Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

I told my 5 year old that it was quiet time and DH not to say my name anymore...lol. I just feel like when I walk in the house there are 4 people pulling at me for attention.

Homework sucks time away too!

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

Yes. My house is a mess right now. I am a teacher, but I also do afterschool 2 days a week until 6 and decided to coach girls volleyball until the beginning of November. We have 3-4 games a week so by the time I get my son from my parents and get home its about 6pm. Then the baby needs to be feed his dinner, given a bath, a bottle and put down for bed. Then I need to eat, get my lunch ready for the following day, shower and lay out my clothes. By the time I do all that its about 9pm. I sit down for maybe 30 minutes to unwind, watch some tv or check e-mail. My house is a disaster most nights so I save some of it for the weekends and I'll do a load or 2 of laundry a night. But most of the time I have no time for anything else and wish I could spend more time with my son since I don't see him all day

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

My husband cooks or picks up dinner every night. He also straightens up while I give my son a bath. This seems to be a rarity for others on LIF.

Now that I'm 5 mos pregnant, I don't clean nearly as much as I used to. And honestly, I think my house is a mess. It would be embarrassing if anyone other than my parents or sisters came by (which since we work so much, we don't really have people over that often, which is good I guess.)

Besides, I have a toddler who loves to make messes with crayon marks on the rug and stains on the couch, and cats who shed everywhere and have clawed at my furniture.

I feel no matter how much I clean, it's still not up to my dream-standards, so why stress about the little stuff?

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

Yes I feel your pain!!!!!!!!! Being a FTWM is tough work but remember everything you do (the job, the commute, the long hours) you do for them. My house is not always the neatest but I've learned NOT TO CARE about that. It always gets done eventually. I would rather spend as much time as possible with my little guy.

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

I decided that I would rather spend time with my kids in a messy house then spend no time with them in a clean house.

We got a cleaning lady so I wouldn't be living in filth, lol.

FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

i get home at 7:15 /7:30. my time is jam oacked form the moment i walk in the door. i cook, sometimes dh will cook, lately i start the food prep and have him take over. we eat around 8:30 and i start the bed routine RIGHT after dinner. I bathe the kids every other night. the kids used to go to sleep around 10, but ive been able to get them asleep by 9:30. i would like for them to be asleep by 9pm, but it is just not possible. Where i spend my quality time with the kids during the week is that we alll pile into my bed, read a story and i lay with them till they fall asleep ( in my arms). its the best!!! and then i put them down in their own beds. once they go to bed, i go back down to the kitchen and clear the table/clean up. dh will ususally clean up but sometime he has to work (in the home office). its crazy, but i am doing the best i can. and i dont go out during the weekday and i rarely spend time away from them unless i am having alone time with dh.

FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

I walk in the door at 630. DS goes to bed btween 8-9. I spend as much of that time with him as I can. THat is more important to me than a home cooked meal or a clean house.....I can do stuff when he goes to bed.

As a FTWM I refuse to let my "house" stuff take away from DS. My husband shares the same view.

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

Yes - and I feel like it's a giant black hole that is NEVER ever done.

Even if I DID have a cleaning person - Ok, so they come what? Once every 2 weeks? Even if they come once a week .......
Like I'm not going to have to clean the toilet at some point between then? I have a husband and a 3.5 year old boy !! (God help me when the 1.5 year old boy is on the potty too !!)
Laundry? Really? Once a week? I'd spend ALL day doing it!
The floors should probably be mopped every single night - but I just don't have the time for that - so......every other night? 3x a week? The vacum .....it has to be done - Cleaning up the kitchen after dinner?

It also doesn't help that I have a very small kitchen - so everything is cluttered and you really have no choice but to clean as you go - I clean the bathroom while the boys are in the bathtub and clean the bathtub/shower as soon as they are out ........

I cook with them in the kitchen w/ me w/ the iPod on - they sing and dance into the wooden spoons - the laundry room is in the basement so I set up the train, run to throw in the laundry - come back to play, run back to change to the dryer, come back to play - you get the point .......

it's exhausting - but what else can I do?

Message edited 10/12/2012 12:06:37 PM.

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

Message edited 10/12/2012 1:31:27 PM.

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

I agree you have to stop yourself ..and play with your kids.

I'll pick them up and go straight to the playground some days. Even if it's just for 30 minutes, I enjoy being outside with them and spending some quality time.

I'll cook but I dont clean up until DH gets home. This way he can play with them, while I am cleaing.

I will throw a load of laundry in but wont fold or put away until they are asleep.


IDK.. they are only little for so long. When he hangs on me & wants to be held even though I need to empty the dishwasher..... I remind myself that this is fleeting ...soon he wont want to hold my hand around the entire house or sit in my lap. So I try to make the most of it now.

Re: FTWMs...do you also feel this way?

Yes, I feel EXACTLY the same way. And Fall is even more stressful for us because DH coaches a fall sport. I count down the weeks until he's done with that, then he's home before me which helps immensely!

I HATE that I don't get to sit and hang out with my girls. But I do always pop in on them, talk to them from the kitchen, etc.