I'm turning into my MOTHER!!!!

[PamE]

Let me start by saying that's not *all* bad, LOL!! :p Mom was a sahm for the most part and that was great. The thing that is bothering me is that I seem to be sooooo busy doing very little of nothing. :( It's always go, go, go and yet nothing ever seems to be done. Mostly (as usual) it's housework that's plaguing (sp?) me.

This is going to sound like a very stupid question, but where do you know when to stop? Each time I come to a stopping point I find a reason to keep going. Usually because it's always a two steps forward, one step back thing. If I don't keep on top of it all it all falls apart before my very eyes, LOL! I know this will gradually chance as my dc get older, and I already see some of the benefits of that, but in the meantime I find little time for anything else! There's a cross-stitch I'm supposed to be doing for mil for Christmas and at this rate it's definitely not going to get done! :( I've got three baby blankets to hem/edge and about four other projects to get done before the baby comes. I feel like a bug on it's back, lol, pedaling fast and getting nowhere!

This is way to long already, but do you all have a method? A time when you tell yourself that you're done for the day, move on, etc?

[littlesista06]

I, personally, don't feel like you can EVER come to a stopping point - esp. if you have kids and a hubby. :) I've been joking lately that I need my own apartment - just so I know that when I put something somewhere, it'll stay there. :lol:

My house can be immaculate and in a matter of hours, it's total disarray - clean clothes to be put away, dishes to be put up, backpack innards :) etc.

To answer your real question, I don't have a method as to when I quit - I usually work like a dog and then crash. I work much better when I'm home alone (rare) and well into the night..... that's just me.

I was in bed last night thinking how much time I waste picking up and straightening, etc. when I could/should be just playing w/dd.... I'm going to make a much bigger effort to do that now.

Good luck Pam! :)

[Leigh]

I have no solutions or answers, but wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I don't even have children and I feel like that alot of times. Hang in there, and I hope it gets better for you! :)

[PamE]

It's nice to know I'm not alone or going off the deep end!! Sometimes I wonder! It's such a rut. Bummer that I can't blame it all on the kids though! :newwink:

My own apartment sounds reeeeally nice! I find myself daydreaming at times about what the house will look like once the kids are grown and gone. :crazyroll: Then I want to slap myself because I don't want to wish the time away, or make my kids grow up too fast!!!!

Has anyone ever read or heard of a book, something like, The Tyranny of the Urgent? I think basically it just talks about how so often we are misled and distracted by the "urgent" things in life, rather than the important things. Like housework vs time with family, the ringing phone vs an uninterrupted dinner, etc. I've heard of it, but never read it. Maybe it's time! :)

Anyway, for today, I'm giving myself a deadline of noon to get everything done I want done and then move on.

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by littlesista06
My house can be immaculate and in a matter of hours, it's total disarray - clean clothes to be put away, dishes to be put up, backpack innards :) etc.

Isn't that the truth? It can be so frustrating....sometimes dh is the worst one. :rolleyes: :tearhair:

[KarlaB]

I also work better if I am home alone - don't know why it is that I feel so motivated then - maybe because I know no one is messing it all up right behind me? LOL!

Lately I have felt really overwhelmed and feel like I can't keep up. I think part of it is being in and out so much with dks and dh being back at work and coaching....I get spoiled in the summer when he's around and helps out more. :\

When someone finds a magic solution let me know! ;)

[littlesista06]

Originally posted by KarlaB
I also work better if I am home alone - don't know why it is that I feel so motivated then - maybe because I know no one is messing it all up right behind me? LOL!

Lately I have felt really overwhelmed and feel like I can't keep up.


I think you're right (about the motivation thing)!

I've been having the same feelings of being overwhelmed, stressed out, and stretched to my limits - and the really scary thought is; if I worked full-time I'd still be expected to do most of what I'm doing!! 8o Thank goodness I do have two, albeit partial,
days 'off' to get me head together a little.

[Linda/NE]

I'm no one to talk because my house is always a mess and I'm always behind.

I think for your own sanity give yourself permission to stop. It's okay if soemthing doesn't get done. It's not the end of the world, it WILL be there tomorrow (Believe me I know--none of my messy house has just disappeared!!;) )

Maybe start the night before writing down what you want accomplished the next day. Then prioritize. If those blankets need done then put them up higher on the priority list.

How old are your kids again? Delegate some jobs to the kids like folding clothes, clearing table, etc. and leave the room while they do them. We really got serious about this, this past year and surprisingly the kids do a pretty good job. I found though that they do a lot more if I'm not there 'helping' them.

Hope this helps. Hope you get your things done before the baby arrives. If it doesn't get done, time will move on, you will get by. Take a deep breath and just enjoy this time! :)