FTWM tips needed

I work as a nurse. My work week is 3 12 hours shifts. Afterwards I'm drained, physically mentally and emotionally. I'm interviewing for a position that will be M-F 9-5, some rotating weekends and holidays. So mom's, how do you do it? Keep the house clean, dinner on the table, quality family time?

FTWM tips needed

Honestly, I just do it. Is the house always clean? No. Do I cook every night? Hell no. There are times I come home exhausted and we do take out. We make it work. My only tip is prepare the night before and try to make some meals during the weekend that you can heat up during the week. I also try to throw in a load of laundry at night. HTH!

Re: FTWM tips needed

FTWM tips needed

My house is never 'clean' just parts of it are livable
We eat whatever is easiest and sometimes the same thing over and over

Hearing my daughter laugh and say I love you mama is the best thing ever. It makes me care less about the mess and what was for dinner. It makes me grateful I can give her a full tummy and a warm home, clean clothes and safe life. I work for that reason.

I look at photos pre-AJ and see super clean hallways and neat rooms and think how did I do that? LOL oh well.

I just don't care.


ETA: I will say I am lucky. My husband picks up a LOT of slack. He cooks and cleans dishes. We were never a couple that believed in that man vs woman duties. I always thought that was a load of crap. I'm a car gal who plays video games and used to program. He is the son of two chefs. He fed AJ from birth as did I. Never was a he or her duty.

Message edited 1/14/2016 9:36:52 AM.

Re: FTWM tips needed

My house is usually a mess, but I don't care. A clean house is not a priority for me in the least.
If it comes down to sleep, time with my DD, or even just vegging out watching a show versus dusting, guess what gets put to the side?
My mental health is more important than a clean house.
I clean if company is coming.
Nobody has died yet from my dirty house.


DH usually cooks and we do get take out at least once a week during the work week.

FTWM tips needed

In the beginning (when I returned to work), it was completely overwhelming. I had a super needy baby who didn't sleep and I was 100% in survival mode so my cleaning was not a priority.

Now, we have a much better routine. On Sundays, we prep ALL lunches for everyone for the entire week. I usually also try to prep Monday's and maybe Tuesdays dinner as well so I just need to pop them in the oven when I get home. We rarely get take out or go out to eat (maybe 1 every other month) so this is a real help.

During the week, my life is pretty scheduled. I pick DS up at daycare between 4:40-5. We then go home, get the wood stove going, and I nurse him quickly. I also unload our dirty Tupperware containers into the dishwasher. I then quickly shower (since 99% of the time I am coming from the gym). I then make dinner. We eat at 6, bathe DS around 6:30 and then put him to bed at 7:30. DH cleans up after dinner (dishes, sweeping, wiping down counters). Usually, we try to put on a load of laundry 1-3 times during the week so we are not overwhelmed by it come Saturday. I usually either fold clothes right before work or as we watch TV in the evening. I usually wind up vacuuming, dusting, and doing the bathrooms at some point on Saturday or Sunday. If it doesn't get done - oh well! My house always looks neat, but I know there is probably more I could do, but at the end of the day, I am tired!

As for deep cleaning, that only gets done when I have off and DS can go to daycare. That happens a few times a year.

Re: FTWM tips needed

everything gets done when i can. and if it doesn't, no biggie!

im very lucky to say that my husband is very helpful too.

but my house definitely needs a good cleaning right now

Re: FTWM tips needed

Short cuts & outsource what you can afford to.
Outsource food (prepared stuff or make enough for leftovers). Pizza Friday's.
Outsource cleaning: everyone has chores. Deep clean for 1 hour a week.
With multiple kids, we found a cleaning person that charges essentially as much as one dinner out. This was totally worth it for us! I don't get my hair done or nails done, but the cleaning lady is worth it!!!

Re: FTWM tips needed

I usually make stuff on Sundays to re-heat as leftovers during the week

I try to straighten up a little each day but with 2 kids the house inevitably has clutter around. I don't go crazy as someone had mentioned, my mental health is more important than keeping a spotless clean house. I will try to do big cleanings like bathrooms and such on the weekends where I can squeeze in time.

ETA my DH does the laundry which is one thing I have less to do but I let him do it because he is super anal about when/how the laundry gets done lol

Message edited 1/14/2016 12:24:22 PM.

FTWM tips needed

i didnt read too many of these but here's what we do and what i am thinking in future :
cleaning- our bathrooms are messier than they have ever been. OOPS. we stay on top of the DW, i've actually kept to the laundry schedule of weekends EXCEPT when DS's clothes / sheets need a quick run (pee, puke). 1 room is the dumping pit. there are always piles to go up or downstairs.

cooking- i'm on a diet that comes out of a box. LOL. DW is eating healthy and sharing w/ DS
lay out clothes & make lunches after DS goes to sleep.


future-- with sports/ kids on the go:
monthly freezer meals
more crockpot meals
CHORES!
fitting in play dates-- this i need to make time for NOW!

Re: FTWM tips needed

FTWM tips needed

Just another take. I am OCD and need my house to be clean or organized otherwise I feel stressed and out of control. I try to do something every night. Laundry is always getting done. Like rotating constantly so every night I was and dry. Then next night I fold and put away and maybe run a wash. I pre plan meals on the weekend. I eat dinner at my parents 1x a week and grandmas 1x a week and get leftovers. Make soup and freeze, frozen sauce, trader joes to compliment certain things. Breakfast for dinner or take out when you can't deal. Leftovers for lunch the next day or salads. Rarely do I buy. I do most of my chores on my lunch break. Even food shopping too. Once you get into a routine it's not too bad.

FTWM tips needed

We take out more than I wished. I also do Home Chef and put my DS down before 7pm.

