Help me be a better homemaker with special needs toddler

[mummytopebs]

I have handed in my notice at work as dd is constantly at appts and in hospital and it has become to stressful having to phone in work all the time. I am now going to be a sahm and need some hints and tips how you actually get housework done ~(especially ironing) with a toddler qho just wants your attention constantly. Also looking for nice quick easy recipes as want to start making proper meals every day. Thanks

the choc-solutions to ironing: let DP do his own :o
since I am at home, I don't have stuff that needs ironing, neither do DD's cloths.

with regards to the housework, can you DD "help" (you didn't mention what kind of SN your DD has and how old she is)? my DD (3) loves to "help". she enjoys pushing the hover around while I do the hovering. she likes "cleaning" in general. so whenever I am doing some dusting/windows etc she get a cleaning cloth as well ;-)

cooking - for lunch its usually a quick sandwich or leftovers from the previous day (I quite often cook a bit extra for dinner to make sure we have something for the next day). I only cook for dinner (loads of pasta, stews, steamed veg + fish)... but DP also likes to cook so quite often he takes over the kitchen as well!

do you have a DP who can also help with housework?

Hi mummy I'm in the same situation an have also just stopped work. My dd is 20 months and a right pest at the moment! I tend to give her a lunch she can eat herself like sarnies in her highchair whilst I get potatoes etc peeled ready for tea that evening. Some evenings we have a quick tea like pizza or quiche with salad as dd1 has activities to go to, but I do try to do good meals. Housework isn't too bad as my dd2 like to play in her room so I clean upstairs when Shes in there.

lost my post as computer locked up, but I was gonna make the same suggestions as other posters, so no harm done! was also gonna say don't feel pressured into filling your day with worthwhile tasks, it is ok to just enjoy your time with dd for a while and see how things progress... build in what suits you and her.

Little and often - small tasks here and there during the day will get most of the housework done (tidying up, vacuuming, sweeping, washing up). Just plan it around things that you know will occupy your toddler. I give our 1yo his snack in his highchair and while he's munching happily in the dining room, I can sweep or iron in the same room. Or I can put the high chair in the kitchen and let him play with a few toys while I do the washing up. He likes to try to "help" when I vacuum so I can do that while he's in the room. Then a general tidy up while he takes a short nap.

Quick and easy recipe = Nigella's Chilli from her Express Book (just google it)
Quickest thing in the world to make - no chopping, all jars and tins with a couple of magic ingredients (chorizo) and some inspired 'chuck 'em in' spices (incl cardoman pods !) and tastes like heaven

Ironing is done by the tumble dryer - DH sorts out his own shirts in a morning.

Before mine were both at school all day, I took advantage of the odd cbeebies moment to get routine things done and everything else was done at night and on a weekend. Upstairs was a wreck (still is!) but I could do things like dusting downstairs around the kids, even if it meant that DS1 left me with a pile of shredded kitchen paper by the time he'd finished "helping" me.

As for cooking, i did, and still do, stick to cooking just part of a meal from scratch on a weekday.

For 'proper' meals think about buying a slow cooker. They make fab meals with very little prep time which are delicious and you can use cheap cuts of meat as they work really well with slow cooking.

keep some nursery time.
you need time to recharge too.

is there any way that dh can alter his hours so that he can shoulder some of the parenting/ caring?

How did you get it done before when you were working AND being a mum?!

I second the slow cooker and not bothering with ironing (well, I don't anyway!)

Share the chores. Also, if your dp is earning enough, consider getting a cleaner either regular or a one-off when things get bad. There's no shame in that.

Make sure you leave the house daily or the four walls may end up closing in on you. It can make you go mad if you stay in all day, staring at the mess!

also thought cooking in bulk, I too use my slow cooker, filling it with chilli or bolognase, or a beef stew takes less than 15 mins, leave it on all day, (or do it last thing and leave it on over night) thats then at least two meals for the three of us. Also things like (cheats) 'cornish pasties' (pm me for recipe), as I can make a batch and freeze them, and ds can play with the pastry left overs. (have to say days of home made pastry are over tho ) Also buying a big chicken, (hot roast first day, cold with mash and pickles 2nd day leftover bits in a bit of white sauce with a few mushrooms, in a pie for third meal, bones in slow cooker overnight for stock or soup. (in case I sound smug there are also takeaways and McDs in the sign house too, . just trying to save a bit of money at the moment...

oh, and my best friend for the household is a little hand-held hover. after having meal, the floor around DD's chair is always a mess. with this small hover, it only takes a sec to get rid of all the crumbs!

It didnt really get done when I was working which is why I want to start as I mean to go on. Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunatly dh seems to have turned into a 1940s husband seem as i have said I am giving up work and keeps on grumbling about the house (er yes i gave up work to look after our child). It came to a head last nite and I told him it must be noce to go to work all day and take your mind off things, instead of spending loads of times in doctors appt and hospital - men dont have a clue pfffft. Anyway rant over. I made a lovely macaroni cheese for tea and put bacon and tomatoes in and that went down a treat and was quick, cheap and easy. So so far so good. Need to start on my mountain of ironing at some point though