In a perpetual hurry...

Does anyone else find themselves in a constant state of motion? if I'm not cleaning or wiping something or someone (the kids) i'm running them around, or grocery shopping or cooking or preparing or.....the list goes on. Am I just really poorly organised or do other mums feel the same way. And for those of you who don't feel this way can you give me some useful tips? PLEASE????

  #2      

perpetual motion

Hi there,

well it's a choice sometimes........you can have clean tables and fingers or be less stressed and lower your standards at times. I always felt like this when they were preschoolers and toddlers. Now they are middle childhood plus I feel like I am always in the car taking them somewhere to train, rehearse or play or at meetings for tennis, footy, ballet, music ect.

......it's a season in your life. All seasons have stuff you like and stuff that does your head in.

__________________
:::iona:::

  #3      

More organisation has made my life less hectic :)

I hope you don't mind essays!

I really identify with your post! I don't know that you're poorly organised, you probably have a stack to do every day! It's hard to fit it all in. A little more organisation rarely goes astray, though, so I'd love to share with you a couple of things I've learned recently, hopefully it might help, if not you, maybe someone else...

Pre-Plan. My sister, who has no kids, has just taught me that I can make lunch boxes the night before without sacrificing the quality of the lunch. Make the sandwich, put any fruit, even cut kiwi lasted ok, in the sperate section of the lunch box, and sultanas & banana chips in the zip loc bag in the other section, and pop it all in the fridge. I really doesn't take that long to do it while clearing up from tea, and I have no idea why, but when I have to do it in the am, it takes forever! Or maybe it takes forever for a kindy kid to decide what to wear? My friend has a ritual where they decide the night before, and lay it all out, so that doesn't add to the morning rush!

Prioritise. The other thing I've been finding great lately is deciding your non-negotiables, your "I'd really like..." and what you don't mind letting slide. (Another friend says "do the big rocks first, then the pepples, and leave the sand till last, it'll fill in all those gaps, and if you don't have time, it's ok, the big stuff is already covered") If you write this down, the results can be surpising. I had someone tell me she would never leave the house with a dish, clean or dirty, on the sink. but for me, I love to start the day with all of that, and don't mind being up later at night organising it, so just decide what makes your day work best for you, and the things that don't make that much difference, leave. Oh, and my favourite one lately: When I say to myself: "I'll do that later", I've now started reply with something like "Later never comes, so either do it now, or decide to leave it!" It's made a huge difference!

A place for everything means everything is in it's place. I've given the kids one of those metal reinforced seagrass baskets each for their shoes, the kids are only little, so it's only taken 4 or 5 weeks of consistently teaching them to put their shoes away as soon as they come off, (and reminding them that their shoes are their job, not mine) and I'm amazed at how much different my day is without "where are my shoes?!"!! Teaching myself & H to always put car keys & house keys, wallett, handbag & phones in one spot every time (it's taken a while, but it's finally working!) is a really great time saver in our house, too!

If none of this has been helpful, keep talking, maybe you have stuff to help me out, 'cause I really identified & hope you can share with me some stuff that's working for you.

Sorry if this is just too long!

__________________
Cookiemother2
"Bubble" born 2 July 2007.

  #4      

Quote:

yeah samantha I know what u mean. It just feels like you're running around after everyone else sometimes. I know that organisation and lowering standards help, but sometimes there just simply isn't much time for the things that I want to do. I don't know about u but I reckon it's good just to say it, just to acknowledge it. We're only human and it's OK to get jack of things every now and then.

__________________
poppyg

Me - 37
DH - 39

  #5      

Finally! Another Mum that doesn't stop!

I'll try and shorten a really long story here......but I understand how you feel.
Hubby was injured at work, had surgery (left shoulder) and was then put off work by workcover (love them!). He can't lift more than 3kg, isn't allowed to drive and has occasional blackouts.
A year later....hubby still at home, 7yr old at school, 16mo at home. Add, to and from school driving, hubby's appts (GP, specialist, solicitor, etc), bubs appts (health nurse/needles), my appts. I also sell avon and deliver catalogues and newspapers. That means avon driving, catalogue/newspaper pick ups, roll and rubber band (3 hrs), four hrs walking - two days a week, laundry, dishes, bathing, cooking, house work, homework, swimming lessons, obligatory visits to family and quality time.

By time bubs goes to sleep (midnight due to teething) I sleep from 1am til 7am.
I manage to squeeze in a coffee and toast about lunchtime and a standard meal for dinner. My garden has been placed in the 'no time' basket, I think there may actually be a house in the grass somewhere!
Hubby lets me nap whenever I can squeeze it in. I should be napping now! Lol.

It's good to know that I'm not the only mum who has to schedule time to brush her hair. I definatley have to! My goes to my bottom!

Cheers all,
Belle

  #6      

indulging redefined

Quote:

LOL! Yes, you know you're a mum when indulging means to brush your hair, put on your makeup, or sit on the toilet for longer than 2mins!

__________________
poppyg

Me - 37
DH - 39