Trying to share out the jobs!
As you have probably seen from previous posts I am a bit of a list writer and a schedule maker. I find it helps me keep some level of sanity in our extremely busy life as a family of five.
As I embarked on a full time job at the beginning of the year I was fairly naive in thinking that mentioning to my family that I would be needing help with the cooking, shopping, cleaning and washing would be enough to spur them into action.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The assumption is that woman can cope with whatever life throws at her .
In other words for the first 6 weeks of my full time job I could measure the amount of help I was given in single figures.
OH did put a load of washing on ( once) and warm up a meal ( I think he was dirty and hungry).
The kids revelled in their new found freedom not to complete homework and let their bedrooms descend into unrecognisable hovels.
I have learnt my lesson.
Easter has been spent not only resting, but creating a few schedules and rotas to ensure everyone does their bit. We have a cleaner coming to help out and the rest of the chores are being shared out.
I shall have help.
Or they shan't eat.
I know just how the Little Red Hen felt now.
Some of my favourite advice and printables come from the blog I heart organizing , but be careful, you can lose a couple of hours at a time in her blog!
As I embarked on a full time job at the beginning of the year I was fairly naive in thinking that mentioning to my family that I would be needing help with the cooking, shopping, cleaning and washing would be enough to spur them into action.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The assumption is that woman can cope with whatever life throws at her .
In other words for the first 6 weeks of my full time job I could measure the amount of help I was given in single figures.
OH did put a load of washing on ( once) and warm up a meal ( I think he was dirty and hungry).
The kids revelled in their new found freedom not to complete homework and let their bedrooms descend into unrecognisable hovels.
I have learnt my lesson.
Easter has been spent not only resting, but creating a few schedules and rotas to ensure everyone does their bit. We have a cleaner coming to help out and the rest of the chores are being shared out.
I shall have help.
Or they shan't eat.
I know just how the Little Red Hen felt now.
Some of my favourite advice and printables come from the blog I heart organizing , but be careful, you can lose a couple of hours at a time in her blog!
Being a working Mum seems to be the norm these days? But as we all know, when you work everything else in our lives i.e being a Mother/Wife/Partner changes very little. The demands are just the same, and you have to fit it in around working! So as the superwomen we all are (Well someone has to big us up!) The way forward is stop doing what you have alway's done, and give them some house rules! I had this a few years ago. I told them I was not going to make their beds, pick up dirty clothes, tidy rooms etc! At first it made no difference, but eventually the message got through, when there were no clean clothes, or uncovered areas of bedroom floors...........I hated leaving the house each day like this, but eventually it worked, so much so that my kids actually started cooking for themselves, (Something I hadn't asked for!) Following recipes no less? Just stick to your guns, and if you can get help in the house go for it too! xx
ReplyDeleteI think I am learning the hard way ! I find it so difficult to leave things in a mess, but my eldest son did cook on Friday - under my supervision and has offered to cook each Friday! To be honest I'd rather he kept his room clean and picked up his mess!! XX
DeleteOh, men seriously think that everything at home is self-washable, self-cleanable and self-organizable! Over the years I've learned that it is not enough to just create a to-do list for myself. Now I make one for my significant other too, and he, probably, finishes about 50% of it by the end of the week (can''t complain :). Good luck finding this balance :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes - I think my boys really believe a fairy delivers their clean washing each week!
DeleteThis one resonates with me as well as I find myself picking up and tidying after everyone else in the house. I think part of it is to do with being a control freak and its easier to get things done if you do everything yourself but part of it is due to a guilt thing that I am a SAHM and that is my "job". And funny to think that I was looking at the floor after my two boys had finished eating and the mess and everything and I thought "shall I leave that and see what they do?" and then thought better as I realised that they would just go and sit somewhere else to eat their next meal. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you have managed to rope in some help though.
I think I am much the same - I just end up doing it as it seems easier. I am just terrified of raising lazy boys whose future wives hate me because I didn't train them very well !
DeleteI've tried to do everything myself in the past because it's just easier that way sometimes and I felt guilty if I didn't, but even only working part time it's just not possible (unless you happen to be a robot!). It really is a never-ending juggling act isn't it. Now the kids are getting older though I am trying to get them to help out in various ways. Don't know how I'd manage if I was full time though Claire - glad you've got some help with the cleaning! xx
ReplyDeleteI do tend to just get on with it, but like you my older ones are being made to help - this includes "cooking" on a Friday! I have to supervise, but actually they've done a pretty good job so far. I'm just waiting for the novelty to wear off. I think it was a bit of a shock for everyone me going from being at home a lot to full time work ! Brutal! X
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