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collsbaby
	Age: 31 Country: USA Province/region: So Cal City: Partner: My wonderful husband, Todd Children: Yes, 1 Pregnant: Yes Due date: 08 Oct ,2010 Occupation: Pilates Instructor/Writer/SAHM
	Online: 59 days ago. Last updated: 316 days ago. Member since: 1619 days
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02-9-2009 - Question for all the SAHM's.

My mood while writing this blog:
Feeling behind the 8 ball!

I posted this on the 17 month page, but then I thought that I should post it as a blog as well to get more opinions. I realize that a working mom's schedule and a stay at home mom's schedule are very different as far as cleaning, shopping, getting out of the house, meals, etc. So since I'm a stay at home mom (SAHM), I would like to know what other SAHM's do to get it all done, and still have time for yourself. Are you waking up earlier than the family? A teacher at my mom's school gets up at 4am everyday to get everything done...I don't think I'm ready for that yet.

Here's my post...

I used to live across the street from the beach and I remember every morning I'd get up early and make a coffee, go for a walk on the sand and from March to May I'd see dolphins swimming around the pier. Every morning I'd see the same pelican and we'd have a little chat before he'd fly away. I'd walk to the farmers market and pick some fresh veggies and herbs for the days omelette. Then I'd sit and read the paper and have a nice leisurely breakfast before I walked to work. Ahhhhh...the old days where there was hardly a care in the world. NOW! I'm lucky to have a quick yogurt and a quick stretch in bed before life gets hectic and crazy. I feel like I'm constantly behind the 8 ball. And all I want to do is get more sleep. But I'm ready to stab myself in the eye when I wake up to the sounds of Summer stirring in her crib and DH rushing out the door. I'm always mad at myself for not getting up earlier to do all the things I need to do before she wakes up. So my question for all the SAHM's and mom's who work from home, (And working mom's on the weekends) what time do you get up in the morning to get things done before baby gets up? And what time do you go to bed at night? I find myself tired all day, but at night I find all this energy to do stuff and read or whatever because the house is quiet, but I stay up too late, making myself tired the next morning...starting it al over again. I'm gonna write a book, My Life Behind The 8 Ball!

Thanks in advance for your tips!

7 Comments on Question for all the SAHM's.

carlsonlove757 - Monday, 21 Sep
I read this awhile ago and wanted to post all this great info for you, but didn't have time and now I have forgot it all!! But basically I am in the same boat and it sucks! I never feel like our home is clean and I'm always behind. I was getting into a bad routine of staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning just to do all of the housework and then I would be tired the rest of the next day. So, basically I just wing it still! I do not have a good routine!

tiger21 - Saturday, 19 Sep
I feel like I am finally getting into a routine and I can only hope it lasts for awhile. Jax usually wakes up around 7:30 and he is my alarm clock. I will let him play if I hear is not cranky so that I can more fully awake while laying in bed and I quickly check my email from my iphone while lying there. Once he is up is it time to move! We have a small area in the kitchen where I put some of his favorite toys and I give him a few cheerios while I make breakfast for all three of us. After breakfast, I let him play and clean the kitchen. The best thing I can do for both of us is to wear him out in the morning so I put him the stroller, go for a walk and head to the park so that he can play and run and explore. When we get home, I put him down for a 2-3 hour nap and I relax for a bit, take a shower and get ready and finish cleaning. I just try to prioritize my cleaning because some things I can do with Jaxon and he loves to participate like making the bed. He loves to play in the covers and he loves to follow me while I vacuum. I just feel by getting him out of the house in the morning I am paying full attention to him and then I don't feel bad when we are working together to clean. I stay up too late too. I relish in that time after he sleeps to just do my own thing. My husband broke his ankle over a month ago and I have had to do triple duty which is tough - kudos to the single moms and dads out there! I don't think I will be a SAHM much longer and I am so sad about this but I feel really lucky to have been home the first year and a half and I wouldn't change a thing.

*-*lynnepie*-* - Thursday, 3 Sep
I’m also a SAHM. I’m usually up ½ to an hour before Brinn which me allows some “me” time. Brinn gets up around 8am. When she starts to stir in her crib, I let her hang out for maybe an extra 20 minutes if I need it. Sometimes she will go back to sleep for a little bit longer and sometimes she will contently play on her own till I come get her up. I give Brinn her milk and put her in her high chair while I make a quick breakfast for us and usually can keep her in it while we eat, clean up the dishes, and feed the dogs. We play until Brinn goes down for a nap around 11am. She sleeps 1-2 hours tops, so during that time is when I can rest, get on-line, watch some TV, do a load or two of laundry, and of course pick up around the house. When she gets up from her nap, it’s pretty much the same as the morning. I make us lunch and then more play time. My husband gets home around 5pm. He loves to cook, so he usually cooks dinners when he gets home. Brinn has her bath around 8pm and usually in bed asleep by 9pm. After she goes to bed, we do dinner dishes, pick up again and watch some TV. My husband and I are usually in bed by 11 pm. On the low-key weekends or when I’m feeling ambitious I will do the “in depth” cleaning when my husband is home. Sundays are usually our “floor” days when the tile is swept and carpet is vacuumed. My husband and I do the major grocery shopping together and if it’s just a couple things that need to be picked up from the store he will pick them up on his way home from work. One thing that I love for light dusting is the “Swiffer” duster wand. It takes no time really to dust and I can do it while watching Brinn play. Our house never gets too dirty because of the daily pickups and cleaning dishes. I can totally agree with feeling tired even though I stay at home. It’s a 24 hour job with sometimes no breaks. If I need some extra time to myself, I will let my husband know, and he will watch Brinn while I get take some R & R.

