How do full time working mothers find the time to balance chores, kids, and everything else that needs to be?

Question

done? I have never worked full time before. I went back to work full time yesterday. I and married. Now we both work full time and have 3 kids. I am working 7am-3:30pm. By the time I get home I am tired and I have 3 kids to take care of and house work that needs to be done. Not to mention a child who needs help with homework and 2 other little boys who need mommy too. Then I have to cook make sure baths are given and make sure they are in bed on time. How am I supposed to do this? How can I my manage my time more wisely? My husband works 5 days a week sometime 60 hours a week and when he is off he does help, but not a lot. Any suggestions? Did I also mention that I also sell Avon and have that to deal with too?

Answer 1

I suggest you insist that the children's father do his part as well.  If a working married woman takes on everything, that's sort of her choice.  Time to get your husband more involved.  Marriage should be 50/50.

Answer 2

do most of the chores you can on the weekend, write up a schedule to follow when you get home to include everything you need to do. Your kids might be old enough to be taking on more responsibilities so that everything gets done, you need to teach them this. Have them help you more.  Write up a bath time and bed time schedule for them to follow on their own set up a disipline routiene if they do not bathe or go to bed on time. be consistant. you can do it lots of other moms do!!!

Answer 3

Look up Once A Month Cooking on the Internet, it is the concept of cooking one day per month then freezing your meals for crazy worknights.  Also, buy a crock pot and use it as much as possible.

Answer 4

Sit down, get a grip honey...You don't have it so bad.

I have 3 children 7,9,11. I have a full time job, and I go to college full time. I come home and have to do all of the above and then some...my husband does NOTHING. His only chore is mowing the grass once a week. He gets to come in, set his fat *** on the couch while I run around crazy all the time. I made the choice so I deal with it. I don't get but about 3 hours of sleep a night, but I just keep saying one day it will all be worth it.

By the way...I sell avon too  lo

Answer 5

You sound just like me!  I am at work from about 6:30am until 2:30pm Monday thru Friday, have 2 children (both in school and both play soccer), have been married for 8 years, and recently quit selling Avon.  My husband works nights so that we do not have to worry about daycare for our daughter since she is 1/2 day kindergarten, so I am completely on my own in the evenings.  Unfortunately, he does very little if anything at all when he is home.  So it is all up to me, inside and outside of the house.  Here is what I do: I do whatever I can or what has to be done during the week.  Then on the weekends I take a morning or sometimes an entire day to get everything else that has to be done.  However, it is never done.  As soon as I make my way through the entire house and get everything clean, I have to start over again.  Giving your children their own responsibilities can help to a point.  My best advice: do what you can when you can...your children are only little once but your house will be there when they move out.

Answer 6

Am sure you are having this problem because you LOVE your kids and Husband. If this hold true, Then you have to make the LOVE you have for them motivate you into action. Motivation is the best time management technique i have ever seen before. You will be amazed how this will work for you. Just try it. Cheers

Answer 7

You know, for me, it's all about three things:

1. As you go

2. Prioritizing

3. Know when to say no

As you go means to do things as you go...while you're cooking, wipe up spills, 'soak' used dishes, etc.  Teach your children to put dirty clothes in the basket as soon as they take them off.  Use disposable dishes, when possible.  AND...pick ONE room per night to put your main focus on...clean the living room top to bottom on one night, deep clean the kitchen on another night, deep clean bathrooms on a different night, etc.  Leave bedrooms for Saturdays when the children can help you as much as possible.  Put a load of clothes in the wash the second you get home, put them in the dryer quick after you've cooked dinner but before eating.  After eating, load dishwasher.  Then go get the clothes and fold them next to the one you're helping with homework...that kind of thing.

Prioritize just means that...make sure the things that are most important to you have your focus and are done and then...

DON'T sweat the other stuff...which is when to say no comes into play.  Don't try to be 'super mom'...just focus on your kids, clean as you go (and as you can) and DON'T say no to taking care of yourself and letting things go occasionally so that you can have some 'me time.'  Say no to being too hard on yourself!!

No one on their death bed says, "Gee, wish I'd done those dishes that Friday night that they got dirty instead of waiting until the next day to do them on Saturday..."  It's more about letting little things go once in a while and enjoying your family and life.  Just understand right now that your house probably won't be as tidy as it once was, your dinners may not be as elaborate as they once were...and the world won't fall apart as a result.  But you could...so while you'll be more tired than you once were - don't forget that you need some quiet time, some sit down time, some time to do the things you need to do, too.  If you don't allow that for yourself then you won't be in any shape for the other things that are pulling at you daily.  

Good luck and take good care! :)

Oh...and welcome to the club! *sigh*