Hi Mum's
I know I'm probably not alone but I am really struggling with it at the moment more than I ever have before.
I'm a stay at home Mum for the past 8 years and currently have one in school and 2 at home. I want more time to go out with my kids and enjoy being a stay at home Mum and also do things for myself like a walk or some excercise when my Husband gets home from work.
However I feel like I have time to do nothing hut CLEAN..... I'm over it everywhere I turn there is just mess and the kids just get into everything.
I feel like my house is just filthy
I honestly don't even know where to start to try and help myself. Just in the past few days my 3 yr old has drawn all over a wall, drawn red texta all over my white lamp shade and then put blue paint all over her bedroom and bed quilt.
My 8 yr old eats like the one year old and leaves a ridiculous amount of mess and if I ask him to clean it up himself the carry on just isn't worth it half the time.
I'm sick of being so angry all the time.
The textas my 3 yr old had were her brothers she'd taken and she was painting a plaster in a designated area but then later took the wet plaster and that's how we eneded up with Paint all in her bedroom 😔
This is just a normal day plus more.
Tell me it gets better !!!
6 Replies
My youngest is 16 and I can remember feeling exactly like you do when my kids were little. My advice is, live like a working mum. And I don't say that because I think they're better, it's more that nobody is home all day for anyone to make mess. Prepare kids lunches and snacks at night and after you've dropped your school child off take the younger 2 out, every day. Have them eat their lunch while out. Make meals that need less prep and less dishes. Less boredom, less energy at home which might mean you get to clean faster than they can mess it.
Get up early and take them out for the day. I rarely used to stay home with my 3 under 5 because I felt exactly like this. I would get out. Go sit at a play cafe and have a coffee and wear them out. Or sit at the park anywhere that doesn’t cost a lot. Library. Everyone used to say to me, how can you always be out with 3 young kids. I would say how can you stay home. It’s hard work and the mental toll it takes, it’s exhausting.
Get them out. I used to go and sit at a play cafe just to keep sane
Yes I was that SAHM and it is dang hard. I ran across a woman at the park and she told me the secret is to run your kids out of energy in the morning. So mornings I stopped cleaning, took them to the park, the pool or just had activities at home. Afternoon they are more settled so it was easier to clean. I also started involving the kids so I would say we have 10 minutes to pick up as much as we can and make a game out of it. You could also try a reward chart. Now I look back at the photos of my kids painting and I would give anything to go back and not give a crap about the mess. You are all making memories, not just mess ;)
Shut all doors while they're awake and only allow access to the main living area and back yard. Make all other areas out of bounds. I had 8 kids and this is what I just had to do if I didn't want a bomb sight . Put things like pens out of reach
I have 4 and I completely understand. I also like a really tidy house. We never spent mornings at home. We almost always went out after school drop off. Park/pool/ scooting on the netball courts. Wear them out early.
Also there were NO pens/pencils/paints within reach of the kids. They were all in snap lock lid plastic containers. Then put on the higher shelves.
Kids are only allowed to eat at the dining table or outside. Also if it’s a snack they either clear up or they don’t get to eat it.
My 8yo is a terrible whinger at the moment too but I just have to stay firm or his bad behaviour will quickly turn into habits! Also no devices or tv before he has done his afternoon jobs.