How do you get anything done

[ReachingOut8]

Those that are lone parents how do you get anything done? I need to redecorate my whole house basically but kids are always here and there’s never any time to get things done like paint etc my attempt of it ended up with my son getting paint all over his expensive school uniform, he “forgot” apparently and didn’t tell me it was me who spotted it so at that point it was dry. I just wish I had someone to take them for the day (or week 😳) so I could give my house a makeover

Have you got time when they are in school?

No unfortunately not I’m never child free.

Can you afford to pay someone to do it? There's no way I'd ever be able to paint with DS around!

If not, can you do it when they're asleep, a bit at a time?

Honestly, I didn't bother doing much to the house while there were kids around.

It looks like a fucking palace now though, now that they've gone. 😁I love it.

Advice from an old fart - keep in clean but spend your time, money and energy on the kids and your career, worry about cleaning later.

I would but unfortunately I have an important visit coming up and the house needs to look presentable

By the time they are in bed I’m exhausted I’m ready for bed. I need to redecorate basically every room so would cost far too much to pay someone to do it for me.

I just had to pay people and do rooms bit by bit as I could afford it. I never had time or the inclination to do at weekends

what I mean is I couldn’t afford it all at once so would get one room done one year, one the next etc

I'm afraid I never did once they were past the napping stage. I was at work or madly catching up on the basics on my day off. I've had to get used to everything being a bit tatty and needing sprucing up.
It's very hard.

Unfortunately have an important visit so want the house looking presentable need to do it within a week

You need to redecorate your whole house in a week with no budget and no time spare? I think I'd rent an air BnB and try and pass it off as my home 🤣

Big difference between having no budget and being able to afford a professional. I am in London that would cost an absolute fortune I can paint it’s easy and a tin of paint is £10 just want the house looking fresh and not have chipped paint on walls or stains

Do you qualify for the free childcare 30 hours I think I don't know the ages maybe it's just in wales but worth looking at if it's something that would benefit you. I have a ten year old and I've been decorating my room whilst he's been playing fortnight it works now obviously wouldn't have if he was younger

A tin of paint for a house is very much not £10!

www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20hours%20of,per%20week%20of%20free%20childcare

are you me?? Same boat (but without exciting visit!) If you get it done I am here waiting for tips!

Most of us do this

Add long as the house is clean and tidy then it's presentable surely? I haven't decorated for over 10 years due to lack of time and/or money.

Per tin then 🙄 still cheaper than a professional!

Paint has flaked off / stains

Well at least it isn’t just me 🥲

You’ve just highlighted why my house has never been decorated. When I was a single mum I was always with my DD and when I wasn’t with her I had other things to do such as focusing on work or groceries or finally catching up with people - but I could never invite them over because my house was just awful.

Could you take a day of work to focus on it? Could you organise a play date with a mum friend - they will understand if you tell them that you need the time to paint.

Do you have baby gates etc and are the children old enough to be safe if you're in the room and they're the other side of the gate?
That's what I did when DD was little and I needed to get stuff done, when she was smaller I used a play pen. Set her up with toys/entertainment where I could see her but not get to the area I was painting and cracked on, windows open for ventilation and then when I'd finished that room we went out for a bit to allow it to dry. Then repeat for each bit I needed to do.
Sounds like one (?) child may be at school so could you do it when they are, so you only have the child(ren) too young for school?
Was a complete ball ache but I managed to get it done, sometimes needs must when you're a single parent!

I have an important visit coming up and the house needs to look presentable

I hear you!

BUT ........... if you can present everything as more or less tidy and as clean as you can , it goes a long way towards a good impression.

You may think it looks much better if it's freshly decorated, bit if it's as clean and tidy as you can manage, it will give just as good an effect.

I don't know what the 'important visit' is - but I know I've been in the situation where I'd like my home to look better for visitors ................ but I've had to settle for 'as absolutely clean and tidy as I can make it' and it's looked fine!

What is such an important visit that you need to redecorate??

With a lot of tears, frustration and hair pulling.