Monday, January 28, 2013

A question for you mamas

There is one thing that has been driving me bonkers lately as a stay-at-home mom.
It's something that in unavoidable and I'll always have to do it.
It's the cleaning and cleaning and cleaning...
Seriously, I feel like it's taking over my life.
My husband always asks me "What are your plans for today?" or "What did you do today?"
My answer, usually, without fail, always has something to do with cleaning.


I can spend all day cleaning and still have more to do.
Or I know it won't last long and in a day or two I'll have to do it all over again. 
It's very frustrating!



There's always laundry to wash, fold, put away. I can never catch up.
There's always dishes to do and toys are always strung from one part of the apartment to the other.
I know this is probably pretty normal, 
But at the same time I can't help but think not to the extent it is here. 
Often this place feels like a pig pen. Seriously it can get that bad. 


It's hard to keep this place clean at all. 
Especially when...
I have a toddler who thinks, "Oh, you're putting that away? But I want to play with it!" 
Doesn't matter that he didn't want it five minutes ago and really will only want it for five seconds.
So, how do you do it mama's? How do you not let it frustrate you and bring you down?
It may seem silly. It really is, but I can't live in a pig pen. 
And I don't want cleaning to be my whole life or it won't be fun for anyone! 


What works for you? Is there a cleaning schedule? Have you just given up on a clean home? 
Does your toddler help you clean? Tell me, please! I need some encouragement over here! 

11 comments:

  1. They always need to play with whatever they're supposed to cleaning up, right?! LOL. I don't really have a schedule but I always like to do laundry in its entirety on Monday. Saturday is my big clean-up day but I try to clean as I go the rest of the week.

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    1. Of course they do! So frustrating! lol

      Cleaning as you go is so smart, but so hard sometimes! One whole day to laundry...that would be my worst day! I hate doing laundry! Thanks for commenting =)

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  2. As I'm contemplating being a SAHM, I often worry about being a cleaning lady lol. I'd like to think I'd develop a schedule of some sort, but I also don't want cleaning to consume my life. Sorry I have no real advice, but I'm sure I'll remember this post in a few years when I'm going through the exact same thing :)

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    1. It's definitely worth it to be a stay-at-home mom. Wouldn't change it for anything, but I do hate that cleaning is what I spend most of my time doing! I want to enjoy it too! =)

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  3. Shoveling snow while it's still snowing comes to mind. It drives me crazy!!! I only pick up toys 2 times a day... let me refrase that. I help pick up toys 2 times a day. Once before naptime and the other before bedtime. If my toddler is doing a good job and a good attitude about it, then I will help her. As for cleaning... I try to do laundry once a day, a small load. If not (like it is now) the pile is larger than the dresser! My toddler LOVES to help me clean! I will spray a gym sock with cleaner and then put it on her little arm and she will go to town wiping down everything. Or I will spray down the table and give her paper towels and she is a great cleaner! I will also pay her for big stuff... like dusting. When we go to target, she loves to buy a piece of candy with her money. I'm not kidding! Good luck!!

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    1. Great ideas Abbey! I'd love if he loved to help that much!

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  4. oh my goodness.. I have this SAME problem and I don't even have a toddler yet! Argh.
    Someone told me to set a timer for 30 minutes a day and get as much done in 30 minutes.
    Also I have a schedule but don't always follow it. I feel like all I've been doing is playing catch up.

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    1. I feel ya! Definitely a catch up game! Never ending!

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  5. Cleaning never stops here either. I feel like I could have written this post! :) I used to be really hard on myself about it, stressing out about every little crumb and misplaced item. But as time has gone on, my husband and I have just decided to be ok with a little bit of a mess. Kids are messy, toys aren't making the house dirty, so as long as the surface areas are clean, its ok. It's more fun to interact and play with them than it is to clean! BUT we are also trying to teach Brayden especially, that it is important to put things away when we are done.

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    1. I'm trying to not stress about it SO much! You're right...it's okay to be a bit messy as long as its not dirty!

      I'm trying to work on that with my Braden as well!

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  6. I cannot imagine working + keeping the place clean!
    And laundry is the worst! UGh!

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