I just joined and am getting really frustrated with all the posts that are nothing more than advertisments for people's business.  Is this a real group or what?  I already have a job- I don't need another one and am sure that everyone here is capable of googling "work from home" if they are looking for a work from home company to join.  Wow, I just sounded rude and don't mean to be! I am just frustrated b/c I thought I found a group to "support" working mommies, and wasn't excited to see some of these posts. 

Anyone else having trouble keeping up with the house as a working mom? I think that is my biggest frustration right now!

Keeping up can be very frustrating, huh? I know I get that way sometimes.

My husband works full-time outside the home, and I work full-time at a lab as well as part-time from home. Keeping up with the kiddos and the housework can be so very frustrating.

What I think helps most is to accept that you just can't do everything, and that you have to jsut let some things go. Meaning that, you need to accept you won't get everything done in the time you really want them done.

I used to fret over the fact my house was not 100% picked up and sparkling clean. I wore myself out because I was stressing myself out. I find that doing the hosuework in small steps works best for me. We save the dishes for either the morning, or when we get home from work and we're cooking dinner. A load of laundry is thrown in at night, put in the dryer in the morning, and the folding and putting away during the kids' playtime before bed. Vacuuming gets done at least 3 times a week, and usually either after work or before bedtime. Luckily, my kids (1 & 3) love the vacuum and "help" out by picking up toys or moving them out of the way.

Or just pick a room that HAS to be clean before you go to bed. My mom always had to have her kitchen clean before she could relax for the night. Then, the other time, she'd do laundry or clean up the rest of the house.

Do you have older children? Incorporate them into the housework. It would definitely lessen the time you spend cleaning.

I hope you find a solution! I know the some moms use FlyLady.net to find solutions as well!

Sincerely,

Tricia
www.4OurFamilysWellness.com

I'm with you. On the advertisements and keeping up with the house. When I was still pregnant with my third child (he'll be a year old in March) we moved to a four bedroom house from a two bedroom apartment. Thank God I have two older children (15 and 10) who take care of their own rooms and the trash and put their own laundry away. If I had to do all that on top of it all I'd be a wreck. My husband stays at home with the baby during the day and goes to school at night. It's very hectic!

Pam

Nadine. I am completely with you. There are way too many advertisements for work-at-home companies. This is not a place to do this, I believe.

As for the difficulties of maintaining your home, senity, child/children and work, you are correct also. It is good to know, that you are not alone. I had to go back to full-time work when my baby girl (she is now 13.5 months) turned 6 months. It was extremely difficult. It still is, even though it did get a bit easier. However I do not even pretend that our apartment (my husband, daughter and I rent a 2-bedroom) is clean during the week. Also, we almost never cook anything during the week. Only on weekends my husband and I try to do ALL the chores, hardly ever relaxing. I don't know how to make it better because when we get home in the evening during the week, we just need time to put things away a bit and spend at least some time playing with our baby since we do not see her during the day. We are so lucky, though, that it is my mother and my mother-in-law that take care of our baby when we work.

What Tricia suggested sounds very good. Trying to do a little at a time. Most importantly we need to get it into our heads, that we simply have to let certain things left undone. What is more important - to make sure the house is clean and dishes are washed or to spend those extra minutes with your child / familiy? We all know the answer. So I keep telling myself to try to relax and just enjoy my baby since we already work all day at our other jobs.

Good luck to you. I know, because people keep telling me, that it gets easier :-)

Tricia, You are my new hero. I loved it. I worked part time from home and took on a second full time away from home job. My husband travels during the week. I have a 10mo and 3 yr old, your children seem much more willing to help and pick up than mine, whom also scream hysterically at the sound of the vacuum cleaner.- everyday, do it little by little. other suggestions is pick a room a night. I am having trouble with laundry waiting till the weekends. I will have to be more diligent about it. but letting go. I have found that cereal for dinner is not all that bad an idea some nights. I try to eat  a big lunch because rarely do I have time to sit down and eat dinner (bc chasing after kids, feeding them, picking up and putting them to bed). 

OK. Now Tricia and Cynthia. Both are my heros. I will take some of these suggestions. I only have one child and I feel crazy a lot of the times and overwhelmed. How do you guys manage to clean every night? Even one room? By the way, in all seriousness, can someone recommend the best broom/vacuum to clean hard-wood floors quickly and efficiently? I have tried several and they all take a while and sometimes don't clean that well. Especially considering that baby picks things off the floor and puts them in her mouth before we can blink.

Thanks, girls! Great job, everyone!

Nadine, I agree about the ads, yuck it is so annoying!! I hope this group is "for real" I could definitley use the support.

As far as the house goes.  My husband and I used to take pride in our clean house (before we had kids, of course).  How we just have to laugh.  We constantly say to ourselves "what happened to this place".  We try to keep up, but we sure don't have the super clean house that we used to.  We just try to remind ourselves that the kids will only be little for a short while.  When they are older I can have my clean, nicely decorated house again.  For now we are just trying to enjoy the kids, time is going by so fast!!

Anastasia, 

AS my wise mother says ( mom of 7) " one child takes all your time, 2 children take all your time, 3 children take all your time, .... ". 

I was very overwhelmed with my first.. I had trouble with everything that needed to get done then, as well. I don't think I let go of more things with to kids, but maybe I got used to the toys everywhere??? 

however, I am asking the same question about a vacuum. I can't seem to keep one working well for more than 3 years and forget finding one that will do rugs and hard floors. My girls both have food allergies (of course to different things) one thing I did with my first, but have not done this time around is to put up one of those outdoor gate systems. They are like octagon shaped. I put a sheet down under the gate and filled it up with toys. the sheet was easy to pick up and clean. it also keeps stuff like carpet fuzz out of her mouth. it is safe and contains the toy explosion, but gives them 9 square feet to play in.  

