Do you have a team of staff and if so who and what?

[justlookatthatbooty]

Endless mire of domestics that I cannot keep up with are bogging me and DH down, impeding my quality time with DC's and hindering our enjoyment as a couple. I'm still BF ing as youngest is 6 months old, oldest is 24 months old and am so knackered I feel like a wrung out dishcloth. Have been building up my own business (which I've run for years but went quiet on whilst preggers 2 x rapidly in a row) whilst doing all the mum stuff and would love to do more of it but how to juggle. If we figure out how to afford domestic help (even if it costs all I make with my business) what should we have and how often? What are your tips on paying help into the house without losing too much privacy or creating too much extra managereal work for yourself? We have a cleaner come 1 x weekly and it hardly scratches the surface and the morning that she comes I'm busy trying to tidy for 2 hours before she arrives so that she can do her job (otherwise she tidies and I have to clean as she comes for 2 hours). I frequently don't get breakfast til 1.00pm that day or most days for that matter. I really feel like we need substantial help but don't want to just put the children in nursery or get a nanny coz I know I'll regret it when this precious time is gone. Advice please!

Why not just increase your cleaners hours a bit then? Twice a week may be better than a longer period one day. Or both if you afford it.

You sound very busy. Your children are so tiny too. I'm not surprised you're tired I agree that it is really precious time.

you need the cleaner for 2 lots of two hours a week

I had three under three - If we could have afforded it I would have paid to have someone come in daily to make lunch and pepare the evening meal and do a little bit of cleaning. Would not have considered a unless returning to work. I want time with my children not the housework.

should read not have considered a nanny unless returning to work.

Thanks for tips. Don't mind the house being a mess. Can totally accept that, kind of like it even. But it's the day to day stuff...I'm just trying to get into a functional space. For example, getting the kitchen clean enough to make a lunch or dinner, so that I don't have to feed DS yet another cheese sandwich. It's total mayhem round here and I'm running round the house trying to get it together whilst breastfeeding and trying to assure a wall climbing toddler that we will go out soon I promise. I've posted another thread because I"m realising as I'm typing that it's a bigger story than needing a cleaner. Thanks, the support helps a whole lot.

what does dh do?
do you get any time to yourself at all? even in the evening?
any time to excercise say?

Time to myself is a really really distant memory (pre DS who is 24 months). I feel like I take care of EVERYONE'S needs except my own. I've had a gym membership which has gone unused for a year although I am highly motivated (my business is Pilates studio).

DS works a full time job and is helpful and loving when he's home which is in time to eat with us and put the kids to bed and then he does the kitchen etc whilst I work. At weekends I work with my clients whilst he's home with the kids which means nothing domestic gets done though he'll throw a wash on when he can.

The more I write about this (haven't been in MNet since DD was born, it's such a lifesaver) the more I realise the real problem is that I work a 25 hour working week with my own business but have only 7 hours of childcare when DCs are with grandparents once a week and a cleaner once a week for 2 hours. So we are two working parents with very little help and it all falls on my shoulders. So I need to move forward and get the help we need but what? This is really very helpful. thanks folks.

you hit the nail on the head - you are working, but more or less without childcare. no wonder you've got no time for anything. i've attempted the same thing (working part time around kids) in the past and rapidly concluded tis one way ticket to madness. bet you have no time with dh either.
are you doing it that way because you cant afford childcare at the moment, or because you dont want littlest in daycare? how strongly do you feel about both those things? cos my first suggestion would be: do some of your work in the week, and get childcare while you do it. then weekends can catch up on chores BUT ALSO HAVE SOME REST/time with dh.
if you are set against childcare, then i agree double cleaner's hours (funds permitting) and delegate anything else you can: send out ironing (if you do any), food shop online, readymeals if you have to, take any help offered by GPs etc with both hands. and remember it is for a fairly short period that they are both so small. good luck.