I would like to be better at this...tips anyone?

Kristin - posted on 09/01/2011

Thanks ladies! I am trying to at least write down the main chores I have on the calender for the week with 2 days for laundry, groceries every 2 weeks (assuming I plan meals), so I don't get behind. We go out quite a bit so I need to make myself a schedule but one that is fairly flexible. It will probably be best to add a few days that are just stay at home days-for my son to rest and me to get more things done. Right now it's all over the place but the tips are helping. Thanks again!

Elisha - posted on 08/31/2011

I have 4 kiddos and stay at home too. My days are very busy. What helps ,me is keeping a calender very close, not to mix and appiotments.Something should try is...writing down the things you do during the day and then got back through, pull out you calender and chart everything down include everything else you have to do outside the home.....ie shopping, parks, bills. That way each day you know what you need to do for the next day. Make sure that you always put down your "me time"!!!!!! It's always important to take time to be with friends and family. To let out the frustrations and aggervating times you have in your day.

Tyrae - posted on 08/31/2011

I`ll go through a regular day for me so you can see what I do :)

5:30 am: wake up to go do my paper route (it gives me an hour or so away from my daughter, and getting the fresh air is nice, it also brings in $125 a month which is nice too)
7:15 am: wake my daughter up to start the day
7:20 am: breakfast
7:45ish am: do the dishes (if there was any left from the night before and morning dishes) while my daughter plays quietly in her playpen with a sippy cup of milk
8:00 am: play games
9:00 am: nurse
9:30 am: put daughter down for first nap
During this period I get random things done around the house, vacuuming, sweeping, clean the washroom, etc. When I`m done I sit down and watch a bit of tv or take a nap if there is nothing that needs to be done.
11:30 am: daughter wakes up from nap and it`s time to start making lunch
12 pm: Lunch and take out whatever we are having for dinner from the family.
12:30 pm: Do lunch dishes quickly, shouldn`t take long maybe 5 minutes.
12:45ish to 2 pm: let daughter wander and play as she wants for a while, while I check for new coupons and deals that are out. Then play more games with her or go for a walk.
2 pm: nurse
2:30 pm: put daughter down for second nap
During this nap I check the mail, clean the kitty litter, feed the cats and watch any favorite tv shows. If it is close to grocery day, I do the meal planning and write up a shopping list. To save money I plan the meals around what we have in the house and whatever is on sale at our usually grocery store.
4-4:30 pm: daughter wakes up and its snack time for her.
4:45-5 pm: start dinner
5:30 pm: dinner time
6 pm: bath time
Play from after bath time till about 7pm
7 pm: wind down time, stories, rice cereal, nursing
7:30 pm: bed time
After bed time I have time to either do the dishes from dinner (or can wait till morning) or hang out with my fiance and watch a movie or a couple tv shows. I usually go to bed around 10pm-10:30pm.

As far as finances go, I kept track of our monthly spending for about 4 months before my daughter was born and got my fiance to realize how much money he was spending willy-nilly, and now he keeps track of his bills (visa, insurance for the car, consolidation loan and such) and I keep track of my own now. We go equally on the rent (atm at least because I am still getting EI), and I try and help with everything else as needed.

We usually don`t do much of anything that costs money. I do take my daughter to the park a couple times a week (she`s only 9 months so she usually just sits on the grass), it`s close and free.

The main thing though, is to remember that you are also taking care of your son and helping him learn and grow. If you miss a couple of chores one day they can be made up the next. Not everything needs to be done and perfect, as long as you and your family are happy then that`s all that TRULY matters. Don`t beat yourself up about the dishes that didn`t get done. Or the load of laundry you missed. :)