How do I intergrate more housework into my daily routine?

Casey - posted on 04/26/2010

I totally understand where you are coming from. I started staying home about a year and half ago and it took some time to actually enjoy it and get a routine. Of course, when I to charge and created a routine, it was alittle to regimanted and I had to ease up on myself.



Anyway, back to what I was about to say. Both my children were not in school yet and I felt that since I was home I needed to give them my undivided attention. You know, play, do lessons etc. However, my chores lacked. So, I decided that an hour or two out of the day was not going to hurt them. My kiddos could entertain themselves and they did. Now, with my oldest in Kindergarten, I only have my 3 year old. She is spoiled even with a couple hours dedicated to chores. I just make sure that I fit "her time" in.



Of course, whatever you miss one day, it will be there the next. I learned this the hard way. Thank goodness I have a wonderful husband who thinks what I am doing is great. I was and still am more hard on myself. I would say, put your little one either in a walker if he is ready, jumper or cage him in if he is crawling. He will be okay. Just talk to him constantly so he knows you are still there.



I hope my rambles make sence and somewhat helpful. :)



Cheers!

Kristin - posted on 04/26/2010

You could let him entertain himself for 5-10 minutes at a time while you get short things done. A timer can help with this, you will both know when it's time to shift from work to play.

Once you've had kids, you never really have enough time to get everything you want to get done finished. A lot of your pressure will be relieved when you decide what must be done versus what can wait. It's all about prioritizing at this stage. As your child gets older and more independent, you will get to do more of what you want (fun and not so). Ultimately, your child won't remember if the laundry was always done and folded or if there were dishes in the sink. They will remember playing in the park and reading stories with you.

Good luck.

Becky - posted on 04/26/2010

I wish I knew! I am not the world's greatest housekeeper! Generally, I just try to include them in what I'm doing - bring them into the kitchen while I'm cooking or cleaning up. My 2 year old likes to help with the dishwasher now, and also loves to play in the tupperware drawer. If you have a baby carrier, you can also put him in there and carry him while you do things like sweep and vacuum. Some people use them for everything, but I'm not crazy about carrying them while I"m doing things like laundry that involve a lot of bending, or cleaning bathrooms, with chemicals. Laundry, I'll bring the little one in the laundry room and set him on the floor with a toy and the older one helps me put the clothes in. (and closes the washer door before I'm done loading it and otherwise generally slows me down, lol! :) Bathrooms I try to do when they're sleeping, because I just don't like bringing them in there with those chemicals.

Renee - posted on 04/26/2010

I always played with my kids and even my little brother with the diaper rags in the laundry while I was folding laundry. That way if they spit up on it, it wouldn't matter and it didn't get all over their blanket they were laying/sitting on. We would play pee-a-boo with the laundry and they loved it when it was still really warm, would get so excited over that. When I would cook, I would dance and sing to them, being all silly, my husband thinks I'm a little nutty to do that but he see's they love it so he likes that. When they get tired of the playing with laundry or cooking dancing/singing, that's when I hand them a toy to play with and chew on, after they get tired of that, I bring them a toy with lights and sound to make the break a little longer before I have to pick them up. And then do as much as I can with a baby on my hip, all the while taking advantage of that time to talk to them about what I am doing and entertain them that way with silly stuff off and on along with plain words of explaining what I am doing. Also look the baby in the eye as much as possible to keep them interestead, and smile and laugh the whole time. I am the same as you doing the bulk of my work when my kids are napping, and hopeing to get to relax during that time too, but I include them in my daily work as much as I can and try to teach them as much they can understand for their ages.