my husband and i are new parents and we are trying to get a program in place where the baby is properly taken care of and we still get dinner each night, the laundry is getting done, the house gets cleaned and the dog is taken care of....
is this possible or a pipe dream??
what are some tips you may have for 2 f/t working parents???
thanks!!!
2007-01-10 01:12:29 · 7 answers · asked by joey322 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Go to flylady.net. She has all kinds of tips on running a home smoothly. Fantasic tips that really work.
2007-01-10 01:22:06 · answer #1 · answered by Texas Pineknot 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First don't stress about things not being the same because they will never be clean, or at least they way it used to be. I saved so much by making meals on Sunday then labeling them for the week, so whoever gets home first can throw em in the oven or microwave to reheat, or try salads, and pasta, easy quick stuff, try to stay away from the fast foods, if you can cut your work hours a bit, even by an hour it'll be a life saver, you might even have time to walk your dog! Laundry, as long as it's clean does it need to be put away? With a new baby your life seems like it revolves around laundry, so dont stress, most important try to have fun this is such a great time who cares if your house is a little cluttered.
2007-01-10 09:32:50 · answer #2 · answered by littlegirllost 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible!! My partner and I both work, his 14 yo son lives with us, his 12 yo daughter visits alternate w/ends, we have a 10 month old baby - most of the housework gets done, there's usually enough clean clothes for everyone, the baby is happy, and we eat dinner every night!
It requires constant communication and an agreement that the housework and childcare be shared between you. It helps to work out a routine of roughly who does what when and then a lot of give and take on top of that. It also helps if you sort of lower your standards a bit - not everything has to be spotlessly clean, it just has to be clean enough to be healthy, dinner doesn't have to fabulous, the baby can wear odd socks and don't bother polishing the silverware (!)
Think about your working weeks and who has easy and hard days when and work around that a bit. Make large batches of spaghetti sauces and soups and stews and freeze them for when no-one wants to cook. Be prepared to have 'scratch' meals now and then.
Be sure to talk to each other and do not let gripes build up. So, he didn't do the washing up, big deal! So, you forgot to put his white shirt in the wash, he can wear the blue one...
Be nice to each other. Be sure to spend some time each evening talking about your work days with each other. Be sure to notice and thank each other for the work you do around the home. You're not thanking him because it's your job, you're thanking him because together you are building a family home and that is a wonderful thing!!!
Try not to fall into the trap of men's work and women's work. It's all housework ;o)
2007-01-10 09:29:28 · answer #3 · answered by Skidoo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The trick is knowing you can't have it all - honestly. 2 full time working parents cannot also give 100% to keeping the house clean, gourmet meals, taking care of baby well, and have time for one another, have time for themselves and still sleep. It just doesn't happen. Pick your priorities, let the other things go, and realize that this won't last forever because the older the kids get, the less attention they need from you and the more time you can spend on the things that you wish you had more time for.
2007-01-10 09:47:17 · answer #4 · answered by chicchick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work together. It's not that hard. I had 2 young kids when I worked as well as 3 dogs and 3 cats. Make simple meals during the week that take a few minutes to prepare (pasta, stir fry etc)..it's a real timesaver instead of spending an hour in the kitchen. Throw a load in the washing machine when you have enough for 1 load..that ensures that it will not pile up. It takes 30 seconds to throw it in the washer and 30 second to throw it in the dryer.
2007-01-10 09:56:25 · answer #5 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a single parent, I juggle all the time.
Take turns-one cook dinner, one take care of the baby.
Make things ahead of time over the weekend and freeze them for dinner. or make some quick and easy dinner-go to allrecipes.com and they have a section just for that.
Do your laundry and clean on the weekends. Try to get some done while the baby is sleeping and again, take turns. You could also do one roon each night over the week to spread it out.
2007-01-10 09:26:13 · answer #6 · answered by Willow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Employ a housekeeper!
2007-01-10 09:16:22 · answer #7 · answered by ChocLover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