Time

[RCT]

Where does it go? I need more time...time to spend with the kids, time to clean this house, time to cook, shop and just be here. TIME for me, time for me and dh? time.....where is the time gone, I turned around one day and my oldest baby is eye level. my little baby girl wears a training bra. I feel like time is just slipping through my fingers.
Don't misunderstand, I love my job and we need the income no question there. When I was a SAHM I had time. Probably didn't appreciated it as much as I could have, but I sure miss it now.

Ok ladies, When do you find the time to do your Christmas Baking? Shopping? Decorating? regular house work, make dinners, laundry, you know the usual.
Please tell me your not all on a schedual and that I am the only one that flys by the seat of her pants with the house work :lol:

[BevJ]

Ok ladies, When do you find the time to do your Christmas Baking? Shopping? Decorating? regular house work, make dinners, laundry, you know the usual.
Please tell me your not all on a schedual and that I am the only one that flys by the seat of her pants with the house work :lol:
I do not have a schedule to do housework. It gets done when I can't stand it anymore. We keep our home tidy at all times, but the dusting, vacuuming, floor washing, etc. gets done on an as needed basis. Laundry is the same. If the basket's full, it gets washed. It helps me that dh and ds both do their own laundry. Sometimes I'll light a fire under ds and help get his started but even that little bit helps.

I don't do Christmas baking but this year I am taking part in a cookie exchange at work. I'm finding the simplest shortbread recipe I can and making 12 dozen for Dec. 13. My Christmas shopping is very sporadic. This year I don't feel like I've made any time to shop and I'm feeling the crunch now, lol. I had the whole day off yesterday while my floors were being installed, but I never left the house. As for decorating. I'm going to have to do that quickly this weekend between getting my house put back in order and the arrival of dh's family for a get-together on Sunday. I'll do what I can and if I miss something, so be it. Making dinner lately has been hard, especially with ds having to work at 5pm and me working until 4:45. My meals have certainly gotten less elaborate, but we're surviving.

[vea29]

Ok ladies, When do you find the time to do your Christmas Baking? Shopping? Decorating? regular house work, make dinners, laundry, you know the usual.
Please tell me your not all on a schedule and that I am the only one that flys by the seat of her pants with the house work :lol:
Like I just said in ann's post.....I may not be a mom...but I can't even keep up with it all. You women totally impress me and you should be really proud of the job you do.

Over the years of working childcare I've seen working parents who don't know a thing about their children. simple stuff like the child doesn't like Katchup. You should all be proud of yourselves.

[PamE]

All I know is that I'm a sahm and still feel that way! 8o I can't imagine functioning with a full time job on top of that. (((HUGS))) I think you're doing great!

[Melody]

Thank you Vea, that's very sweet.

Renee, I fly by the seat of my pants. lol
Laundry gets done when I can, so basically a load here and there and never is it all done at once. I don't bake. I suck at it, it sounds easy to do but the only thing I can make is boxed cake mixes and homemade banana cookies. The rest comes from the bakery, I don't even try to find the time. Reg. housework gets done when I can. I give the boys chores, sometimes I have to make them and other days they get crackin' on it pretty good. I do not pick up toys off the floor. They put them there (not ds1, he doesn't play toys) so they can pick them up. Same as coats, boots, school bags at the front door. It's up to them to keep it tidy and the mostly do but have to send one in there to fix it up.
I agree, time does fly. I was pregnant for ds1 yesterday and now he's in junior high. Ds2 couldn't go to school in the afternoon unless I cuddled with him all morning first. He couldn't fall asleep unless he was beside me. Ds3 is still totally snuggly but wasn't it yesterday he was telling dh how to make a ba-ba (bottle). lol
I don't have a set scheduel, it all depends on what is going on with the kids. Some days, ds3 is content to play while I clean up. Some days he wants story after story. lol After school until bedtime is chaos with homework, making dinner, getting this one or that one to here or there and wading through school notes and letters. lol I will tell you though, the floors are swept but if it's not washed but the kids had fun coloring with me, that's all that matters. I don't sweat it, it can get done tomorrow is my logic. I'm doing what I always wanted to do, never do I remember saying as a little girl "I want to stay home and wash floors and scrub the toilets while my kids are playing". rofl
I think we all have a tendancy to think we 'have' to do this or that, such as decorating for the holidays. I have learned that what goes up great, what doesn't - oh well. Last year I had very little up. No lights outside and didn't rush to this persons house for this night or that. It was great!
My advice to anyone is take out what's handy for decor, go to the bakery and limit what you put on the calendar by choosing only what you really want to do. :)

[AnnW]

well, we all know i am not keeping up! ;)
Renee, even when i stayed at home, I probably didn't appreciate it enough either. I think you do a wonderful job of balancing family and work. ya'll are always doing great things with the kids.

[Amy]

Do dh and the kids help clean the house on a weekly basis? When I was working and didn't have my neighbor cleaning the house at the time, all four of us would take an hour or two and clean from top to bottom on a Saturday morning. That made way for hanging out and relaxing knowing that the hard stuff was already done.

I know what you mean about time. This year flew by when both of us was working. Your nose was always to the grindstone and never had anytime to really look up and around and see the changes of everyday life.

[Amy]

Renee, if your dh could support the family, you not work and own a house, but had to move out of California, would you do it? I think one of the reasons we moved back to the area was the cost of living and the pressure was off knowing we could survive on one income if we had too.

[RCT]

Renee, if your dh could support the family, you not work and own a house, but had to move out of California, would you do it? I think one of the reasons we moved back to the area was the cost of living and the pressure was off knowing we could survive on one income if we had too.

That was the MAIN reason we lived in NJ and had our family there, he supported us all for over 5 years there, and two more in CNY, but one of the biggest reasons we moved back to California was because of dh's work stress and his constant health problems, Once we got back here....within a year he had found a better job, totally less stress and his health problems, have wained considerably....No more heart palpatations and trips to the ER, which remember were like a every three month thing...it was so awful watching him wither away....Yes we don't own our own home, but he is so happy now, he truely looks like a new man...we have kind of always been gypsies...so not having the hassle of owning is fine with us, miss the tax credit..but.
Being a working mom isn't what I planned on, but we do what needs to be done....I feel guilty for the kids, but when all is said and done the kids are in school until 3:30 and dh is home normally by then....someone is always home to parent. Some times I feel overwhelmed....

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one flying by the seat of my pants with the house. Even when I stayed at home, I never had a set schedual for anything....

Typing this I sound so whiney....I just can't believe that there are only 24 hours in a day...I need more...:lol:

[JAK]

I feel the same way. It was actually easier for me when I had a set schedule at the dental clinic. Yes, I worked more hours, but the hours were more convenient. There are times now I don't get off work until 5:30 or 5:45. The latest I got off at the dental clinic was 4:15. It makes a big difference to me. The kids weren't home very long when I got home. Now they are home longer by themselves and it really bothers me. Since I work such crazy hours it's been hard even though I work less hours. it makes no sense to me though.

The kids have chores and that really helps. It's less for dh and I to do. We usually clean the house on Saturday morning and do it as a family. Small stuff gets done during the week and big stuff for the weekend. We've been slacking some recently as we've been busy. :rolleyes: I too need more hours in the day!