How to juggle FT work with family?

[Orangebadger]

Really looking for tips. I have worked part time for the last 10 years with lots of family commitments. Now I am about to start working full time. So both me and DH will work FT, he has one day off during the week, 3 days wrap around childcare. I will be WFH 1 day, the rest in the office. But how do you juggle everything? I mean shopping, cooking, laundry. I have decided we will look for a cleaner, as funds will allow that. But what about the rest?

Cleaner. Shopping delivered. Have a clear split of who does what and allocate jobs so it doesn't all fall to you. Heated airer overnight for drying clothes. Batch cook or Gousto if you can afford it. Buy dresses that don't need ironing!

Most of us have been doing this for years darling.
I work FT have 2 teens am single mum.

No cleaner
No deliveries.

You just get on with it.

I have no idea. My DC are late teens and I have no plans to go back FT. Hats off to anyone who does.

We'll I'm sure the OP would appreciate it if you could share the wisdom of your experience...

I always reckon to do one thing in the morning and one in the evening. Be that emptying the dishwasher or throwing a load of laundry on. DH does about the same and that, along with groceries being delivered and a cleaner is us sorted.

How old are the kids?
Best to do stuff little and often, eg do some laundry at least every other day.
Make double quantities of food so you can put half in the freezer for another day.
Work late(r) on the day your DH is at home if you can.

Meal plan for the week
Food shop delivery
Cleaner once a week
At least 3 of everything for school uniform
Prep for the next day the night before - for example I get at least 2 loads of washing ready and sat by the machine the night before a WFH day, means I can put it straight on when I get up, hang it during a break and get the next load on
Have a ruthless declutter so you aren’t drowning in stuff
Always clean the kitchen before going to bed

Hmm but to add to the kids a mother with dementia who lived with me and I was her primary care. This is why I worked PT, but thanks for your words of wisdom and kindness.

My advice is definitely to get a cleaner! I’ve just gone back to full time and it means we have to keep the house relatively tidy (or have a mass tidy up the night before they come) which helps. Have multiple school uniforms and we try to prep lunches/snacks the night before.
I find that we work best if we take time on the weekend to meal plan/prep otherwise it’s a challenge organising meals.

Thanks for these.
Work later when DH is home is a great idea, will look into that. And 3 of each piece of uniform. Deffo for my 7 yr old. My DD is coming up to 12.

To be honest it is tough, but once you get into the swing of it, it just becomes the norm. I've got 3 kids, and until recently worked a full time job, another job every other Saturday and I also cared for someone with dementia. You just get into a rhythm and it becomes normal.

I batch cooked every Sunday and froze stuff for the week. Did one big shop a week rather than nipping in a few times for stuff. I got great wraparound care, I filled the car up on the way home from work on a set day. I let my standards slip, I stopped ironing clothes, they just got folded and put away. I decided I didn't actually need to hoover as often as no one was in the house most of the day etc.

If there was a way to hack doing something it got hacked. Eg, I bought all the kids plain black socks so I didn't have to pair them.

As I earned more I eventually got a cleaner.

More recently I have cut back on my work as the kids got older and I've earned more.

Getting up before the kids helps - I want to start exercising then but at the moment just doing something laundry related/kitchen/getting ready so can focus on them when they’re up.

Life admin on commute. A bit of batch cooking/make lunches when making dinner so not buying them out at work.

I’ve also tried to adjust our (and kid’s) family mindset that weekend should be all fun - unfortunately no we have to clean on a Sunday and they can attempt to help or go play. Otherwise it gets overwhelming!

Wfh one day will be great too. Good luck :)