BellaBoo

My thinking is anyone over the age of 8 can work a washing machine and dryer. My kids started doing their own laundry at 7. I provided the step stool of their choice. 8) I've always made it clear to the kids I didn't give birth so I could be a maid. I gave birth to have free maid service. :lol: :lol: :lol: I don't stress over my housework. The house is uncluttered and and easy to keep tidy. I see a mess I think how can this mess be avoided being made again. I change the mess, not forever cleaning it up. I use disposable dishes as much as possible even disposable flatware that I buy in bulk at Sam's Club. I rarely use more than two pans to cook an everyday meal. I wash them as soon as the food is cooked. Put out the paper plates, solo cups, plastic forks and spoon and dinner clean up is a thing of the past. I hate having dirty dishes to deal with after a meal. If the family wants real dishes they have to clean up. They never get them out. :wink:

Butterfli19

You certainly all have been helpful and it's nice to hear that there really isn't anyone who does it all. I taught my kids to be self-sufficient and they can cook, clean, and do laundry. They aren't the problem, I am the problem.

I expect too much of myself, always have. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed I procrastinate. Aha! I guess I need to back down a bit. I had every intention of sewing all weekend but the only sewing I did was resew two buttons on my son's friend's jacket. I spent most of yesterday entering all my sewing machine feet, different threads and sewing machine needles into an excel spreadsheet, trying to prepare inventory for the biz. I also drafted a pattern for a grocery tote I decided to make out of old jeans, and decided to wait on purchasing the EQ6 since I only make small things. I did manage to wash, dry and fold two more loads of fabric, only to realize most of what I have is prints of flowers or stars, with hardly any plain fabric. Sigh...now I have to buy pastel and bold complements. And another bin. And some muslin. And some white batting.

Nancy Zieman wrote a book called "10, 20, 30 minutes to Sew." I think I'll do that. Try to set aside 1/2 - 1 hour each evening to do something sewing-related. I set aside 1/2 hour each morning before work to cross-stitch, I can certainly do the same for sewing. Sheesh, I am a grown up, lol.

Sanveann

I have two little ones -- 2 years old and 4 months old -- and I work part time. I don't have much time for sewing ... usually just after they're in bed, as the 2-year-old is into EVERYTHING and I always worry about him getting ahold of something he shouldn't have.

Thursday night is my sewing night, for the most part. My DH plays Xbox with his friends online that night, so after the kids are asleep, I don't have much choice -- it's read or sew!

Jim's Gem

I work too, but only part time. And now that tax season is over I only work 3 days a week. I don't watch television so I try to get some sewing in 2 -3 nights a week. Also sine DH is a pastor, he has college group he runs every Sunday evening and frequently he is only home for lunch on Sundays, so sundays are a great sewing day for me. I'd be sewing now, cept I just got home from getting a manicure and pedicure so I'm waiting to be sure that my nails are all the way dry before sewing! Also, one weekend a month I have friends from church and we have a UFO weekend. It was this weekend, so we get together in the music room at church and sew from 5 - 11 Friday night and 9 - 3 Saturday. Got lots done!!!!

Harmony

I'm in the same boat with the rest of you! I'm a freelance court reporter, so I don't go out and take a job every day, but the days that I don't go out I spend at home working on transcripts. That goes for evenings and weekends as well. I'm ALWAYS busy, and I almost never have free time. I have one daughter out of the house, and one still technically living here, although I don't see her too much. She's no help around the house. DH tries to help, but it doesn't seem to occur to him to do anything I don't directly ask him to do. So I've learned to lower my standards--a LOT!!! I do hand quilting when I'm watching TV at night. If I'm piecing something, I do that at night instead. I don't spend too many full days locked up in my sewing room, but I fit it in where I can, and I just let the house go to hell until I can't stand it anymore. The way I see it, I've been working since I was 14 years old; I deserve a little "me" time, even if it's only now and then!

Kara

I've learned to let some things go, too.

Laundry is not folded perfectly, because the kids do it.

There are dust bunnies migrating all over the house because I don't/won't vacuum every day or even every other day. And my cleaning crew consists of 4 people for 5yo to 12yo.

There's clutter here and there. I spend some time and focus on some stuff, then move on.

Don't always get sewing time in... between house, hubby, kids, homeschooling, part-time job, and the mountain of laundry and dirty dishes that seem to accumulate with 4 active kids...

I have some handwork now that I do while the kids are between instruction. And I sometimes pull the quilting hoop up to the table, too. A few stitches here and there makes some progress. I'll sometimes cut at the kitchen counter in between, too. Or pin. Sewing at the machine is done later... since it's back in our bedroom...

collettakay

I thank God everyday that at this point in time my dh's income supports us and I'm able to be home with our little one's. Our oldest is in school and our youngest is 2. Even though I don't have a job outside the home I find that I am as busy now as ever.

I made a household binder that I call "Colletta's Kitchen Sink". It contains everything and anything I need to stay organized and be where I need to be when I need to be there. I created my own monthly/weekly planner that has a column for me, dh and both kiddies. I can put my daily chores/apts/plan in my column and also keep track of what is going in for dh and the kids. Their appts/practices/school happening go under their column so that I can see what our whole family has going on for each day. I also have tab that contain: phone #'s, addresses, projects, PTO, Girl scouts, church. I whole punch flyers that I get and put them in their proper tab area. I also keep notebook paper in each section to make lists. I take it with me whenever I leave the house. I made a master list of events that occur on a monthly and weekly basis and also a cleaning/household list. It helps to remember what to schedule on my calendar and I don't forget to the things like washing the kids sheets.

