How do you keep clean and organised while you are running after a young child? My bub is 15 months old and a handful! I struggle to keep the house clean. It's not dirty, just untidy. Last night my partner said I live like a pig! It really hurt my feelings. I'm trying to keep on top of the housework but it's really hard when my daughter whinges so much. She wants attention constantly and is still breast fed so wants 'boobie' quite often too. I can't wash the dishes without her sitting on my feet! Any tips for getting organised and keeping clean? I'm trying to be a great housewife but failing miserably.
6 Replies
It's a struggle and to be perfectly honest the only time my house was tidy when my child was that age was at night! I think though if your breast feeding on demand it makes an even bigger challenge. I found enlisting my toddler as my helper really helped get some things done, kept him engaged and less likely to be up to mischief while I was getting something done. Kids love to help (even in the smallest way) they build language, motor, independence and social skills in that time as well as learning what it means to be a family (we all contribute). My son used to have some plastic cups he could 'wash' at that age for example.
Never feel like a failure! You are putting your bub's needs above all else and thats all that matters - she will grow so fast, one day she is on you all the time demanding your attention and the next she will be at school and all of the beautiful together time you have now will be over, trust me, when there is a little one in the house NO ONES house is clean! Maybe if your partner gave you a hand rather then criticise he would see how much effort it is with a baby around your feet?? I find that I get the washing folded after my little ones are in bed and as long as the floors are swept and the house doesn't look like an episode of Horders then its all good - don't let anyone make you feel awful over the state of your house, every mother battles with it and every mother feels guilt over it but at the end of the day its just a messy house xx
I find getting my kids out in the morning whether its running errands the park or groceries then bringing them home worn out for a midday sleep, then I have an hr or two up my sleeve to clean and put dinner in the slow cooker :)
Tell your partner that u may live like a pig but he is one! Next weekend plan a day out and leave him to look after your daughter and the house for a day, he'll never say that again. Then do up a list of daily and weekly jobs and divide them up : )
My house looks like a war zone!! I run around like a headless chook when my 17month old goes to bed. And within 5 mins of him being up it's back to being a war zone... I am lucky enough to have a dishwasher and I have gone back to work so I have hired a cleaner to come in and do my bathrooms and floors... I don't know how anyone manages to vacuum and mop floors with a toddler... Mine turns the vacuum off (and thinks he is so funny). Tell ur partner that if he isn't happy with the mess than he can clean it up... Life is too short to stress about mess!
I call mine little mess makers! It is hard, I try to keep tidy but they are winning.. Have you tried pushing all the mess into a pile and then throwing a sheet over the top! Ignore your partner, or leave him with her for afternoon and see what happens.. Don't worry , there will heaps of time for cleaning when she moves out!