working mums - how do you cope????

[PSCMUM]

I have a full time job and so deos my DH. we have 3 children. every night i get home from work about 6pm, cook dinner, then do homework and music practice with all three of them, read all three a story, hassle them into brushing teeth / wearing pyjamas and getting into bad, i do this one by one so I have individual time with each of them and writing it down now it really doenst seem like that much of a big deal, but I am CONSTANTLY exhuasted throughout, I am tired by the time I get home ,and then a start about 3 hours of intensive work, I try to get them into bed at 7 / 7,30 and 8. and then i start the housework. recently sacked cleaner as credit crucnhed and can't afford her anymore. And now I need to do a job application form. And also I need to have a bath, hair dry my hair so it doens't look like a birds nest, iron some clothes for tomorrow so i don't look like a monster and also try and do some sit ups so i dont get obese. i cannot cope with all of this. i just am too tired to do it and i feel constanly like a failure. then i need to go to bed and make my husband feel happy, rather than like he has married a frazzled ugly incapable fatso.
help me ladies please!!!!

Really feel for stressed mums out there - or which I am one. I really wish grandparents would help more. It was a lot easier in their day - and these days all mine seem to want to do is go on cruises and holidays - while looking at me frazzled and telling me: "We do hope you are not working too hard." I don't have a choice. Maybe I should be more upfront with them - but I thought it would be obvious to them they could help

i've been there as well. only one dd, but had to leave for work before 8, and before dd, used to work til 6 or 7, so having to come home by 5/6 meant i was constantly stressed & behind at work, and the same at home.

depends how big your freezer is, but i used to do a HUGE cauldron of 'veggie mess' (sounds great!) which was chopped up veg in tomato sauce. often used minced turnip/swede to give some 'bite', then froze it in portions. then could be used for veggie versions of lasagne, bolognese, chili & curry. you can also quickly cook some mince/chicken to add to it to put in meat if you want it, but i had pulses/beans of some sort in t as well. very cheap, easy & surprisingly tasty.

i also think your dc's could help out - if you got them making cakes/biscuits at the w/e, they're easy to make, cheap & gives them a ready made snack for when they get in from school. my dd, age 5, puts her plates in the dishwasher, clothes in laundry basket & will hang stuff out (sort of), so i'm thinking yours could prob manage that as well at their age, poss some hoovering as well.

and, yes, onc ein a blue moon, book a day off, just for you.