SAHM keeping up?

Question

How do you do it? How do you keep up with the messes and the clutter and cooking and everything? I feel frozen when i think about how much there is to do. I was never taught how to keep track of a home. What to clean. When. How often. How to create a schedule/routine. I have so much respect for SAHMs as well as working moms.

Answer

Keep kids on routine, constant small decluttering as needed, 1-2 designated “big” toy cleans a day, specific days for certain weekly cleaning things, and setting up independent play windows for cooking. 
I do a simple toy reset at nap time and bedtime each day. 
I clean bathrooms on Fridays. Vacuum every other day.
I dust and disinfect on Sundays. I fold laundry for 1hr after the kids go to bed 2-3 times a week. My husband does dishes and trash. 
I have the kids cook with me or set them up with an activity (kinetic sand, legos, Polly pockets, coloring). 
You just make it happen. You give yourself grace. You don’t stress if you choose sitting/resting every now and then.

Answer

Routine is key for me. How old are your kids? If you have a nursing newborn or young mobile toddler who needs close watching, routine isnt easy. But once mine were a bit older, as soon as I woke up I put a load of laundry to wash, switch it after lunch. Every afternoon I would plan something for dinner tomorrow so I can defrost. For cooking, I prefer roasts, slow cooker, or a big pot of something like soup or black beans so I dont have to stand over a stove at the end of the day. After dinner we both work together until we are done for the day, so we split tasks like kitchen clean up, walking the dog, washing the kids, sweeping. For other chores,mid-day, I'd do 1-2 extra chore per day like wiping one bathroom counter, vacuum, dust etc. So my house is never fully clean all at once honestly but it stays maintained. Clutter and pick up is for everyone to do. I stayed home for 8 years and now I work and my husband is home and does most of the cooking and chores, but the other spouse and kids still need to help and do their part. I strongly feel that everyone is a member of the household even if 1 person is the main home maker. Usually on Sundays we do chores time all together for 30-45 mins and mid week my kids pick up, put away their laundry, help clear the table after dinner, my oldest who is 12 takes out the trash etc it's just a value I am firm on. Of course if your kids are still babies that wont apply to you yet but as they get bigger teach them to help out and praise/reward them. When they were little we did 'icecream cleaning' eg after we completed a short list of chores they got icecream from the freezer.

Answer

I have two boys and my routine is we get up
7am open all curtains and windows
Do beds 
Put a load into the washing machine 
Start making breakfast 
We eat and then load dishwasher with breakfast dishes and tidy up the kitchen 
( if it is a school day I prepare my child lunch and snacks and fill his bottle up with water)
8am get dressed for the day/school
Get the kids to go play if it’s not a school day but if it is then 8:40am we do school drop off.
Go do a grocery run if I neeed to stick up on anything 
Go home hang washing on the line 
Vacuum and mop 
Scrub bathroom 
Start preparing lunch/ dinner. 
Pick clothes off the line and either fold now or after my kids are asleep. 
Pick up kids and offer lunch and fruit
Do homework or play 
Prepare and eat dinner 
Clean up after cooking.
Once we all eat dinner I pack left over away and put dishes in the dishwasher. 
Then we do showers and bedtime -at 7:30pm 
Once my kids are in bed I do another quick tidy up 
Once a week I’ll dust, or clean out and organise a cupboard that needs it and I do a deep clean of going through clothes and other items to donate twice a year.

Answer

Also wanted to add that it can be really helpful to put everything on a central family calendar that all of you can see, even reminders when you need to clean or do smaller tasks. They actually have apps for this now too that can help you create a schedule around all the cooking, cleaning, and household tasks. I have extreme ADHD so I can’t say either of these things have been 100% effective, but it does help and establishing a routine as much as possible is key. It’s also okay to ask for help when you’re struggling so badly. Maybe have someone come clean for you when you need it badly (if you can, I know that’s not cheap) or you could try talking to friends or listening to podcasts or something that will help you stay focused and get things done. One of my friends and I do this when we get overwhelmed and it helps so much.

Answer

For now, work up to cleaning 1 or 2 rooms a day. I started with making my bed and over time, I felt better and was able to do more. Funny enough, I have more energy with 4 kids than I did with 2. Lol so I make myself do certain things/built up to, for my sanity.

SAHM keeping up?

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