I’ve
been pondering something recently. Nothing overly new or exciting - just that
annoying old ‘time’ thing again.
You
know, where you feel like you never have a minute, how you’re always running
behind yourself and never quite catching your breath?
Just a
few short months ago I was living happily in smug-land, blissfully unaware that
I was doing so. I had a baby who slept two or three times a day for a good
chunk of time, a toddler who was at daycare three full days a week and who
still slept for 1-2 hours at lunchtime and a husband who left the house at
eight and got home around 5.30pm. I even managed to hang-on to the cleaner we
had when we were both working. Life was good.
I didn’t
realise it then, but I had a lot of
time to do all the things I needed to do – including blogging till my blogging
heart was content. In a clean and tidy house.
Now? I
have a little boy in pre-school for half days only, who doesn’t sleep in the
day at all; a baby who is still a pretty good day-sleeper (although this week has
refused it all), but makes just as much mess as her brother; and a husband who leaves the house at 7am and gets home at 7pm.
And, shock horror, this one-salary family now has me as its cleaner (oh the
first world problems).
Actually,
writing this makes it all sound so much worse than things feel. We’re all very
happy, loving our UK life, having a wonderful time with the kids and even
Paul’s commute isn’t too terrible. I’ve also had a lovely, lovely week (despite Lila’s
sleeping), Ollie is loving his new school and I have finally found a decent
yoga teacher.
BUT
When oh
when do I blog?! And how on earth do I keep the house tidy when there are two
children running around behind me making a mess everywhere I go?
No, I’m
serious… please tell me it’s normal to start off in the morning with a
(relatively) clean tidy house and end the day in an absolute hovel. I’m
talking, breakfast/lunch/dinner things still left out, a crumby kitchen floor, toys all. over. the. place.
Not to mention washing in the washing machine that I haven’t had chance to hang
out, shoes scattered by the front and back door, clean washing to be put away
etc etc… It drives me mad. Some days are better than others but there are times (like today) when I would actually die if anyone knocked on the door. I'm a clean person at heart!
So your
suggestions on being a better housewife, or solidarity in telling me your
houses are like this too would be much appreciated.
And then
the blogging. When do you blog? I’m interested to know. Blogging when Lila
sleeps would mean ignoring all of the above, blogging when she and Ollie are
awake would mean ignoring them, blogging every evening would mean ignoring my
husband.
I have
blog posts coming out of my ears and no time to write them. Sigh.
There it is, a ranty rant about first world problems.
There it is, a ranty rant about first world problems.
Give me
some inspiration people – how do you manage time in your life? When do you blog? And please god tell me your houses are messy too?!
(and because I had no suitable photos for this post, you can have some of Oliver making a mess. As usual).
You are not alone ... our house ranges from spick and span ... when I know we are having company ... to clean underneath a layer of incredible mess ... many days ... to the result of a small hurricane ... occasionally ... most days, I try maintain some sort of order but it might not happen until late in the evening and then it all starts again in the morning ...
ReplyDeleteOne of my lovely bloggy friends left a little quote for me in a comment ... very apt, I think ... Bee xx
'Cleaning the house when the children are growing, is like shovelling snow when it's still snowing'
Ahh thank you Bee - that's exactly what I need to hear! I generally only manage to get the place spick and span when we have people coming round - which might fool them into thinking it's like that all the time! Love that quote too. x
Deleteuh-huh. uh-huh. That's me agreeing and nodding. You are not alone x PS I blog at night when everyone's gone to bed, usually, though I'll be thinking, planning and photographing during the day.
ReplyDeleteGood! I love hearing that! x
DeleteI blog a) when the kids are sleeping at night, and I can justify not cleaning because it might wake them... And b) when they are awake and watching TV and otherwise ignoring me... So it is a mutual neglect
ReplyDeleteHaha! I love that - I use the same justification for not cleaning at night too! x
DeleteMy problems at the moment exactly. I'm struggling to find the time to keep on top of the house and work, let alone blogging. So much to blog, so little time, and no time to really read anyone else's blogs either, which makes me really fed up : (
ReplyDeleteSo, I feel kind of relieved that I'm not the only one, but hope there's a way of getting the balance right for us all!
