Please don't get me wrong, I know SAH and WAH moms work just as hard as anyone! But I think it is different when you work outside the home...you can't run a load of laundry or dishes whenever you get a chance. Lately I have been feeling so overwhelmed, and I was just wondering how other moms who are working outside of the home are coping with housework? I don't know what my problem is, but I can't keep up. I spent the entire weekend cleaning, and my home is still a disaster. I know part of my problem is that I let it get really bad before I kick into gear, and then it is too much work for me to handle right now. Also, the farther along in my pregnancy I get, I am just exhausted when I get home from work. My MIL is coming up next week, and last night I was in tears over how I was going to get all the cleaning done before she gets here.

Hiring a house cleaner is not in our budget, but I was hoping you guys had some ideas for keeping up on the housework! Dh is no help at all, he works about 60 hours a week and is in school. With another baby coming I have got to get some sort of schedule going. How do you stay on top of things?

[jchilds]

I'm not managing too well either. Like you, I'm so tired by the end of the day and then I get tired so easily I have to do a little, rest, etc. DH is a great help and my DD (4.5) is old enough to help some and she enjoys it right now. I'm thinking I'm going to start making out a daily list and try to do a few different things each day and maybe that will help me schedule my time better.

[PuNkLiVz]

luckily lawn maintenance is included in our rent.

[laura007]

I try to do a little bit each day after work, I'll throw in a load of laundry. I'm very fortunate because my hubby is a HUGE help around the house. Without him I think they would put a hazardous sign outside my house....

[emills]

Oh hun, I was soooo in that boat! Ive been cleaning NON-STOP since Thursday to get caught back up... I couldnt find a way to get it all done when I was working anymore, not even with DH helping. It just coudlnt happen. I was SO exhausted when I would get home from work, and then weekends were always a crazy rush to get the basics done in between everything else that things always got put aside. The only tip I have is to make a list of things to do each day- but make that list small and get your kids involved. Have them make their beds, and pick up their own rooms every day. Assign them each a weekly task like trash, or dishes/dishwasher emptying, pet care if you have any, vacuuming (something pretty basic they can handle) and give them a small allowance when theyve done their work all week (including room upkeep!). Even a 5 year old can handle some of these tasks (feeding the dog and putting down water, picking up their room and making their bed, ect).

For you and DH- give yourselves one thing to do each day. I do a different room every day and just get everything in that room done (dust, vacuum, wiped down, picked up). As long as I keep my schedule then I can knock a room out in about 30 minutes to an hour or so (depending on the room). If I let it slip and have to undo weeks of ick- it takes longer... Then Saturday is laundry day. And Sunday is errands (grocery, pharmacy, dry cleaning, ect). DHs chores are trash, recycling, pet care (daily) and scrubbing the tub (since I cant reach in it anymore, LOL). He is also assigned to help with laundry- he carries it down/up stairs for me and has to put away any/all items that go on hangers- I do the rest.

HTH!

[*Ade*]

Im a SAHM, so the question doesnt really apply to me. But, if you dont already, have your kids help with cleaning/picking up things that they are able to do. Making a list would be a huge help, and dont over-do it. Dont try to get it all done at once. Maybe do your dishes, sit down for a few, than throw in a load of clothes, sit down for a few.

[ibdancn]

Ugh! I know what you mean! Plus I'm a neat freak on top of it so my house is NEVER clean enough for my likings. For awhile I tried keeping a set schedule. Like... Mondays- living room, Tuesdays- kitchen, Wednesdays- Autumn's and our room, etc. Laundry was always on the weekends. It didn't work for me cuz I never actually did it, but for some of you it might work.

[Mummy_Boo]

I got signed off work about 4 weeks ago with stress, so i have had all the time in the world, but even bending down to put a load in the washing machine is difficult, and things like emptying the bin, doing the dishwasher, just general things are getting worse. Although today, god knows how i did it but i moved my bedroom around by myself and clean all the mirrors and windows

Ugh! I know what you mean! Plus I'm a neat freak on top of it so my house is NEVER clean enough for my likings. For awhile I tried keeping a set schedule. Like... Mondays- living room, Tuesdays- kitchen, Wednesdays- Autumn's and our room, etc. Laundry was always on the weekends. It didn't work for me cuz I never actually did it, but for some of you it might work.[/b]

I know! Whatever I do come up with will only work if I stick with it and actually make myself do the work. But you guys have given me some great suggestions. I am going to get the kids involved more, especially with vacuuming and dusting. They already do a good job of keeping their rooms tidy. And I'm going to set a schedule of cleaning one room a night, and keep laundry for the weekends. I really need to get a super capacity washer and dryer because right now I'm doing about 7 loads of laundry every week, and once the baby comes there will be more!

[rachna]

we have someone some clean twice a month...it was a baby gift actually from my dad, and then he "renewed" it when I got pregnant, which happpened to be right around the time Jesse turned one!

even though I work part time, the days I am home with Jesse its just hard, and with my restrictions I cant do what I used to do.