Help me organise my life with 13 mth old.

[BelleEtoile]

Currently sitting here half dressed - exhausted after 2 hours sleep.
I had to work late again to meet a deadline I should've been able to do in normal hours (I have managed to hold onto my job for the moment)

I have to be out of the house in half an hour, DS to childcare me to work.

I gave my DS peppermint tea for his morning bottle as Ive ran out of milk again, I can't see my kitchen table as it's covered in laundry. The house is a tip (can't find a cleaner to help- I live rurally) I look and feel like I'm a complete and utter hungover mess - my new normal.

I have got to get my act together.

How do other people manage?
Please someone tell me how you organise your normal daily life?

When you come from work tonight, organise tomorrow.

Make the packed lunches. Get your full outfits for you and ds laid out ready for tomorrow morning. Prepare the breakfast things. Think about what’s for dinner tomorrow night and take something out of the freezer if needed. If you are low on fruit/ bread/milk set a reminder in your phone to pick some up.
Then, when you get up tomorrow morning, jobs a goodun.

I always have a shopping list running on my fridge. When I’m using something and it gets low, I add it to the list straight away.

I’ve been there, it’s horrid. Being prepared is the only way I can combat it!

Also, use your lunch break at work to complete life admin. During my lunch break yesterday I transferred across nursery fees, rsvped to a party, ordered the present for party from amazon and made dentist appointments for us all, while I was waiting for the microwave to ping.

Don’t even get me started on whether my husband feels the need to spend his lunch break organising shit or whether he just eats lunch, but that’s another thread for another day.....

It's hard going but you can do this!

Take one little step every day, make it routine and keep adding to it. That doesn't have to be something time consuming or major but it all adds up and makes life easier in the long run.

Clear the table, even if it's just putting it all in a basket to be put away later. It's a clear surface to work at and get organised.

I generally find the more chaotic my house is the more desperate I feel. So, either make time for one task per night-folding washing/ clearing sink of dishes/ shoving hoover round, or if it’s an option get someone to take child for a few hrs while you blitz it! (Can you use annual leave and still make use of childcare??)

Also one of the best and simplest tips I had on here was if you see something that needs done and it can be achieved in 2 mins or less, do it immediately!

Finally at 13 months it should be possible to involve your child in ‘chores’. My DS actually loves it! Even if it takes 50% longer you have simultaneously achieved something and entertained your child. Win-win!

I'm in the same boat as you OP, I have 4 baskets of laundry that needs to be put away, live away from family and friends and DP works away so I'm alone with DD and it's hard work,

Toys in every single room of the house and full off clutter

We also ‘straighten up’ every evening, bath for kids, then oldest has iPad for 30
Moms, youngest has nighttime bottle and watches in the night garden.
Meanwhile we clear toys off the floor in bedroom, move all toys out of living room back into bedroom, stick a washing on (to be hung on line first thing next morning weather permitting), put away washing and make lunches. It takes surprisingly little time but makes a big difference.

Also I agree with a pp taking about wonderlist - awesome app!

Start with one area, however small. A section of kitchen worktop, the bedside table, the living room coffee table, whatever. Tidy and clean it. Keep it clean. Once it is routinely tidy and clean, add another area and keep both routinely tidy and clean. Every couple of days, add another area, all whilst keeping the previous areas tidy and clean. It's a long slow way of doing things but eventually you will get on top of everything. It means you dont have lots to do at once as sorting each area might only take 15 mins initially and then no time to keep on top of. It's a good way if you can't just tackle the big jobs at once.

If you're exhausted, try getting a few hours sleep when the baby goes down even if it's really early, then if you're up in the night at least you've had a few hours.
Can you get your shopping delivered? Always make sure you're stocked up on basics.
It gets easier.

Thanks everyone.
@Glitterkitten thanks for your rapid response this morning, you got me out the door!

I feel much better now I know I'm not a complete failure. I cant even imagine how anyone deals with more than 1 DC.

@moreismore could you please explain how to involve DS with chores?

@honeybunny87 meet your sister!! While DH doesn't work away as such we only see him for a few hours on Sunday between his ridiculously long hours, other projects and hobby but that's a whole other thread!!

Once I manage to get DS to sleep I'm determined to tackle the laundry on the table!

Laundry: he gets to help putting clothes in and pulling out of drum. He loves taking the fluff out of the tumble dryer filter and takes this job very seriously!

Picking up toys-just encourage to join in, helps to have a big plastic box or similar they can be dumped into.

Cleaning- spray bottle of water and a cloth on French doors/ kitchen cabinets while you get on with bits around them.

Floors-give him a dustpan and brush while you sweep/hoover.

Tbh they are going to get bored before your done but often will find something nearby to play with. My DH is forces and was away for 8 months from when DS was 11mo. I had no choice but to get on with jobs and let him grumble sometimes and as a result he is now pretty good at amusing himself for short periods of time when needed.

I totally get that it all takes extra energy though and some days you just need to give yourself a break and do the minimum. It gets easier with time honestly. Just hang in there!

Thanks @moreismore. They are great suggestions. Thanks for the encouragement too, I just can't believe I've got to this.

No worries I think literally every parent feels that way, just take it one day at a time.