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved reading everyone's post responses!  Just made me feel good inside! That's all we women need right? Just a tiny pat on the back- whether from a friend, husband, or complete stranger....and we are off and running again!!  This week I have been just trying to think about all the good things in my life: a husband I actually like! (yes, I know- we all love our husbands- but so many times we bitch and moan- and sometimes we just don't like them! so I have been really "liking" my husband this week----I think it has helped my own attitude towards other things lol!), great kids that I love more than anything, a few friends that "get it", and a house and food to eat......even if that house is a wreck and that dinner is either macaroni or instant oatmeal.  Yep, tonight my son wanted Apple Cinnamon Quaker Oat instant oatmeal, and by golly there were no clean towels in the closet and homework to do- so he got the dinner he wanted and I got extra time to put in a load of towels!  I'm trying the "little bit each night" and when you set a small goal it feels good. Tonight my goal was to have clean towels for my husband and my shower in the morning.....and YES I DID IT!  There are now towels, unfolded but clean, waiting in the dryer for us.  Actually, as I type this I realize it is 3am!! I couldn't sleep tonight- happens about once a month where I literally can't sleep.  Guess I'll go get the towels and bring them up lol! Well, I'm rambling b/c I'm way past zombie now, so I'll end my post!  Thanks again everyone! Hope to talk more in the future......and happy Thursday! (one day closer to Friday!)

I agree with the advertisments also!  Not the place.

I try to clean a little every night, but vacuuming three times per week does not happen!  I'm lucky if it happens twice a month!  But, we make sure to take our shoes off at the door and that seems to help.  I get to go home during my lunch breaks and that is when I get a chance to power clean.  That really helps.  Give yourself an hour and you'd be surprised what you can get done. 

The problem I have is that it seems like I'm always maintaining the normal clean, but have no time for special projects like cleaning windowns and blinds, working on our basement remodel, etc. 

Amanda,

I know! The normal clean is just about all I can do- and sometimes not even that!  The scrubbing and organzing that is in my head everyday - but never gets done - drives me crazy!!  I make lists all the time and then just re-do the l lists and it seems like about 95% of the "new" list is just stuff from the old list transferred over!  grrr.!

Get this!  I spent some time on Saturday cleaning and planned to do more over the weekend.  I asked my husband if he minded if I set up a play date on Monday with a friend since I didn't have to work.  He said that the house was not clean so he didn't want me to.  I was quite offended.  He admits he doesn't help, but then does nothing to help.  I think I keep up pretty well with the house considering the time contraints, etc.  So, I ended up suggesting a swimming play date instead.  Not nice!

Hi, I just joined today. Right now, I'm at home with my second child but will be going back to work in August (I'm a h.s. math teacher). I know money is tight everywhere, but if you can afford, I recommend a cleaning lady. I've had mine for 4 years (she comes every other week) and I love her. Of course, I have to straighten up every day, but I don't do the deep cleaning that she does. I would rather get rid of my daily latte or two dinners out a month to keep my cleaning lady. She is a lifesaver!!!

That is a great idea!  I've actually asked for a cleaning person for Christmas in the past, but have yet to see it.  I have friends who are married and don't have kids and they said that hiring someone to clean actually saved their marriage!  Maybe I'll ask for my birthday!  What does your cleaning lady clean?

I totally agree with the advertisements - what a pain! But I hope that doesn't deter anyone. I have belonged to several online mommy groups and this one by far has been the most helpful! 

Cleaning my house has been a constant source of stress for me since my son was born a year and half ago. Although, I have to admit, since leaving my husband it's gotten easier . Now as a single mom - I find it hard to keep the house clean - but I learned a few tricks.

1. Goodhousing keeping magazine has all sorts of tips for organizing and I've used many of them. I have bins all over the house for toys, which makes pick up so much easier. 

2. I will forever swear by my swifter! I don't even use the swifter pads - I just use a rag. I squirt Method floor cleaner and them use the swifter to clean up the floors. It works great and it is SOOOOO fast. Plus the Method floor cleaner smells like almonds and my house smells awesome!

3. Dusting is what I hate more than anything. But I have found that Pledge does live up to its name and keeps things less dusty - it's more expensive but totally worth it.

4. My hand held vacuume is a must! Makes little messes go away fast.

I have thought of a cleaning lady too - but I hate having someone see how messy I can be :) Plus I always think I can do it better (yep control freak!).

I totally agree with the advertisements - what a pain! But I hope that doesn't deter anyone. I have belonged to several online mommy groups and this one by far has been the most helpful! 

Cleaning my house has been a constant source of stress for me since my son was born a year and half ago. Although, I have to admit, since leaving my husband it's gotten easier . Now as a single mom - I find it hard to keep the house clean - but I learned a few tricks.

1. Goodhousing keeping magazine has all sorts of tips for organizing and I've used many of them. I have bins all over the house for toys, which makes pick up so much easier. 

2. I will forever swear by my swifter! I don't even use the swifter pads - I just use a rag. I squirt Method floor cleaner and them use the swifter to clean up the floors. It works great and it is SOOOOO fast. Plus the Method floor cleaner smells like almonds and my house smells awesome!

3. Dusting is what I hate more than anything. But I have found that Pledge does live up to its name and keeps things less dusty - it's more expensive but totally worth it.

4. My hand held vacuume is a must! Makes little messes go away fast.

I have thought of a cleaning lady too - but I hate having someone see how messy I can be :) Plus I always think I can do it better (yep control freak!).

Mine cleans everything except the basement (which I call "Man Land"). My mom has a lady that does everything except the bedrooms, which helps to save money.