happyforest - Wednesday, 2 Sep
i just do things as i go, its easier that way bc you dont have to take up a big chunk of time to do it, and things wont pile up. my son wakes up at 8:30. i make him a bottle, and while he is drinking it, i put any dishes left from the night before in the dishwasher. i let the dogs out. then i play with him for about 2 hours til his nap. then i do anything else i can and also might do nothing and just sit on the computer :) when i clean or cook in the kitchen i put him in his high chair with a snack.

tessa42 - Wednesday, 2 Sep
hithe only time I get for myself is after my 2yr old goes to sleep... I try to not stay up longer than 1hr sometimes 2... though I try for one... becuase yes I am tired and have very little time for myself; just like you wrote... due to my husband work schedule he can not help much... And he and I both do not want to have her babysitted alot even by family...My perspective may be different than yours though becuase I have done this before I have a 23 and 19yr old daughters who are grown and do not live at home anymoreSo my perspective is I try to enjoy everyminute of doing stuff with my 2yr old including house work and being tiredBecuase I really really know the tiredness will not last and she will be grown in a blink of an eye and will want to go play with friends verse hanging out with Mommy...Sorry if this does not help.......But truelly by perspective is be patient with your tiredness and a lack of alone time becuase it will not be for along time....There only little and cute oncetessa

happymere - Wednesday, 2 Sep
I have alot less time for myself but I'm so glad my husband helps alot..Nathaniel is 11 months...this is what usually happen..I get up a 6h30 because he gets up..I give him breastmilk, he plays around my bed (on the floor with me for 30 minutes) then I put him in bed again with some books (I read with him but then tell him when the books got his attention to continue by himself)..I sleep till 7h30 or 8h30 depends how long Nathaniel sleep again or his he had enough of his bed. If he wakes up before, my husband goes down with him and plays till 8h30 before leaving for his work. After that I wake up, feed him, make my coffe and lunch and eat with him. After we watch abit of tv (bob the constructor) and then we play hide and seek or other games , after he plays by himself and I clean dishes , do laundry if I have time. Around 11Am we play outside for 30 minutes, I give him a snack after and breastfeed him (when he wants) then put him in bed for his nap. He was sleeping 2 hours but since a week he sleeps for 1hour. I do my workout (yes I know..but I need to loose my weight) for 40 minutes, do more cleaning then wake him up put him in his playpen with books and go take my shower. Then a little snaks, and played by himself or with me..sometimes I clean floor and play at the same times running after him ect..we go after at the park with his stroller and our dog. (takes 20 minutes walk , play there 40 minutes and come back 20 minutes). Then he is usually tire again, but again since a week he's less interested in my breast milk so doesn't fall asleep ...so we wait for my husband until (he's usually cranky by then)...but I know my husband is coming at 6h20 PM , he feeds him, give him the bath and play with him until 9h00 PM or 9h30PM and after I breastfeed him and kiss him, and put him in bed at 9h30.I will start work part time in november, I think that will help because I think he likes playing with other children. We go for playdates every wednsday also for 2 hours. When my husband takes care of him on the weekend and evening..I take the time to clean abit more, make Nathaniel some foods and takes time for myself by reading, playing games on computer ect...I had tendecies of sleeping also late at night as I need my time..but now I can't keep up and fall asleep. :)When we go outside, I have a long chair and talk with my baby at the same time but also have a bit of sunshine and relax time (a couple of minutes but it feels goods).sorry for my vocabulary, I'm french.

1blessedmomma - Wednesday, 2 Sep
You know, I could just smack you for posting your wonderful morning routine AGAIN!! hahaha!!! Like I said before, if you just take care of little bits every day, it never gets to be too much. Here lately Abe doesn't go to bed til late and the only time I get for myself is in the shower. That's of course assuming the kids don't have a fight and then come running in to tell me what someone just did to them. ;-) I know that it seems like you'll never have time for yourself again but honestly speaking before you know it she'll be off in school and you'll be wondering what in the world to do with all of your time!

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