can organise my time between the kids and house work

Natalie - posted on 04/16/2010

Tiffany - We shouldn't feel guilty about wanting our house clean, even if it means taking money from our grocery budget or clothes budget to pay for it once in a while. I feel guilty because I'll order books online for the boys instead of borrowing them from the library, but the books are used over and over and getting to the library isn't always just a walk down the block for us. I don't remember this parenting advice in high school sex ed or even the birthing classes, it's not all fun and games raising children. I'm so bad at trying to justify everything extra thing I do that I stress myself out and then get mad at myself for stressing, but then try to figure out how to save money or make up the difference some how. It's a vicious circle this thing called parenting & life!

Tiffany - posted on 04/16/2010

Thanks, Natalie! I was feeling guilty about it.

Natalie - posted on 04/13/2010

I used a house cleaner every now and then, just to give me a head start on a project, especially when the boys were little and didn't want to be in the other room away from me. Maybe once a month wouldn't be a bad idea, or twice a month if you can afford it. For the sanity, it's worth the money!

Tiffany - posted on 04/13/2010

I've always thought that this in an unneccessary added expense, but does anyone else use a maid service? I'm considering it, but I'm not sure.

Natalie - posted on 03/28/2010

I homeschool my oldest (7) with a 4 y/o and babysitting a very active 3 y/o too. It makes getting anything done period a chore sometimes, others they work together and I can get tons done. I put my 7 y/o on a 45 min. study schedule. We work for 45 mins then take a break and play with the other boys if they aren't upstairs w/us doing "school". Sometimes I just wait til they are down for naps to do school or wait for the days when I'm not babysitting to do school, makes it a bit rougher on my 7 y/o but he manages pretty well most of the time. As for housework, I just started this (so I'm still tweaking it to make it work) I take 1 hour in the morning, usually from 8-9 and clean the house. One day I managed to only clean my bedroom & bath, but I cleaned it good in that hour. The next day I did the mud room/entry way & boys bath, the next was the kitchen & living rooms. My 7 y/o is good at keeping the little ones entertained while I clean, and they all run from the vacuum cleaner so they stay out of my way! Try doing 15 minutes at a time, one room at a time or one room for the whole week. Once you've made it through the whole house, granted it's time to start over, but it won't seem like so much at once. I use flylady.net a lot too, she has some great tips on getting your house clean, among other things. Hope all this helps.

Joy - posted on 03/15/2010

I do lessons with my son after lunch when the younger two boys are taking their naps. They nap between 2.5-3.5 hours and that is normally more than enough time for one on one with my oldest son. Granted I only have one right now to school so it is a bit easier.

Michelle - posted on 03/10/2010

My kids are older and we have intergrated housework into lifeskills and everyday they have to pick a chore that needs to be done ( not including their bedroom)and they do it. their is no rule as to what time you have to do school so perhaps you could do the core subjects when your hubby is home to wrangle the smaller kids. Or you could purchase books for the little ones and have them think they are doing school too. Sometimes at bedtime have your 6yr old read to you instead of you reading. Count everything make school more of a game and look for learning experiance in everything you do.

Crystal - posted on 02/10/2010

I have three kids at home (four total) and that includes my 15 month old son. When we are working on school I usually put my little one in his highchair and give him play-dough, or paper and crayons. He plays for about an hour, happy as a clam. I have to keep him from eating the crayons and play-dough, but it's fun. Sometimes I let him watch his phonics video which he LOVES. It plays music while it teaches him phonics and he dances and makes the sounds. When he is bored with that I offer a snack...or he will nap during their school work. It has worked fairly well so far. When I get frustrated with the kids I just take a break and let them have about 5 minutes to walk around a bit, soak up some sunshine on the porch, or play with Teddy (my 15 month old), then it's back to work!

Jamie - posted on 02/08/2010

I know it can be quite challenging. Have you considered giving them a small project to do while you work with the older kids. through one subject. Something small like a coloring sheet or drawing the same shapes as you or a toy with shapes. It is just an idea. I wish you well

Marciel - posted on 02/07/2010

We have a huge balancing act as well. My hubby is the stay at home parent, I work full time and he home schools my older 3. Grades 5-4-2. As well as manages my 5 year old-3 year old-8 month old. I would hate the idea of sending my kids back to public school (they would be in classes of 28-37 kids)!!! Just try to remember that you need a bit of time to yourself to rejuvenate!! And so do the kids:)!! Good luck!!