a great list, but it is looking better for just that.

Ooh Flame that actually sounds like a pretty good list. I'm excusing myself for the rest of the day as ds is very very sick. When dh gets home with car I think we are going to go to baycall.

Thanks Flame! Your list sounds good too ~ especially with a nb!!! How old? what shape?! Congratulations! how was your birthpool experience? I loved mine

Oh Gracie, what's up with your lo?

Dr said swine flu, but I didn't believe him because he didn't seem that sick. He has suddenly taken a turn for the worse in the last hour but gp now doesn't have any appointments left (even emergency ones ) so the receptionist told me to wait til 5.30 and ring baycall.

Oh dear! I hope he's better soon. They are such a worry...

Gracie hope he improves!

Lol @ "what shape" - one without the dangly bits , 5 weeks old yesterday. birth pool was fabulous, had one with DD1 but didn't get a chance to use one for DS so was pleased my final baby got it.

Aww! I laboured in a pool in '98 with Ds, but he got stuck and forceps were necessary but I gave birth with Dd in Dec '06 and loved it. Wouldn't want to give birth any other way. The down side was the MW not letting me get in until about 25 minutes before she was born...

That was the issue with DS - she wouldn't let me in til I was "ready" and then he was born , so with DD2 I announced that I was getting in the pool NOW and ignored any protests

DS Update Baycall dr doesn't think it is swine flu. He said it's more likely to be a combination of ear, nose, throat, chest and eye infections with a stomach bug and a little dehydration to boot. Whew!

He's given us antibiotics and some rehydration salts and says with plenty of sleep DS will be feeling better in a few days. How do you make a 2 yo sleep? Especially when the only reason they're awake is because they can't lie down with having a coughing fit??

Anyway, if it's not swine I don't need a shot, so that's just fine by me very sorry for DS though

Whatever it is I am gonna get it. Been starting to feel shivery and drippy nosed in the last hour or two.

Grace - I hope LO feels better soon . My DD1 had swine flu not long after it came to the Uk and has only, in the last few weeks started to get her appetite back . Hopefully it's not that.

I didnt get my birthing pools either time

Got lots done, but quite disapointed that I didn't manage to finish downstairs to be honest. But it was a right state before I started yesterday. Should be able to get some more done tomorrow afternoon when DD1 sleeps. With a bit of luck, I might be able to get DD2 down at the same time.

Forgot to say, I know you namechanged, but I still really admire your honesty in the OP. You willingness to accept responsibility and not blame shift was really remarkable. I was very inspired by you.

I'm going to have another go at being FLY tomorrow, so I'll try and get on at lunch time and shout some encouraging words your way too.

Thanks for that Gracie. The only real reason I name changed is because some of my customers are mumsnetters and didn't want to put people off. (trying not to say too much there!).

I wouldn't be suprised if I am found out TBH as I haven't been very careful but oh well!

Thanks for the Crisis Cleaning link. I am about to go down to London again to continue trying to sort out my brother's flat. I have been absolutely dreading it as I have got to the point where I have done pretty well all the obvious stuff and have to get down to cleaning etc. The whole place is a mess (very Zen, a friend of his said!) and I had no idea where to start, but that 15 minute schedule sounds really good to me.

I've had that whole flu type thing since Thursday; it started with a sore throat and I had dizzy spells, hot/cold sweats, runny nose, coughs n sneezes. Started to feel better today, but sore throat back this evening

I'm hoping ot carry on this afternoon - busy this morning

Hi, anyone here? I am only just in the land of the living

I'm going to have half an hour and then get started I think.

I am off to get started again. Been busy all morning with groups and school runs.

Think I need to start making sure everything is ready for the morning the night before, as I had made loads of mess before we even left the house as I was rushing round like a mad woman!

Sod all getting done here - working on trying to find boots in my size and making a behaviour chart for DS

Right, I'm getting started now . Have a headache from hell though...hmmmm...another cup of tea and some paracetamol I think first.

Haven't done much in the way of catching up with tidying or de-cluttering but I have more or less kept on top of things throughout the day, so haven't MADE much mess. So I think if I spend an hour doing it when the kids go to bed, I think that should be fine.

We are all feeling a bit poorly here too. DD1 has the "runs" which is making lots of nappy washing! Me and DD2 have sore throats and she has been very grumpy this afternoon. She has gone to sleep now but don't know if I should wake her up as I don't want her to wake up as soon as it gets to bedtime. DH suggested just leaving her in bed and getting and early night, which means she might be up early tomorrow but at least I would have had a good sleep etc.

Anyway, I am off to sort dinner.

Hope things are better namechange, we are all still unwell here.

I've done not very much either, but did sort through and consolidate some of my fabrics...

Have got a singing group tomorrow morning, so will make a concerted effort after lunch.

i've done nothing at all. but had no dc (moving ones anyway) home so lounge has stayed lovely

for runs & nappies btw.