routine

[tazz]

hi i have 2 kids one 3 n one 2. looking after them and keeping the house up together and housework is a nightmare. also the house is constantlg having work or decorating done as when we briught it it was a bit of a state. any1 got any good tips, or routines? anything would b a grat help. thanx.
tazz.x

[ethanryan]

hi i have 2 boys who are 2 and 3 in april and may, the trick is to be organised. i never go to bed untill down stairs is tidy, all washing up done etc, it saves messing about in morning.

[tazz]

i do that but just seems to b more work then time. i rarely get me time either.

[ethanryan]

i totally understand the no me time. are you a single mom? is there no one that can have them one evening a week even for a couple of hours, so u could have a relax in bath or summat. i get up an hour befor the kids who get up at 5. not cause i want to but cause i need to. i put washing in, have a shower get kids clothes sorted. it really is not easy especially with 2 so close in age.

[Le Chat]

Oh tazz, I do sympathise. I can offer you no practical help but much empathy.
Having little 'me' time can make you feel dememted - You can't even go to the toilet undisturbed!
I feel all topsy turvey thinking about it!
You have my support from afar!

[tazz]

no im not single but my partner works long hours, so when they get up hes at work n when he gets home there not far off from going to bed.
by time there in bed thou im just so tired. feel bit like a yo yo lol. thanx so much 4 ur replys n support feels good to tell some1

[annie0000]

My two are now 7 and 6, but I can remember well how hard it is. What helped us was to have quite a set routine for the day with times for play, times for snacks, times for jigsaws, drawing time, tv time (so that you can get dinner on) story time etc. all spread through the day so that you can mix spending time with them and have time where they should be occupied playing together where you can get bits and pieces done.

Try to clear as you go - not easy I know, but if you can keep on top of things like washing and ironing it helps.

Write yourself a schedule - and at least if you can roughly stick to it, you will feel that you are acheiving something - don't make it too ambitious - I always think there is something wrong if a house with small kids is too immaculate - maybe the housework is taking priority and the poor kids are stuck in front of the tv all day!

We also took their toys and sorted them into crates of mixed things. They got one crate at a time for a few days then we rotated to the next and so on. That stopped the number of toys out from getting out of hand, and kept their interest as they wouldn't see a particular crate for a couple of weeks at a time. I would also recommend getting along to any toddler groups you can so that you can all socialise. Another thing to investigate, is to see if your local sports centre or community centre has a creche. They are often subsidised and cheap and you can either use the facilities eg gym or pool, or attend a class, or simply go into the cafe and read a book with a coffee for a little while - it makes all the difference to get a half hour break!

Good luck with it - it does get easier believe me - it is much less phyisically exhausting - now it is just mental torture! lol.

[tazz]

thank u very much annie i will try writing it down thats a good tip. just so hard where to start with it all maybe im thinkin abt it too much. maybe i can write out our typical day n c how i can change it to suit more. the toddler groups r 4 ages up to 3 so my son cant go n have very little help from others with looking after him.
its nice to hear that it does get easier thou.
thanx again that helps alot
tazz.x

[annie0000]

Is your son entitled to any nursery provision? Sorry, i don't know here you are, but in Scotland kids start school at roughly age 5, but the are entitled to 12 and a half hours per week nursery or play group paid for by the council. That can even be split into 3 sessions in a private nursery - not sure how it works in the rest of the Uk.

Definitely go with the routine, but allow it to be broken for things like sunny days at the park etc.

I always found that if I was getting to the end of my tether - it was good just to get them in a buggy and out for a walk - always felt better when I got back - even if you could stir the house with a stick!

I work full time (but finish in time for school ending) now that they are older and at school, but still mange to fit in 10 loads of washing a week (my other half does the ironing)- after school activities most days and the shopping and cooking - and a bit of hoovering thrown in. I get a quick clean round everything else on a Saturday morning when hubby takes them swimming - then we try to chill for the rest of the weekend.

I answered on your other question as well, and i think a routine helps with behaviour as well, as they kids then know what to expect and are less likely to play up. We have always had a good night-time routine and have never had any problem getting the boys to bed - they know as soon as you say time for bed to go up and start getting ready - the hard work you put in now will pay you back in the long term.

[tazz]

thanx so much 4 your reply ill try all that n stick to it. yes he goes to nursery but just finding it hard to work out a routine that works. if u dont mind me asking what is your typical routine 4 a day?

[annie0000]

My two are now 7 and 6 and we both both work now that they are at school, so we have a completely different routine now, but I will do my best to remember back!

They would get up at about 7, have a cup of milk and watch tv while I had a shower and got dressed and bring a washing down to put in the machine. Then I would take them up to get washed and dressed and then have breakfast. After breakfast I would get them a crate of toys and play with them for a little while to get them started on something and then clear up the breakfast things and then go back to them again. Mid morning, they would have a snack and I would clear up the toys and hoover. After snack if it was nice we would go and play out in the garden while I haung out the washing and then go for a walk. If not nice, i would hang washing up inside and we would do jigsaws or paint or play doh or read storys or something until lunch. After lunch, the older one would go to nursery and the younger would have a nap and I could clear up and maybe even get an ironing done before he woke up and we went to collect the older one. Then we would have afternoon snack and either play out or do bits of shopping or set up the train track or something, maybe a wee bit of a video to let me get the dinner on, dinner and then we would have a bit of rough and tumble to tire them out before bath, bed etc. My other half and I would take turns to take them and do the bedtime stuff while the other cleared up from dinner and tidied up the toys. Other things such as the toilets and hoovering and dusting would get done when they could, but sometimes would have to wait for a saturday morning.

The routine would change really depending on things like toddler groups, need to get groceries, weather etc.

cont./

[annie0000]

But I think that if you cut it into small chunks, it stops them or you getting fed up. You can also play games such as hide and seek while you are putting away the ironing etc.

It isn't easy, but if you dont get distracted and avoid having the tv on except when you really need it. You don't get much time for yourself during the day, but you really appreciate it when you have got them away to bed and the house is still reasonably tidy and you can chill and enjoy your evening.

You need to do something that suits you as well, I didn't drive and lived in a new estate with no family or friends and little public transport, so we mainly did local things and were by ourselves a lot until we got to know a few people, then we would maybe have someone round to play after mid morning snack and you can socialise a bit with other parents.

If you can keep on top of your housework, without being obsessive about it, it makes it easier to invite people round.

Good Luck with it!