Ask:
I work 30 hours a week and have a 12 month old dd. I struggle trying to find the time to keep up with the house during the week. By the time I make dinner and spend time with my dd, I don't have much time to do anything else. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep up with the house during the week?
Answer:
I found the best way for me is to give it 30 minutes of cleaning time every night (normally while I am cooking dinner). I can start the dishwasher and laundry and run a quick 5-10 minutes in the main rooms for clutter. The weekend I do all the rooms in more detail. I realize 30 minutes does not give you a lot of time but when done every night it does help with the little "issues".
Answer:
I work 40 hours a week outside the home. I have a 3.5 yr. old. What i have found is to throw a load of laundry in as soon as i get home. Or if i have time in the morning, i throw a load in then. Since we don't get home until 5 and our DD goes to bed by 7:30, we don't do any cleaning while she is up. Once she is in bed, then i do the supper dishes and pick up some. On weekends, that is when i do the major cleaning. Or if i'm really in the mood, i will do the major cleaning on Friday nights so i don't have to spend my saturday cleaning!
Answer:
I luck out that my MIL watches my kids for me and while she's there she cleans my house once a week. So, I don't have to deal with the major cleaning of my house, just straightening up, dishes, clothes, supper. It seems like a lot when I'm working 5 - 6 days a week but most of the year I work 4 days a week and use my extra day for a lot of the laundry and make a nice supper that we can eat off a few more days.
Do what you can, when you can but still make your family #1 - that's what I think anyway.
Answer:
Originally Posted by MegNAbbysMom
I luck out that my MIL watches my kids for me and while she's there she cleans my house once a week. So, I don't have to deal with the major cleaning of my house, just straightening up, dishes, clothes, supper. It seems like a lot when I'm working 5 - 6 days a week but most of the year I work 4 days a week and use my extra day for a lot of the laundry and make a nice supper that we can eat off a few more days.
Do what you can, when you can but still make your family #1 - that's what I think anyway.
What a wonderful MIL! I think you are right - family is #1.
Answer:
You may need to relax your cleanliness standards a bit. So what if the house is dusty, or you only vacuum occasionally. It really is not important!
Answer:
Originally Posted by Happymom
You may need to relax your cleanliness standards a bit. So what if the house is dusty, or you only vacuum occasionally. It really is not important!
When I was working outside the house (heck, let's be honest, sometimes now too!) that is what I did...relax the standards a bit, then I wasn't so stressed about it...Just do a little each day and it all gets done!
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I do not find the time! I work outside the home also and am responsible for 95% of house chores. It just can't all be done unless you have a super neat and cooperative family who doesn't make messes.... Do you know any families like that?
When I worked less hours I still had these problems but my house was a bit cleaner. I was actually debating using a sick day this week so I could catch up.
Answer:
Originally Posted by MegNAbbysMom
Do what you can, when you can but still make your family #1 - that's what I think anyway.
This is perfect - we just have to do what we can. I'm a single mom working full time so ALL the inside and outside chores are mine, mine, mine. They get done when they get done and that's all I can do. I try to keep the main areas of our home looking presentable but rooms others don't see are just barely passable much of the time. Lean on friends and famiy when you can on the weekends to give you a break and just do the best you can.
Answer:
have you considered getting a cleaning lady?
I am going back to work part-time in September, and from then on we will have a cleaning lady come by for 2 hours a week. My salary will essentially be enough to cover daycare and the cleaning lady, but I think it'll be worth it. My son will be with 2-3 other kids and in good care, I will be back at work and using my skills in the workplace (which is important to me), and we won't have to stress so much about keeping the house super clean. I just wish we could afford to have someone here now!!
I don't know what the going rate is where you are, but here I can get someone to come and clean the house for around 10 Euro an hour, which is about $13 per hour - obviously in cash... ask around amongst your friends - they might have someone they can recommend.