How exactly are we supposed to balance it all? I am new to this, as this is my first child. Luckily, I am a freelancer, and can work from home, but I am only able to work about 1.5 hours per day, once the baby is cared for, dinner cooked, housekeeping, etc...
Any suggestions? Has anybody out there come up with any great solutions? Thanks in advance for all of your great answers!
2007-03-21 09:44:13 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I had the same struggle with my daughter (6 months) It just didn't seem like there was any time left for things along those orders. My husband works from about 7:30 am until 7 or 7:30 pm. Finally I just needed to realize that when she was sleeping, I didn't need to sleep every time, and when she was happy, she could play in her crib or in the bouncer chair or something. That really helped, but when she got to about 4 months old it got alot better. I ended up with another baby (foster) at that time frame and all of a sudden it almost seems that things get themselves done. Well, not really, but you know what I mean. Now i have a 6 month old AND a 3 month old and life gets much better. Try putting your baby on a schedule. That will help him/her and you.
2007-03-21 10:38:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a one year old and I still have that problem. It would help if you got your baby into daycare for like 3 hours a day, that way you can actually get some work done. I tried to bring my daughter with me to work and I couldn't work with her here, luckily I don't work that many hours so it's okay, I have her in daycare part time. It's hard to do but I think that in the long run you'll be happy you did it. As for housework, my boyfriend now cleans up more after himself, when we're done with dishes, we rinse them and put them in the dishwasher right away. When my daughter goes to sleep at night, I use that time to vacuum, and swiffer the tile floors, buy some of the shower spray that you just spray after each shower, it takes the cleaning time in there down dramatically, I still clean it every week but it takes a lot less time, I also use a lot of clorox wipes, that way my house just doesn't get too messy. I wake up early to unload the dishwasher while my daughter is still asleep and get ready. With dinner, I would put her in her jumper or bouncy chair when she was younger with some toys while I cooked and then in a high chair while we ate with a bottle or teether. It's a hard life, trying to do it all and it'll wear you down, I'm always tired but that's life. Try to utilize your baby's dad. When I do laundry, it's daddy time, he puts on elmo in grouchland and plays with her so that I can get it done, and now I think that she's older, she's really beginning to enjoy their time together during daddy time. Good luck!
2007-03-21 10:51:29 · answer #2 · answered by Mel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you own a crock pot? A rice cooker/steamer & a George foreman grill? I do and that helps out a lot! On sunday I go to the market and when I come home I take ziploc bags and make meals. Chicken what have you in each bag. Then I put them in the freezer each night I take one out and put in the fridge each morning I get up and put in the crock pot. I do a wash of laundry every other day so it does not pile up. I sweep the kitchen and mop every night. I run the vaccum on sundays also. I am a stay at home mom, freelance writer, and I do medical billing & I homeschool a special needs child.
2007-03-21 10:00:44 · answer #3 · answered by Barbara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It gets easier as time goes on with both my kids I felt things settled around 6 months. One thing is let some of the house work go until you get use to the routine of it all, and though I did not work from home I just put my baby in a playpen or carseat or bouncer whatever works and take them from room to room with you. I also established laundry days instead of always doing it, it has helped some.
2007-03-21 09:52:22 · answer #4 · answered by Miss Coffee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know how you feel. I am staying at home with my 6 month old darling daughter and she keeps me very busy. I still haven't found a solution on how to get quite everything I used to done.
One helpful thing for us has been (if you have a swing) My daughter loves if I put her swing in our kitchen near the sink and then she can watch and we can still "chat" as I do dishes and make dinner. Makes me feel much less "Mommy Guilt" to just bring her along then to just leave her in her playpen or crib and she seems to enjoy it too as I "narrate" everything I do. I get much more done this way then I did waiting for her to sleep and rushing to get things done in little half hour sessions.
Hope it works for you too :-) Good Luck!
2007-03-21 09:57:13 · answer #5 · answered by abbersmomma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well you have an advantage from working from home. but I mean like maybe gat a babysitter for two days and clean and cook ext. try to get help from your husband/boyfriend and it'll just take some time to learn how to balance. but hang in there it will get easier. or... just wait till they star walking and crawling.
2007-03-21 09:55:15 · answer #6 · answered by TOM 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
clean? quit that, you'll be much happier. Save it for when they're 9 months and throwing all their food on the floor.
2007-03-21 09:52:05 · answer #7 · answered by lillilou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
were's your husband? or the boyfreind? does he work to? well you shold have a baby sitter
2007-03-21 09:51:57 · answer #8 · answered by sw33t3r than c@ndy 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