For all you stay at home mom's or better yet all mom's! How do you manage your time with your kids. What I mean is, I feel like I neglect my children when they are awake if I do something besides teach, play or interact with them. Now, I know that they need time to play alone, but how much time? I feel like I am drowning in laundry, dishes, dusting, answering the phone, doing Tupperware, and anything else that enters my day. I feel like they are the last to get my attention, and then I look around and I think everything else is lacking my attention. I need some balance, I need some tips, wisdom, anything!
Our head pastor, Michael Grose, talked with a group of us the other night about "simplifying" our lives so we didn't feel like we were going one million different directions. I really like the idea of simplifying, but I don't know how.
Does anyone have any tips for me? I know the young years with my kids only last so long, and soon they will be older and the same dishes will need to be done, but that doesn't help with the dishes and such that I have now. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Maybe I am just venting! Thanks for reading through my thoughts, even if they are really random.
Steph-
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you! I am pulled in both directions...my kids and what "needs" to get done. What works pretty well in our house is giving them my FULL attention for 15 minutes and then saying "mom has to do the dishes and then we can play again." Lots of times they'll be content playing by themselves for a longer period of time. I repeat that throughout the day so I can at least get some things done but not feel like I've neglected them.
Hey Steph - I agree with Margaret, I too was feeling pulled in all directions, when Nico was home. I would allow him to gage it. If he approached me and wanted my attention to read a book or to help build something, I would drop what I'm doing and be with him. I found that he would take my help or little bit of time and then he would want to do it on his own and that usually was my cue to get up and finish what I was doing or to start something until the next book or need arose. I continue to do the same with the time that we have after school. I'm not sure what it would be like for two, but hopefully I will learn from the two of you on how to handle it. Joel plays a huge role in that as well. When he comes home from work, we spend 5 min. connecting and then Nico gets pretty much the rest of the evening with Dad or I until he goes to bed. I do alot of the house work in the evening while Nico and Dad are having their time together. I think Margaret has a good pattern - spend time with each kid and if one interupts, ask that child to wait their turn. There are weeks where meetings, get togethers, Stampin' Up parties, etc. get in the way of that routine, but there are other weeks that God shows me the time to get caught up. When I'm feeling overwhelmed with my environment, I stop and ask God to show me the time to take care of those things. It frees me up to leave a stack of dirty dishes on the counter for one day and then God does show me when I can get it done. Ok.....sorry - I've rambled too much!
ReplyDeleteLori's right... Dustin does play a huge role. After supper our kids usually stick to him like glue and I take that time to get a few things done. It's funny because even though I'm working it's also some much needed "me" time where I can focus on my own thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies, I appreciate the help. I will need to be better about using the evening. I feel like Brenton comes home, I am wiped out, but if I get the things done around the house maybe I wouldn't feel like I was drowning! We have people over so often too, that I feel like I should have a much cleaner house. It's scary, but I wouldn't eat anything off the floor!
ReplyDeleteSteph-
ReplyDeleteHang in there...Being a mother of 2 grown kids if I had it to do over again I would leave more of the house undone and spent more time "drowning" in the housework and spending more attention on them. I know that doesn't help the house but put rightfully what should be 1st...time alone with the LORD...your family and HE promises in HIS word that HE will give us the rest which I liberally translate to mean a cleaner house when company comes. BUT sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and let people catch you with dog hair all over the floor...just remember to pray that if their ice cream falls in the floor that they would not dare put it in their mouth...Yikes!
Alright, I'm not a MOM but I'm chiming in anyway. I have found with Cooper there are some things we can turn into a game. Like laundry. When I am putting stuff in the washer or from the washer to the dryer I would throw it to him and let him throw it in the machine. It takes longer to do and I am not always as good as I should be about finding ways to include him in activities, but it has helped us. So I throw it out there for what it is worth.
ReplyDeleteChad great ideas! I think it's great idea. Jake loves to help with unloading the dishwasher, he loves to sort the silverware. I will carry this into the other daily tasks. THANKS!!
ReplyDeleteChad- That is a great idea! I think my boys would really get a kick out of it. It would also be a good way for me to work on my patience. I often find myself doing things for them that they should be doing for themselves just because I know I can get it done faster.
ReplyDeleteChad is so smart! Here is another idea for ya Steph, when all else fails... designate one room in your house as the "clean room", mine was always the living room. That way if the day gets away from you forget about cleaning anything else and just clean the “clean room.” That way you will at least have one clean place to sit and think about all the “important” things you accomplished during the day, like teaching your children, loving on your family, helping a friend, etc. Those are the things that are really important! And then if unexpected guests show up, bring them in your clean room! -This is why I choose the living room as apposed to my bedroom. :) It may not really apply to time management but it does help you feel better. The “clean room” helped me keep my sanity when I was doing daycare!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I am a blogger now too, look what your husband has started!
-I think I saw the value in it when I saw this post of yours with everyone's great advice!