Jude xx
It's tough isn't it. I'd love to be able to blog more, but such is life. I honestly don't know how bloggers post every day when they have small kids! Wish I knew their secret. x
DeleteOh honey, I totally know where you are coming from! Some days it only feels like me going through this so it's nice to read that I'm not. My son is almost 3 and has never day slept...he is also a night owl. My blogging time is very limited, first world problems suck ;P but somehow I've learnt to embrace the fact that I can only do what I can do...I've also just started a blogging plan to help clear my headspace of the posts I want to do, which Has helped with the frustration of not being able to blog. In reality, of late in particular, the only time I get to blog is at night when my son staying at his dads, usually one night a week. Not really my ideal situation but that's just how iit is :) plan to post about my blog plan, but that might not happen for a while yet ;)
ReplyDeleteWow - I would find it so tough to not have a day-sleeper. Last week was tough! Love the idea of a blogging plan - please do blog about it when you find the time! x
DeleteHell yes thats normal! It drives me batty too!! I have so any blog psts to write but just dont get time to write them. We cant really afford a cleaner but finally invested in one to save my sanity and possibly our marriage! Dont worry, you are certainly not the only one!
ReplyDeletePhew! I love hearing that! I think we might have to make cutbacks in favour of a cleaner, I hate how the house is rarely ever clean in one go. x
DeleteOh yep that all happens here too! Thankfully both my cherubs sleep at the same time about three times a week but I rarely get a chance to blog then! Sometimes I get a chance to write, but I almost always blog at night when everyone is sleeping! Seems to be my only real me time! Oh and I forget {get too busy} to put out the washing all.the.time!! Great you found a good yoga teacher! I'd be more than a little lost without yoga! xxx
ReplyDeleteOhh very lucky - it's so great when they both sync their sleeps. And yes, I was feeling lost without a decent yoga teacher. So happy now. x
DeleteI grab moments during the day. The kids are eating breakfast .. I catch up on blog posts and maybe start one. If they are busy doing something, I will log on and write a bit more. It's very rare for me to start and finish a post in one sitting. Mainly, I write something at night after the kids are in bed, the Grumps is sat in front of the tv watching something I'm not remotely interested in and I sit there tapping away. And sometimes, I carry on later in the night when it's quiet and I can hear myself think. This week I've only posted once ... because I've just been busy. It's a hobby and a past time for me but a very enjoyable one. If I stopped blogging, I'd have more time to concentrate on making my jewellery.
ReplyDeleteOoh I didn't know about the jewellery, that sounds fun. I'm like you and always read blog posts while doing boring jobs, although I mentally write comments for everyone and rarely get to go back and actually write them all! x
DeleteOh you are so not alone...and I only have one little one who sleeps quite a bit and I still struggle so much.
ReplyDeleteI squeeze blogging in when he is asleep and hubby is working. Sometimes that means I work on a post for a couple days before posting or don't edit my photos or ONLY post photos. I love peeking in on whatever you post when you have the chance. :)
Ahh thank you lovely. I'm the same as you with blogging - always prioritising! Oh to have more time. x
DeleteYou are not alone! It is so easy to create a mess but takes such a long time to tidy up! Sometimes I feel as if I'm just chasing my tail - as soon as everything looks tidy, in a few hours it's all messed up again. I usually do the photos one day and write up a post a few days later.
ReplyDeleteJune
Exactly right, the house is always ok when we go to bed and an absolute tip a few hours into the following day. Kids create so much mess! x
DeleteOh its totally not just you! I think its especially hard when you're going through an adjustment in lifestyle to get into a 'rhythm' with cleaning. I was swamped with mess for the entire 6 weeks holidays because I clean when my eldest is at preschool usually!
ReplyDeleteI have (geek alert!) a laminated cleaning 'planner', one sheet for the week and one for the month. Tasks broken down by room, with enough tick boxes for the regularity I would like (ie daily = 7 boxes on 'week' chart, fortnightly = 2 boxes on 'month' chart) That way, even if all I've managed to do is put in a load of washing, or wipe the kitchen surfaces, I still have something to tick at the end of the day! Plus breaking it down makes it more manageable.
