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How do they do it?
Filed under: Just For Moms, Work Life, Activities: Babies
Sometimes, I look at other parents and wonder how they do it. How do they stay sane, how do they play, how do they work?
I currently work from home with two small children (one and two) underfoot. I constantly feel like my life is one big tug-of-war and, I have to admit, most of the tugging is coming from inside. I need to work more, no, I need to play with the kids more. Wait! The dishes! I need to do the dishes and the laundry and call that friend back and while I'm at it, let's get some "me time" and "couples time" in there as well.
As much as I want to make and stick to a schedule, the thought seems so daunting that I continually pass. All it takes is one phone call from a friend or a nap that goes longer than suspected and I find myself scrambling to make up.
One time, I made a schedule for my children. It lasted about three days, with me running around like the Mommy Dictator, shouting things such as "Now it is time to read books! Okay all done! Outside! Get outside! No, we can't do that right now, it is OUTSIDE TIME!"
Part of me wonders if having a schedule (and sticking to it) when it comes to children is pre-wired in you.There are those people who are good at having clean houses and doing things on time. Then there are those who are probably a little more "fly by the seat of your pants" that have no set schedule or routines.
While I'm in the second group, I really wish I was in the first.
I currently work from home with two small children (one and two) underfoot. I constantly feel like my life is one big tug-of-war and, I have to admit, most of the tugging is coming from inside. I need to work more, no, I need to play with the kids more. Wait! The dishes! I need to do the dishes and the laundry and call that friend back and while I'm at it, let's get some "me time" and "couples time" in there as well.
As much as I want to make and stick to a schedule, the thought seems so daunting that I continually pass. All it takes is one phone call from a friend or a nap that goes longer than suspected and I find myself scrambling to make up.
One time, I made a schedule for my children. It lasted about three days, with me running around like the Mommy Dictator, shouting things such as "Now it is time to read books! Okay all done! Outside! Get outside! No, we can't do that right now, it is OUTSIDE TIME!"
Part of me wonders if having a schedule (and sticking to it) when it comes to children is pre-wired in you.There are those people who are good at having clean houses and doing things on time. Then there are those who are probably a little more "fly by the seat of your pants" that have no set schedule or routines.
While I'm in the second group, I really wish I was in the first.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
3-28-2007 @ 2:13PM
Josette said...I was in your situation at one time too. As the kids get older it does get easier. I have found that when it comes to the house cleaning my girls love to help so we make games out of it. like laundry basketball( tossing the laundry to be washed in the washer). we do reading time right before nap time and bed time and as for the longer then expected nap use a timer if they are not up on their own in a certain time wake them up, it makes for an easier bed time as well. for the phone calls you need to retyurn do them at nap time and yuo get your me time and coup,e time when they go to bed. my girls are in bed at 7:30 that leaves me with about 3-4 hours to finish any chores that did not get done and cuddle with my boyfriend. I hope this helps some. Best of luck to ya.
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3-28-2007 @ 1:53PM
Jessica said...Wait.....you get to nap? :)
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3-28-2007 @ 7:00PM
Stephanie said...My kids are in one of those tough phases too. My 2 year old is clingy and throws minor tantrums easily. His sister is 4-1/2 and wants lots of attention too. It's exhausting.
I am quite grateful that my daughter is old enough to just be told that she needs to entertain herself for a short time. My son can be entertained by turning Google Earth on my husband's computer and setting it to spin. He is only occasionally interested in going to play without me.
Best for me is when my inlaws come and take the kids overnight. That leaves me with hours of relatively uninterrupted work time.
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3-28-2007 @ 7:14PM
RH said...It's always so nice to hear your not alone in your thoughts, feelings and worries. I have the same problems with my two and three year old. They try to have seperate nap times and that is if I can even get my oldest to take a nap, so I feel like I never get a break. I feel like it's a constant battle and stay stressed if I try to stick to a strict schedule, and feel more like I'm just getting to enjoy my kids while they are kids if I relax and let things go a little more freely. The hours and way my husband works doesn't really allow for that kind of schedule, especially not the early bedtime. We would never get to see him if we stuck to that. Then there's the times that you need to be strict/scheduled, for example, trying to get somewhere on time and really wondering if we were more disciplined and had a better routine if that would make this moment any easier. So really you just have to do what is best for your family and follow your gut (instincts) to be the best you, instead of trying to keep up with the (Joneses)ideal supermom standards we tend to set for ourselves. Good luck and God Bless you.
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3-28-2007 @ 8:26PM
Jan Bay said...I'm conflicted with thinking of FUN and BENEFICIAL things to do for and with the kids and thinking that I don't have the energy to move! I have times when I feel like the other moms have it all under control and are SO much better at parenting than me. I agree with the OP that things get better with time.
I still get bent every time it's announced that the in-laws are coming for a day or so. You would think that the extra cooking and/or housework would even out with them entertaining the little ones, but it just doesn't seem to work that way. I'm up for suggestions on how to make their visits less work and more fun! Anybody?
www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com
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3-29-2007 @ 8:48AM
Michelle said...I am a former preschool teacher and an anal retentive, type-A personality control freak. Once the dust settled and life started to return to a semi-normal after the birth of my second child and I became a SAHM, I tried to implement this complicated schedule that incorporated eduactional and worthwhile activities everyday. Um. . . yeah. I don't know where that schedule is today. Some days just getting to all my son's doctors' appointments and therapy sessions took all the time and energy.
Now they are 2 and 4. The doctors' appointments have abated somewhat, but my high-needs child still takes so much of my time and energy. We have a basic schedule of meal times, nap, and bed. Other than that, we are strictly fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants here. Nothing like a micro-preemie as a major life-changing event to help your learn to let go of SOME of the control!
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