Ask:
I am a teacher now (for the next 5 weeks!!!) but will be staying home after school is out and not working. I have a 1 year old and will be taking care of a 4 month old for a friend while she is teaching. Does anyone have any advice for a new SAHM? I know that my day will be packed full but how in the heck do you run a house with 2 kids under 2yo?
Answer:
I am most productive during naptime. Hopefully yours will nap at the same time or at least overlap some. HBO Classical Baby and Baby Einstein DVDs have also helped me to snag 30 minutes on occasion. My little boy is 15 months and I think I'm just now getting control of my life again - haha! Thank goodness the weather here is getting warmer. Seems like the days are much easier on all of us if I can get little E outside for awhile.
Tips - keep everything on a calendar, cook meats in advance for casseroles and freeze portions for later, double recipes and freeze for later, TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
Good luck - I am a happy SAHM (ex-career Mom) and although I miss some things from my career past, I have embraced my new role and realize it will probably change again when ds goes to school. Cherish every moment!
Answer:
I also agree about utilizing nap times- I would try to get as much done while my youngest would nap. I would also use a wicker basket as a catch all while she was awake- to gather up any clutter mess (the key with using it though- is to put the clutter away asap-- before you have 30 of them laying around!). In the evening before my DH would get paid- I would scope out the groceries needed for the house and plan menus for the next week (or two)- always plan at least 2-3 simple easy to make meals in case there is a bad day. THat makes it so much easier to wake up and know what your potential supper will be- instead of deciding what to make all day long! Enjoy your time at home!
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I'm a new at this SAHM stuff too. One thing that surprised me is the weekends have become exhausting! I used to look forward to weekends when I was working, now my Monday morning I feel completely wiped out. My husband and ten year old son require a lot of work-extra cooking and cleaning, and attention on the weekends. Add this in with a newborn who is keeping me up nights. I think it would be good to ask for help more, but that's hard for me to do.
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Thanks for all of the tips! In my mind, I am thinking that the house will be sparkling and I'll have on lipstick and pantyhose when my husband comes home with dinner waiting on the table! Not Happening!!!
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My advice would be do the best you can and just enjoy that baby!! They grow up so fast. One thing is to be on somewhat of a schedule but don't be too strict with that.
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I remember what I thought about staying home before I actually did and the reality is FAR from it. I couldn't figure out what people did all day long. Why weren't their houses or cars clean, or themselves, for that matter? Well, since I stay home full-time with a five-year-old and almost two-year-old, have I found out.
Most of each day is spent struggling to complete even the simplest, quickest tasks before ANOTHER interruption. Resolving ANOTHER dispute. Constantly cleaning up, even after my husband. By the end of each and every day I feel totally and completely exhausted, mind and body. I try to grab 6-7 hours of sleep (interrupted, of course) and then start all over again the next day. But I wouldn't give up this time with them for anything. As great as daycare can be for some kids, I want to be the one doing things for and with them. And some day my conscious mind will return and I'll read books and sew and have adult conversations using big words about current events.
I meant to recommend something to you but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. Welcome to the club!
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thanks for the helpful hints! I am just on my maternity leave - I have to go back to work for a few months before I can quit for good. I feel like I accomplish nothing all day! If I'm lucky I can get all the toys/books/blankets stashed in a basket before my hubby comes home and if she has good with her nap I may get some dinner cooked.
I run around all evening and most of the weekends getting things done while her daddy can watch her. It is so exhausting! Luckily she is a great sleeper at night, so at least I am rested.
Answer:
Hi, I'm a new SAHM too, although only until the next school year starts. Then I have to figure things out all over again as a part-time working mom...
At any rate, I too thought I would have loads of time to get everything done, keep the house sparkling, etc. Whatever! Some days are good, some are not... and in the meantime, I enjoy all the time I have with ds! I do have a sort-of routine for certain times of day, like mealtimes. For instance, in the evening when dh gets home, one of us bathes ds and the other prepares dinner. Then we eat together at the table. Then one of us cleans up and the other takes ds to bed. After that we have the evening free for each other and we can relax. I generally don't do ANY more chores once ds is in bed, unless it's just folding the end of the laundry. I use my evenings to relax.
I get other stuff done during the week as necessary - groceries, cleaning, etc., all worked around ds' schedule. he's not on a strict schedule, but I know approximately when he'll want to do what, and so I try and match that with my activities. I love his playpen because I can put him in there and get 1 chore done (i.e. vacuuming) and then go back to playing with him. You will definitely need some kind of barrier area with 2 little ones! And getting errands done might be difficult. I would probably save those for when you just have your own child to manage, or for the weekend.
My favorite new addition to my routine is my babysitter! She is 16 and comes for 2 hours every Tuesday afternoon. I pay her 5 Euro ($7) an hour and she plays with ds while I do whatever I want. I love it!!!! Usually I clean and do some other tasks that have piled up. This week I took them both to the car wash with me (a DIY place - it's illegal to wash your own car in your driveway in germany...) and ran some errands.
As far as keeping everything looking nice, including yourself, I have found that it is best for me if I get up early and get all ready - including makeup, hair, etc. Then I am done for the day and can take care of everything else. I make the bed every morning and usually start a load of laundry before I eat breakfast. That way, even if I don't get to any more chores during the day, I at least got a few things done. Sometimes I end my day looking significantly worse for the wear (sand, spitup, boogers, etc smeared on my clothes, hair a wild mess, etc.!!) but then dh can at least look at me and know what my day was like!