I need some help on getting better organized. I am a single mother who needs your help.?

Question

I have a 8 month old baby and I can't seem to get it together, I am always late to work, and my appts. I have a great mom who helps out which is great , but I plan on moving further away from my parents and I would like to be better organized on my own. How do I manage a young baby with such things as preparing daily meals, going grocery shopping and keeping the house in order without having to go to bed after 12 am on weeknights and not skipping out on spending quality time with baby?

Answer 1

First of all do not move too far from your parents, it is so important that your little one has a close relationship with his or her grandparents.
My best advice is to spend as much time as needed throwing away everything and anything you are not using. What is left should have a place of it's own and always be put back there.
Then Spend One Day -each week- Cooking (try using the Seal-A-Meal). One Day -each week- Cleaning and so on...
WRITE IT DOWN-
MAKE A DAILY SCHEDULE AND STICK TO IT

It takes time but youcan do it! Remember You Can Do Anything...!

Answer 2

Previous answers were great- and I agree. I think it's important to decide what your priorities are in the evening. If it's just you and the baby- there shouldn't be many dishes- for example. Just rinse and set in sink (if you don't have a dishwasher) and do those every other day. When you shower, after getting out- spray the tub with a light spray of foaming cleaner- it will keep the tub clean without you having to scrub. Have laundry days. When you get home from work each evening, take about 30 minutes for just you and baby- sit down, and wind down from the day. Your baby needs that as well. It's imperative that you plan for your mornings the night before. I can recall days when I was by myself with a newborn, a 3 year old and a fulltime job. Man. But I made it. Sometimes the kitchen didn't get cleaned 100%. So what. Nobody will die. Sometimes I didn't get everything picked up. So what. Nobody died. Just be patient. It'll work out.

Answer 3

Divide up the bigger chores so that they fall on different days (i.e. deep house cleaning on Monday, grocery shopping on Tuesday, preparing the weeks meals on Wednesday, laundry on Thursday, etc.). If you're always the same amount of time late for everything (like, always exactly 10 minutes late), the write things down as happening earlier than they actually do (if baby's doc appointment is at 11:00, write 10:45 on the calendar). Also, ask yourself if you are subconsciously trying to convey something by being late (that your time is valuable, that you're an important person, that you're just too busy to deal with this or that).

I mentioned earlier preparing a weeks worth of meals at once, here are some examples.
*if you will be making 3 dishes in a week that all have chopped onions as an ingredient then you can chop all the onions at once.
*Casseroles, lasagna, and other recipes can all be prepared at the same time, then stored in freezer until cooked.
*Make meals that can be converted into something else as leftovers--I make meatballs one night, then slice up the leftover meatballs and make meatball subs a couple nights later.

Spend quality time while you are doing your chores (especially as baby gets older and can help more)
*put highchair in kitchen while you're cooking and give them toy utensils so they can imitate you.
*fold laundry while baby is having open floor play so you are both on the same level.

Answer 4

You need a day planner. Write everything in there, appts, grocery lists, phone numbers, etc. Next, you and you baby need to be on a daily schedule, from the time you wake up, to the time you go to bed. Plan it out the night before, so you know what time you need to be doing what. Set one day a week aside where you do grocery shopping, errands, etc. Set time for play with your baby, and don't forget about napping times (for you and your baby.)

Stick to your plans so that you are not running late to things, and so that your child will also learn a good schedule. Goodluck to you, and try not to stress so much.

Answer 5

I really feel for you! In addition to the awesome suggestions already offered, talk to your doctor about taking sublingual vitamin b12 daily, to help your energy and immune system. Fatigue is a really common issue for parents of small children and babies. In some cases, it can help people sleep better and deal with emotions and stress more easily, too.

And take advantage of the free advice given on this website:
http://www.flylady.net/
What I discovered there helped me break stressful loads of work down into manageable components.

Another thing to consider, if someone hasn't said it already, set out your outfit (plus a spare) and your baby's outfit (plus a spare) for the next day. Accidents happen, so having the spare is helpful, but also having things laid out the night before will help things run more smoothly the next day. Have diaper bags, bookbags, and purses packed and ready to go before you go to bed. And try to accustom yourself to the idea that you have to be somewhere 15-30 minutes before you're actually due. That'll help deal with traffic, parking issues, getting baby in and out of the car, etc.

Don't forget that you are still human, too, and are probably in need of a bit of pampering. Give yourself a homemade facial while laundry is in process, and the baby's asleep. Even just laying down for a few minutes with an icepack on your face can help, but make sure something else is going on, too, like baking a chicken, running the dishwasher, whatever.

And where appropriate, make your baby a part of things. You can give her an extra set of measuring cups to play with while you're cooking, and chatter away with her while working. You can sing songs to her while bathing her.

Answer 6

dont feel alone. im the same way. i have almost no organizational skills and a 6 mo old baby. i wrk and go to school oo. try flylady.com

Answer 7

OK girl your scring me GO TO TARGET!! they have got all u need there cubbies to store stuff , BASICLY EVERYTHING OK? GO now RUN!!!