Each week I plan out the main things going on for the week. Sundays are set aside for church and family and of course, Sunday afternoon naps. lol. Monday morning I deep clean the kitchen, dining room, sewing room and family room and do laundry. Tuesday morning I deep clean the bathrooms and bedrooms and finish any laundry that didn't get done. Wednesday are set aside for sewing/quilting/projects. Thursday I do laundry again and everyother week go for groceries. Friday are usually for errands, picking up the house, and reading and Family Movie Night. Saturdays are family day and I have to get the church bulletin printed off before Sunday morning.

Some days it take me longer to get my list done depending on how cooperative the little one is. Her nap time is usually me time. Evenings are dinner, practices, meetings, homework, baths and then quilting time while watching TV.

The main thing is to be flexible. If something on my list doesn't get done that day, oh well. I mark it for the next day or a more convenient time.

I also am not my mother's cleaning daughter. I refuse to sweep floors everyday and don't do the dishes directly after suppper. The next morning is just fine. If the clothes sit in the basker for a week, hey at least they're clean. I do try to do a total house declutter at least once a year. (I'm in the middle of that now. One room at a time.)

If you made it through all this rambling, thank you. And if anyone wants me to email you my planner that you can customize and print out, pm me your email addy.

One more thing, guess what I have on a my schedule for today in big letters and circled. TRIP TO THE FABRIC STORE!!!!

ButtercreamCakeArtist

Holy moly! So many of you sound just like me, or vise versa. I have heard the phrase, "I am not my mother's daughter" in several of these posts...that's how I feel, too. Mom's house is perfect. Always. Clutter attracts to me like hair on duct tape....or sand on a dropped banana or, well, you know. I hate it. I am so disorganized right now, and it puts me in a horrible mood.
I've been working on it. I think I'd like to get things ready and have a yardsale. We are building on to our house right now, so that's really going to be fun when we start cutting out walls and adding a new hall. I spent most of a day cleaning and organizing things in my room. I've even taken the bed all the way apart and dusted and vacuumed it all. Then, I had to get up at 2am one morning and move all of my shelves and fabric bc hubby had removed the siding (building on) and rain was blowing in around the sliding door in my room! Don't worry. I saved the fabric and the carpet.

I've learned that I'm not perfect, and that I can't seem to keep everything in its place. I was better at this before kids, but I guess we all were. I'm rather embarrassed when company comes, but I've learned to get over that a little.

Laundry! OMG! I almost hate laundry! GRR! I do well with getting it all downstairs and getting it done, but putting it up is another story. I do fold everything when I take it out of the dryer, so it doesn't get wrinkled. It may be a week getting put up, but it won't be wrinkled!

When I get really frustrated with myself, I stop and think a little. I tell myself to be thankful, very thankful, that I have a roof over my head and a house to clean, that I have laundry and detergent to do it with, dirty dishes because we have food to eat..
My Mom grew up without running water, indoor plumbing, and a lot of necessities and "things". They had a wringer washer outside to do laundry in if they'd caught enough rain water, and a line to dry them on. They had to carry water from a spring way over the hill if they wanted to eat, clean, wash, etc. So, sometimes if I'm really feeling crappy about things, I can think of how lucky I am to "have it easy". It isn't exactly "easy", but it is easier than Mom had it.

I had planned to get my house in order last week, during Spring break, but I got sick instead. So, I said MONDAY>>>It's Monday.

Bill'sBonBon

No it is not just you,I believe we all feel that way some times. I am retired and I still don't have the time do quilt all day, only some in the afternoon.I haven't been on the board much until the end of march. My DD had a hysterectomy,Then it didn't heal,she had a 1 1/2 " deep and 2" wide hole in her belly. I had to learn to pack,she was at her home 15 miles away We tried it at my home but beds were to low,she had a high bed.. I went there once aday every day for abt. 2 weeks to pack it for her. DH was to have foot surgery on March 2nd. Did the preop stuff while DD was in the hospital. After EKG they said he was having a heart attack on the back of his heart. He wasn't, He is Fine a long story abt. that one. Anyway He finall had his surgery on April 2nd. I had a absess in the roof of my mouth :shock: MD was worried about Mouth Cance Had to go to a ENT that was fine It got Lanced,no Cancer On top of that I am a caregiver of my almost 83 Year old Mom. No all of this was happening in rapid sucession of each other bang, bang, bang Then I got a PM from this sweet Angel about not seeing me on the board.
Quiltncrazy gave me a pep talk and I started getting back on this wonderful site. I am doing a lot better, still have been having the same feelings you are haveing. It is just life you know and it is out of our control most of the time. So you just thank God you have the ability to do what needs to be done,and get on this board and tell everyone. :lol:
You will do and be fine,The house work will not go away, :( just do what you can when you can.
HUGS For You
BillsBonBon

live2teach

It is hard to balance everything. I don't work outside of the home anymore. I'm a proud stay at home momma to a sweet little boy and I'm thankful that I can be. But between class, taking care of my family, running errands, doctors appointments, family events, etc etc, it is hard to find time to clean. lol. When I was pregnant everything was always clean because I was in that nesting phase. LOL. Here lately, I've been in the mood to clean, and it is a lot easier to clean when it's already pretty clean. I used to say it's hard to find the time to do it, but if you really want it done, you'll find the time. Of course, my family comes first, so I'm usually up late at night cleaning while the baby's sleeping, but if I had a full time job, I'd probably be sleeping instead of cleaning. lol.