However, as for when to blog, I'm no help! The above charts have been a half-written draft post for months!
I'm so pleased it's not just me! I love your planner idea! x
DeleteThese reasons and more are why I didn't/couldn't blog over the whole summer! But thankfully everyone seems to have forgiven me for that! Try not to put pressure on yourself to fit it all in, we can only do so much in a day... one day you will have more time, and will appreciate it so much more because you worked your socks off while the children were at home. Your blog is great, and still will be even if your posts are less frequent! x
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the pressure thing - it's easy to get caught up in feeling like you have to keep on top of everything all the time. Problem is, I actually really want to blog more, so it's annoying when I can't! x
DeleteJust remember that no one lies on their deathbed and wishes that they had done more housework. And the children grow up so quickly that it is important to treasure every moment together. My house is still pretty messy much of the time, but I prefer to do the more interesting things - as long as the kitchen and bathroom are hygienic, the rest doesn't really matter. And blogging just happens at odd moments when everything comes together - the busier I am the fewer the posts!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to discover your blog anyway - look forward to reading more (when you have a moment)!
Pomona x
Hi Pomona! thanks for commenting, and you are so right about lying on your deathbed wishing you'd cleaned more. Brilliant! x
DeleteI hear you - I have felt like I am chasing my tail all week, just rushing from here to there and leaving everything half finished, and the house is usually a tip.
ReplyDeleteI would say blog little and often - just half an hour here or there when you get the chance, and the same with the dreaded cleaning. But it's rubbish isn't it, I am also the cleaner in our one salary household and sometimes I feel like it takes over my life. Not even the proper cleaning, but just keeping on top of tidying up and washing and cooking. Sigh. But your babes are only little once so they come first. :-)
I love hearing that everyone is the same as me. Gosh that makes me feel better! Know what you mean about cleaning too - our house is never clean all at the same time. x
DeleteI've only got one little poppet and I feel like it's tricky finding a moment to myself all the time - can't imagine what it's going to be like when the next one comes along! I'm sticking to just 2 posts a week at the mo, which I'm managing to write in the evenings. I do feel like I'm always starting stories and posts in my head, and they vanish before I get time to sit down to type. I've just invested in a lush new notebook which sits in the pram, so I can jot things down when I'm out and about. It has definitely helped. Hope this week goes well for you! PS. If you're missing Oz, you can live vicariously through me at Latte Mum. Loving your blog xx
ReplyDeleteHi Latte Mum! Thanks so much for commenting. I'm the same with writing posts in my head - always, always thinking in blog posts. The curse of the blogger I guess! x
Deleteyou have just described my life, my home and my children.
ReplyDeletexo em
But Em, what's your blogging-everyday secret?! I'm dying to know. And thanks for commenting too :) x
DeleteEvery mama blog i stumble upon these days is saying something along these lines. I don't have the answer because I struggle with exactly the same things (and I only have one bubba). All I've learned is that you kind of have to care less and not give yourself a hard time. Having small children is hard, time consuming and messy and maybe if we stopped trying to be as organised, controlled and focused as we were pre baby we'd be happier? As for the time to blog thing, I just schedule some posts when I have time and don't feel bad if a week passes without a post.
ReplyDeleteI've read a few like this, this week alone. Must be something in the air. You are so right about needing to care less, I have definitely had to do that over the years. But there are just some weeks that annoy you more than others! Thanks for commenting x
DeleteMy house is a disaster, I can't keep on top of it at all and I never get the chance to blog. My 1 year old is a terrible sleeper and up until 10pm or later at which point I'm ready to crash too. I keep telling myself that I'll have time for everything once my children have grown up. These years while they are young are so fleeting and when we have an empty nest and plenty of time on our hands we'll look back on this time and wonder why we didn't appreciate it more.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!, you are seriously not alone. I am exhausted even just thinking about cleaning up. The only time I clean up is when somebody is coming to visit. I shove everything in the 3rd bedroom and lock the door :)
ReplyDeletehaha!
ReplyDeleteYEP!
My life, my time poor'ness, my husband, my child.
Oh, & my head with a ga-zillion posts, & NO time to write them ;)
Sucks, doesn't it?
x