[shockandawe]

Every day at my house there's a trade off for something else. Inevitably the thing that gets traded off nags at the back of my brain and plays the guilt strings a bit. Again this week (second week in a row) mopping the floors has taken a back seat to something else. Every day this week I've had the intention of doing it, but I either wind up sweeping four or five times that day, Maggie takes extra work to get her naps, or someone phones or just something crops up every day and it just doesn't get done. I've had the same issue with planting my back garden. It's the last spring time chore to do, and I just can't seem to get it across the finish line so I can get on with my life and start enjoying it.

This happens frequently, and the only reassurance I have for myself is that at least (generally speaking) I get a homemade meal on the table every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We go out to eat only once a week.

What seems to be your trade offs. How do you deal with the guilt?

[Jule'sMomInOR]

Everything from work to cooking to cleaning to playing with Juliana to time with the hubby to working out is a trade-off. I feel horribly inefficient. I can't even say the same about a home-made meal; we keep a stock of ready to heat up quiche from Costco as a staple for one of "those days". So far I have dealt with it by giving up most of my relaxation time and free time with the hubby, but that isn't working out well for my marriage. Dealing with the guilt is hard. I feel like I should be perfect and I'm so far from it. When you figure out how to find balance, let me know!

[Wren]

Whenever you guys feel guilty, let me know, and I can tell you about how I am such a slob! I mop floors about once every 2 months and vacuum about once a week. My husband cooks more often than I do, even now when I am working only 8 hours a week. It has been nice being in a small apartment for a few months because it is much easier to keep clean. I love my dog to death but sometimes I fantasize about not having a dog so things wouldn't get so filthy.

[mommytokem]

I totally know what you mean, I make a to do list for everyday on Sunday and have certain things that I do on certain days and it throws my entire week off if something messes it up. Like this week with dh having Monday off we did other things and my Monday chores got moved to other days and it just overwhelms me so I get nothing done. Or yesterday instead of doing a couple things inside I played with my kids outside most of the day. It is very frustrating, one day I will figure it out.

[shockandawe]

Originally Posted by Jule'sMomInOR

Everything from work to cooking to cleaning to playing with Juliana to time with the hubby to working out is a trade-off. I feel horribly inefficient. I can't even say the same about a home-made meal; we keep a stock of ready to heat up quiche from Costco as a staple for one of "those days". So far I have dealt with it by giving up most of my relaxation time and free time with the hubby, but that isn't working out well for my marriage. Dealing with the guilt is hard. I feel like I should be perfect and I'm so far from it. When you figure out how to find balance, let me know!

Ya - I'm not back at work yet, and it's still just a general statement. There are days when I just haven't anything left in me to think about what to do for dinner, or we sneak out for lunch with the grandmas. But even still, I feel like everything here is a trade off too.

Guess that's why I sent the question out. Starting to think "how am I going to keep this up when I start working again?"

Find me a spotless house with a perfect yard and I guarantee there are no children living there. Either my laundry is overflowing or my floors are dirty. I've been trying to catch up for 3 years now and, if I do catch up, an hour later I'm behind again. If you find the secret let me know

[bundle2baby]

Originally Posted by HMC

Find me a spotless house with a perfect yard and I guarantee there are no children living there. Either my laundry is overflowing or my floors are dirty. I've been trying to catch up for 3 years now and, if I do catch up, an hour later I'm behind again. If you find the secret let me know

[GinaOfAllTrades]

Housework in general. But mainly folding the clothes and mopping are the last things done. Drives me nuts too.