to ask how you keep it together

[clockwatching77]

I have a. 9 year old, a 5 year old and a toddler. All housework and childcare is my domain during the week. I also try to run a small business with very little childcare.

I am home with toddler today trying to do laundry and daily household stuff and a bit of admin. I am getting nowhere. As soon as I tidy she makes it untidy. She is. Connstantly turning computer on and off if I try and do admin. Same with hoover. We have no child locks on cupboards or domestic applicances. Today she broke a gkass which was in dishwasher whilst I was making breakfast.
she willprobably nap for an hour but that time will disappear in a flash.
Than I will have the next onslaught of school andclub runs.
Sorry venting but tips appreciated please.
Thank you

[dietstartsmonday]

I feel your pain. I work full time and have 4 DC, the evenings are just a rush of housework cooking homework etc. I am shattered, all the time to be honest!

[clockwatching77]

Feeling fed up again. After endless activity runs today (d) h has pretty much accussed me of sitting on my arse all day whilst he is out at work. Maybe I need to get a full time job and divides all the chores and childcare 50/50. That wil really eat into his xbox time!

[dietstartsmonday]

just tell him to fuck off i think

[4athomeand1cooking]

I have 5, 3 in school, 1 does half day and a baby. I run a business from home too so feel your pain.

I get up at 5 and get huge bulk of chores done before the children get up, then after school run I do some more. During the day I do admin as and when I can fit it in. The bulk is done in the evening when they are in bed and at weekends when dh is available.

The only way I cope is to stay on top of everything. Toys are kept to a minimum (if it has nt been played with for a few months, it goes) the bedrooms are tidy so what does get pulled out goes back fairly easily. Same with clutter round the house, if I have not picked it up in six months it goes. Same rule with clothes.

Paperwork and bills are dealt with as they come in.

I exercise as soon as I get up too as this helps me stay motivated for the day.

[clockwatching77]

Good tips. Clutter is a big problem in the house. Lego in particular. Thank you

[4athomeand1cooking]

Lol, I know it sounds mean but I did away with the Lego, the Boys 5 and 4 have a drawer where I keep the small accessories like figurines from play sets but that is all.

It really is the only way I cope

[clockwatching77]

Sadly my dh has more lego than dc.

[NAR4]

I feel under constant pressure to get all the housework and washing done. I get no thanks for it and no one but me is bothered if it all gets left. Sometimes we need to remember to give ourselves a break and maybe just sit down and relax if the little ones have a daytime sleep, to recover a bit for the onslaught when they wake back up.

Just ignore your dh or do nothing for a day and let him see what state the house is in then.

[QueenofKelsingra]

I'm a SAHM to 3 pre-schoolers so I know how hard it can be to keep on top of everything.

do you have a room/area that you can babygate for the toddler? We have a playroom and all toys are in there, I can also shut the toddler twins in there while I get other stuff done. or can you put a gate on their bedroom for them to play for a while?

I work on 'a room a day'. so Monday I wiz round the lounge, Tuesday the bathrooms, Wednesday the bedrooms, Thursday the hallways. kitchen gets wiped down after each meal and swept after breakfast. takes about 15-20mins per room if I do it every week.

I put a load of laundry on when the DC are having breakfast. folding laundry and ironing gets done either when DC are napping or in the evening in front of the tv.

Shopping is mostly online but do a fruit and veg shop once a week, usually first thing Tuesday.

through the day, maybe 3 times I throw a few toys back in boxes to keep the mess level down and then a quick tidy up when DC in bed.

dinner prep is done either in nap time or while dc having their dinner. I'd have your 9yo and 5yo helping with a few chores after school. ds1(4) helps me cook and tidy.

with regard to your DH, this weekend you have somewhere to be, you will be having a lie in and then leaving as soon as you get up, you will not be back until after the kids dinner. leave a list of jobs that need doing while you are gone and a couple of games that you promised he would play with them. it never hurts to remind them how much work just the childcare element of running a house is. last time I did this to DH the house looked like a bombsite! kids were happy as he had prioritised playing with them but never got to the jobs - and has never since made a comment about how much I do or do not do!

give yourself a break, running a house is hard work.