How do you control the chaos in your home?

Question

I have four girls between 1-6, two cats who love knocking things over just to do it, three outside dogs and a husband who just sits back and does nothing...usually asleep in the glider rocker while the house gets torn apart.
Long story short, if I leave him in charge when I leave, I have to remodel the house when I come home... ha ha.
What are some ideas to get things more in control in the house? Is there a way to teach my husband to help? He used to be very helpful with everything...dishes, picking up, and he also used to cook!
Any and all ideas get a thumbs up.

(Yes, he does work) the weekend shift only, though ***Friday, Sat, Sun, 5am-5pm and gets a 4 hour differential so is paid for 40 hours...

Answer 1

Hello. I think I understand. At least my wife does.
I have 5 sons, and 2 daughters all with the same woman. I also have a job, that while it pays the bills, also keeps me away in a work camp 3 weeks out of 4. The misses really is a superwoman to manage at home without me.
Our children range in age from 11 years down to 2.
You are likely at the most difficult time for the next couple years. Six really is not old enough to help out, but the oldest can - and should - help out later on. If you have a large room available for the purpose, get hubby to remodel it into a play room. Bolt up a tv and a dvd player out of reach of the children. Get a large sturdy and padded box to store toys. Understand that this room will NEVER ordered. Abandon it to the children. Do not let them eat in there tho (you will never keep it sanitary if you do).
This gives you a place to put the girls, so you can gain ground in the rest of the house. This also gives your hubby a task to do building the room, and hopefully, tactfully, re-interests him in helping you.
I mentioned a tv and dvd player. This is an ace card and should not be overused. Only allow the tv on occasions were you most need the children settled. If you allow the tv too often it will not hold thier interest.
Hey at least your group is all girls. I am told they will be worse than the boys come puberty, but for now the boys are far bigger handfulls than my two girls.

If the cats are a problem, they can become outside cats. As much as you may love your pets, they can not take priority on par with your girls.

Good luck with your squad.

PS> If you ever do have a boy, do not be an idiot like I was and get them a child tool set for Christmass. Those toy screwdrivers and saws may not be able to cut wood, but they go through drywall easily :(

Answer 2

Wow! You have your hands full.
My husband used to work the same shift and I know one thing, he was beat when he got home.
We worked it out that he had all of Monday to do whatever, even if it was just sleeping but on his other days off he had to help around the house.
He cooked one night a week and had one chore that I hate, taking out the trash. You didn't say if you work outside the home or if you are a stay at home mom, I assume with all your little ones it is the latter. Ask him to do you a BIG favor and take them all somewhere for a few hours once a week, then you can catch up on things without watching the tornadoes destroy the work right before your eyes.
Above all, be patient with him, the kids and mostly yourself. If things don't get done right away or the right way, no one is going to die.
Good luck!

Answer 3

I do not know why men think they don't have to help. I have 3 kids 10mths to 5 yrs. and my husband works but sometimes he gets off early or doesn't get called to work. He will help a little if I tell him to which I started doing. If your husband did help there is no reason why he shouldn't. My dad does everything but cook. Cleans, garbage, dishes and yard work. We have a acreage and I enjoy keeping it nice. I do the push lawn mower and my husband will ride the lawn tractor but he has a beer in his hand. Tough eh! Maybe you are to nice. Niceness is over rated. Men think we are bags because they make us that way. I don't know if you help your husband at all but if you do stop or stop doing his laundry till he puts in some effort it is his home to. Good luck and remember there is more of us out there.

Answer 4

Time to have a talk. Not a whine. A talk. Why are you letting him be so apathetic in the raising and helping out with the house. Who gives you a break? Do you get days off? It's not okay for the kids to tear up the house either with him in charge or you. They should have consequences if they do. They need to be made to clean up after themselves, and that takes consistency and follow through (yes energy and time) on your part.

Answer 5

what i do is I get up and clean the living room give my daughter a bath and make breakfast. While she is eating I take out the trash and clean up the bathroom. Then I do laundry. My husband goes to school all day so he is not home at this time. Then when he gets home HE cleans the kitchen and makes dinner while I relax. If you are wondering how i got him to do all of that I sat him down and flat out told him he was going to hell out or there would be hell to pay. I take care of our daughter all day and clean and cook for her and him when he is home so he can help out some. good luck hope this helps ;)

Answer 6

that's no longer likely to ensue. we are seeing the housing marketplace come down by way of fact it replaced into way too extreme. A recession has already began nevertheless and for my section is it partly by way of present administration. the wealthy have become richer and the costs are going up by way of permitting the oil companies to gouge the piss out of all of us mutually as congress wastes time looking into steroids in baseball. The republicans consistently vote against fining OPEC and important oil companies for gouging and refuse to even check out it. have not got self assurance me? look it up. they have blocked each and every attempt. Why? by way of fact their theory in capitalism blinds them to the reality many of the country is getting bombed via the cost hikes of each and every thing linked with gas. of course the wealthy do no longer care, the money they make off of Exxon inventory seems after them. something human beings? Oh nicely they have on no account gave a damn with regard to something human beings.

Answer 7

Tell him to get off his butt and help raise the kids and help take care of the house.

Answer 8

well.. we're lucky... only 2 boys at home.. one is a senior in high school, the other an 8th grader.. the other 2 are in college.... i merely mention BOOT CAMP and things simmer down real quick...

Answer 9

I guess I would start wondering..........when he stopped helping? Then I'd let him know how disappointed I am with his actions. How much do ya love the cats & dogs?

Answer 10

Give everyone a task to do,hey your husbands job sounds good3DAY WEEK!