I can't seem to keep my house organized after have my daughter six months ago!?

Question

I need some advice on getting myself motivated. I find it really hard to keep up with housework and my husband comes home from work, and I would love to have things done for him, as he works hard all day and week.

Answer 1

If your daughter isn't on a schedule, do it NOW!

My son has been on a schedule since he was 2 months old.

I have time to do ALL of my housework and even take a nap afterwards, if I'm too tired.

Sometimes, it's hard to get motivated, but remember this, your daughter is solely dependent on you for her health and safety.  She'll be crawling soon and you wouldn't want her to crawl on the filthy bathroom floor, would you?  What if she bumps into a table and a glass vase falls on her?  That is motivation enough.

Also, talk to your doctor.  It doesn't sound like you are, but rule out postpartum depression.  That could be dangerous for the whole family.

Answer 2

All I can say is get used to it- I've been trying to get orgaized for almost 6 years!!!

Answer 3

to answer your ? would be to get up and get started on what you need to do.Their no excuses,except being lazy.

Answer 4

It can be hard to find the energy and motivation to be June Cleaver when you have a baby, but if you break everything into smaller tasks and keep up on it, it doesn't seem so overwhelming.

Try to keep the kitchen clean at all times--it makes mealtime easier when you don't have to take the time to clean the kitchen first.  Load the dishwasher as you use dishes, instead of letting them pile up on the counters and in the sink.  Put food and ingredients away as you are cooking, and try to "clean as you go" when making meals, so cleanup isn't so bad when the meal is done.  

Make a quick pass through the living room before your husband gets home.  Have a basket where you put the baby's toys, hang up coats, put shoes in the front hall closet, stack magazines neatly, straighten cushions, etc.  It should only take a couple of minutes.

If you have a two-story house, keep a basket on the stairs for all of the items that need to be taken up.  Try not to "waste" trips up and down the stairs--if you are going up to get the baby after she wakes up from a nap, take a quick look around to see if there is something you can carry upstairs with you.

Make a schedule for yourself for the various cleaning tasks--vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, dusting, laundry, etc., and spend a little time each day doing one thing.  That way, you don't feel like you are spending an entire day doing the cleaning.

And definitely keep up on the clutter!  Sort the mail over the trash can, and throw out the junk right away.  Have a place where you keep bills that need to be mailed out.  Recycle newspapers and magazines that have already been read.  Sort through the baby's clothes regularly, and take the things she has outgrown out of the "rotation."  You can either give them to charity, sell them on ebay, give them to a friend, or if you want to keep them for another baby down the road, sort them by size and store them in Space Bags.  Outgrown baby clothes can take over your house in no time.

Answer 5

Ug. I can totally relate. My house has been a total disaster since my daughter was born 6 1/2 years ago. I can never seem to find time to get on top of it all. Between Mount Laundromore and the gazillion other things it is all too much, but at least I know I am giving my kids the attention they need. I'm sure when they are all in school I will catch up. For now, a little organization goes a long way. Having lots of places to throw everything helps, like having at least one laundry basket on each level, and at least one basket in almost every room that you can just throw things into. For motivation, try to keep it fun. At six months you can put your baby in an umbrella stroller, bringing her around the house with you while you tidy, showing and talking to her about everything as you go. Don't worry much over it. There are lost of Moms like you out there and I'm sure you would feel much better if you saw my house!!!

Answer 6

It can be hard to be motivated at any time of life, but with a new baby it is especially hard to get things done.  Here's a website that can help anyone find motivation one day at a time... http://www.flylady.net/

I don't want to jump on the "go see a doctor" bandwagon because that is said so often these days for anything from a runny nose to an ugly toenail.  However; after childbirth some women do need a little extra help to get past the postpartum depression.  It's not a big deal, but your Doctor can help you decide if you need medicine for a short time.  http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/postpart...

Answer 7

Sigh. You want to bring your daughter up to believe that a woman's role in life is to tidy the house before Daddy gets home?

A bit of mess never hurt anyone. Forget straightening those cushions and picking up all the toys, and make a deal with yourself. Spend half an hour clearing up the mess (actual mess and dirt, not make-work oh my house isn't perfect primping) and you can have half an hour to do something worth spending time on. After all, why did your husband marry you? To be his cleaning lady, or because he loved you?

Answer 8

This is a common problem.  I heard someone say that doing housework with kids is like stringing beads with no knot at the end.  As soon as you finish one task, more tasks pile up.  Don't be too hard on yourself.  This is a time for you to focus on your baby and enjoy being a mom.  These early months will pass by quickly and you'll never get them back...Housework will always be there.

That being said, I know you want to feel good about your home.  My mom friends and I agree that you can do little things to at least give the appearance of a clean house, even if it isn't.  For example, vacuum right before your husband comes home...it makes the whole room look better.  Also, there's nothing like the smell of Windex or Pledge to give the impression that you've been cleaning all afternoon.  So, even if you only clean a window or two, it shows some effort was made.  If nothing else, at least keep your kitchen spotless...the rest of the house you can blame on the baby (toys all over the place, etc.)  Finally, try committing yourself to cleaning 15 minutes every hour.  It's much easier when you break it down like this.  It will get easier!

Answer 9

You are not alone...   I have been there.  My answer was to just make myself do it anyway because I realized that the hard part is just getting started.  Once I get started, I get in a groove, and I just go.  But, the best part is- you will feel so much better after you have done it, and that is priceless.  Housecleaning is rewarding because it makes you feel better about yourself once it is complete, AND if you don't make yourself do it, you feel worse about yourself and it is a constant reminder of what you aren't doing, since you are there all the time.  I honestly think that lack of motivation comes from getting overwhelmed at a certain point because there was so much to do.  So, you let your house go.  And since you are still trying to adapt to your new life with a baby (babies are so drastically life-altering!), house cleaning has been on the back-burner.  Now, you probably find yourself in a dirty house, with a negative, despairing feeling about it that has been progressively growing....    that can be so overwhelming that it replaces your motivation.  Its a vicious circle. The only way to get that back is to just do it.  Like I said, it sucks at first, but right now you probably can't remember how rewarding it can be, and how much you really can replace that sense of dread with satisfaction, due to productiveness.  If you find a routine that works for you to take care of your baby and your house, I think you will feel like a better wife and mother.  I know I did.

Good luck!!