Once he's sleeping I'll prep dinner. After dinner I straighten up a little. We have a house keeper every other week who does a deep clean. My bedroom is a complete disaster because I can not stay on top of laundry.

It's not easy. My DH is kind of a neat freak and I'm not so its a constant battle in our home.

Re: FTWM tips needed

House chores usually wait til the weekend.

We get groceries from fresh direct (saves 2 hours weekly of supermarket shopping).

We get the semi-prepped meals from fresh direct, worth every penny.

Dh is completely in charge of dinner 1x/week. He thinks it up and either cooks/grills/picks up on his own. It's usually pizza, which is fine.

Family time is at dinner and before she goes to bed.

Re: FTWM tips needed

Re: FTWM tips needed

After work I am with DD. When we first come in she has a snack. I use that time to clean out her backpack and our lunch boxes. After she's done we play until dinner. When DH comes home, he plays with DD briefly and then cooks dinner. After dinner he takes DD for a shower and I clean the kitchen. Then we both play with her together until 7:30. She gets a half hour of TV, so I use that time to tidy up and make lunches for the next day. I'm usually done before 8pm which is her bedtime. At 8 she either goes up with DH or I to "read, rock, and rest". By 8:15 she's down and DH and I get QT or relaxation time together, or one of us will go out.
We have a cleaning person every other week, so I don't worry about cleaning the bathrooms or dusting.
On the weekends we are always running around. DD usually has something, like swimming or My Gym, and if it's nice out we are outside. Sometimes DH will take a Sarurday for himself to meet with friends or do some repairs to the house. I'm with DD. Sunday mornings DH takes DD grocery shopping and I do laundry. I am usually doing laundry on and off all day. Sometimes I'll go out for a few hours on a Sunday or we will do something together.
I'll also vacuum the house while they are out at the grocery store.
Honestly, I love a clean house. I'm a witch if my house isn't clean. My time with my family is so important, so budgeting for a cleaning lady became as important as having a car.

Message edited 1/15/2016 12:52:56 PM.

Re: FTWM tips needed

Thanks everyone. It's been 10 years since I worked a 5 day a week job. It's so foreign to me. But I'm looking forward to a change and hopefully not being so drained after work. I truly think it may be time for me to leave the bedside as a nurse and try something new.

DH is very helpful around the house and my house isn't picture perfect now anyway.

I was also thinking I could order groceries online and pick them up on the way home from work instead of spending a day shopping. planning easy meals with leftovers for lunches.

FTWM tips needed

I use peadpod and have my groceries delivered every weekend.

I wash and cut up all my fruits and vegetables on Sunday. Prepare lunches for the week and put snacks in baggies.

On weekends and days off I add to my stock of freezer meals. I try to have at least 5-6 freezer meals at a time. I also use my crockpot. I pre-chop and freeze everything, portion it out so I just have to take it out in the morning.

On Sunday night I prep my kid's clothes for the week. I put clothes/socks, etc into little cubbies so they are all set.

I do quick cleaning/wipe down of everythiing most nights. Every night after the kids go to bed I put toys away to prevent them from piling up.

Laundry gets done once during the week and once on the weekends. Folded right away and put away right away (doesnt have time to sit out).

Bathrooms get cleaned either Friday or Saturday. Other bigger cleaning projects on alternating weekends.

I clean as I go so it keeps everything pretty tidy. I preplan every meal. I keep many To-Do lists so I stay on top of everything.

Re: FTWM tips needed

The only way I survive it to let a lot go! My first kid ate fancy organic meals, everything perfect. I have 3 young ones now and a demanding career that is draining. I gave up cooking during the week. Just doesn't work for me and I no longer worry. I cook on weekends only. My Sunday dinner can last until tues so on other days it's microwaved veggies, Mac and cheese, eggs, sandwiches, or nuggets. I am no longer ashamed. This is what I do to make it work! I also gave up cleaning. I do very minimal things in between our cleaning crew visits as I don't have time and would rather do fun things in my spare time. we never have company so no one sees our house. I am over it having to be perfect. Sorry no tips, just sharing what I do (or don't do)! Best of luck!

Message edited 1/15/2016 12:00:31 AM.

Re: FTWM tips needed

FTWM tips needed

You do what you can when you can. Don't stress and if you can outsource then do it.

For us, my DH does laundry and cooks but he is not a cleaner..I do the cleaning.

Now that we have a house and more space I've become somewhat of a clean freak. It's much easier because everything has it's place.

I sweep kitchen as needed and vacuum rugs 2-3x a week (we have a dog that sheds). This takes me about 15 minutes tops.

Bathrooms I keep clorox wipes and such in each one and wipe down as needed. Takes 2 minutes to wipe sinks, toilet seats, etc. I do a thorough bleach cleaning about once a month or as needed.

Dishes are done before we go to bed and counters are wiped down daily. Every other time we go food shopping I survey whats in the fridge and chuck what's no longer good.

For common areas I make sure that everything is put back in it's place. Before we moved we got rid of a lot of junk which helps immensely.

95% of DDs toys are in a closet in the family room so that helps too.

Mail gets checked everyday and what is junk gets chucked daily.

I try to make the beds everyday which also helps.

Where I need help is folding and putting laundry away. DH puts the laundry in the machines but doesn't fold and sometimes it stays in the basket a few days. I don't stress honestly because it is what it is.

Food shopping is done once a week either at BJs or Stop n Shop. Sometimes we go together or sometimes one of us goes with a list. I keep a magnetic note pad on my fridge and write what we need as we need it which helps too.

We eat out dinner more than we should but if I cook I do quick meals..breakfast for dinner, pasta with meat, rice and meat. I have a rice cooker which I love.

Message edited 1/15/2016 9:33:07 AM.

FTWM tips needed

Double post

Message edited 1/15/2016 9:31:56 AM.