[kallie74]

I am finding myself really struggling to not feel completely overwhelmed at times. I don't really think we are overscheduled--Emma just has gymnastics one night a week, and then that will end and swimming will start. And most of our weekends are pretty full, but I don't think we're any more busy than other families. But geez, between my own full time job, DH's stressful job, and the normal daily chaos, I feel like I struggle to make sure we get everything done.

I don't feel like there are enough hours in the day to grocery shop, keep the house clean, spend time with the kids (without yelling! ), get meals made, pack lunch for E's school... work my own now-more-demanding job, run the normal errands, and the list goes on.

Yesterday I found a note in Emma's school folder that we keep that was a poster called, "All About Me." Basically it's a big poster that they get to color & add pictures to and then talk about with the class like "show & tell." And yeah, um, Emma's assigned date was October 5! OOPS! We totally missed it. I feel like a horrible mom. I sent an email to her teacher asking if we could do it another day, but it was kind of my breaking point last night where I just thought "How in the heck can I do this better?!?!?" We are already a pretty organized family in most ways already, but that one just slipped by me.

And while Gene is good about being a great supportive husband & dad, all this activity stuff and school related forms to fill out, stuff to hand in, etc. seems to fall to me... And yes, I'm admittedly semi-passive aggressive and like to be in charge, but dang, I feel like I'm failing lately!

Calgon take me away!

p.s. I don't know how you single mommies do it!!!!!! YOU are amazing!!!! I'm sitting here whining but at least I do have some help!

[jenninator]

I know what you mean! Most of the time, I feel like we're keeping out heads mostly above water - but our house is always on the tipping point of being just plain filthy

It is all we can do to keep the kitchen countertops/table wiped clean, and the bathrooms sprayed down. Then we'll spend an evening or weekend day just cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, - and the next day it looks terrible again! In the mornings too many days, I'm dashing from their dresser drawers down to the laundry basket downstairs rifling through the basket of clean clothes to get an outfit ready. It's kind of embarrassing!

We're really trying to stay on the kids about doing a better job of cleaning up after themselves. We started a chore chart and it's working well. (But we have to make sure to take time each night to make sure they've earned their stars or not). I grew up in a very clean/organized house, and I want that for my kids too. (without my dad's pyscho OCD'ness!). My Mom was able to stay home though, so that made a difference. I think with a dog and 2 young kids, it's just hard! Sometimes it puts me really on edge though!

As far as the poster thing - I would feel bad too, but try not to stress too much. As a teacher - I understand life gets busy and sometimes things fall through the cracks. I don't even bat an eye if 1 thing like that happens - I just get irritated when the parents are consistently not taking care of things. I am SURE that that is not the case with you!!

Mommy vacation time haha!!!

[SydneynDeansMum]

I have to say I am in the same boat with you. Only working part time makes it a little easier but I feel like we get sooo many notices sent home for book orders, pictures, field trips and parties that it is a new job for me. I am also volunteering in Syd's class and and running her Daisy Troop and she has karate 2x's a week..... So laundry and cooking are taking a back seat these days!

[*~Jen~*]

I struggle with this and I (for the most part) SAH! I don't know how some of you work and keep up! 3 kids, school commitments, soccer (which is over now, but we start gymnastics for Caleb and karate for Seth next week), keeping the house clean, working my (very) pary time job, keeping the laundry caught up, etc. It's hard! I feel like I plug Leah into Elmo or Blues Clues way more often than I did the boys.

I'm also struggling with not being able to be as involved at Seth's school as I would like to be. He wasn't able to get into the school by our house since we signed the contract the week before school started, so it's a 15 minute drive 1 way to his school. Next year he'll be able to go to the one by our house and will be 2 minutes away and that problem will go away, thankfully! Then trying to do anything there with 2 other kids in tow is impossible. We went to their "book character parade" for Halloween and we only stayed long enough for Seth to walk by and then had to leave because Leah was done with her stroller and wanted to walk around and check out everything in the school which wasn't possible so she was screaming.

I'm all for an extra hour or 2 being added to my day for sure!!

[JustBeginning]

Well I know what you mean too! I'm going to school 5 days a week, the kids both have school, i've been dealing with a few health problems, the kids' great grandma almost died monday and I was at the hospital every day this week when I wasnt in school, Tyler goes to the counselor once a week, I sell and deliver Avon, plus have to do homework, cook, clean, and take care of the kids. I go to bed btwn 11:00- 1:00 during the week and get up btwn 5:00 and 6:00. I've been making appointments for their dad, too, even though he doesnt live with us because he doesnt have a job or a drivers license.. Oh, plus keeping up with friends and family!!!
So anyways, you're not alone. But everyone handles stress differently. For me, I DID get overwhelmed and very irritated and angry all of the time. So I talked to my doctor, and got some medicine. However I have anxiety issues that have only gotten worse and I have chest pains a lot... So I have to go back to the doctor.in btwn classes tuesday.
Sometimes, I just make everyone go to their own rooms for a few minutes when we all get crazy lol and then we come out, put in a movie, and have a little snack. Or we get legos or a book out. It helps some, but then again there are just days that I count the hrs and minutes til bedtime!

[FiFi'sMom]

I go thru this from time to time, its something I think we all go through.It usually means I need a mommy break, which rarely occurs or happens. Or that I just need to let things so when I get the girls to bed and go to bed right after them. I get frustrated all the time that no matter how much cleaning I do, my house is not as clean as I want it to look. I like it to look sales ready, yet it rarely if ever happens. I settle vaccumed at least once a day and a couple of loads of laundry done. I too have missed an assignment already this year. Sophie had to bring in something that started with S and identify capital and lower case S and have a sentence to share with the class. Oh and it was due the next day, yeah didn't happen. It got done when we could get it done. I have the girls in bed between 630 and 7 every night so by the time everyone is relaxed and home we have limited time to accomplish last minute things. Don't get overly frustrated because trust me things will get past you and it happens to everyone.