Some days being a stay-at-home mom can be overwhelming! Especially when you're trying to balance a career as well. If you're like me, you never get as many things checked off on that to-do list as you would like. Part of finding balance is breaking up those daily tasks, so you don't feel quite so overwhelmed. Because my kids are my number one priority, I spend all day with them. I get my grocery shopping and errands done during the day, with my kids in tow. I can't wait until they're all in bed, that's my writing time. I also have my kids help with the daily cleaning jobs. That way we're all doing it together. My kids' have their morning jobs (get dressed, make bed, do hair, feed pets, etc.) then they have their daily jobs, which mirror my own. Each of my girls (4 & 6) are in charge of a bathroom in the house. Giving them ownership of that room has really helped with getting chores done with less complaining! They love that it's "their" room. My 2-year-old doesn't have his own room yet, but he helps me in the master bath and kitchen. Here is a breakdown of my daily tasks and my kids' daily chores. This is the schedule that works for me. Find one that works well for you!
Monday - Laundry day. I wash all the clothing and towels for the five members of my family. A timer helps me know when one load is done so I can start the next. And put away each basket as it comes out of the dryer! Otherwise, you'll end up with piles of wrinkled clothes and be overwhelmed and give up. On Mondays, my kids are in charge of bringing all their dirty towels from their bathrooms to the laundry room, and putting out fresh towels from under the sink. They also put their own clothes away in drawers after I've folded them. Occasionally they help with the simple folding.
Tuesday - Wash all bedding, dust house, empty garbage. The kids each get a duster and are in charge of dusting their own rooms. They usually like to help me in the main rooms too. We blast some Taylor Swift and rock out! They also are each in charge of emptying the garbage in their room and replace it with a clean bag.
Wednesday - Mopping, windows, plants. I sweep and mop my entryway and kitchen floor. The girls mop their bathroom floors. If there's time, we clean windows around the house and also water plants. I highly recommend Norwex cloths for window cleaning. No chemicals, no streaks ever, super fast, and even my 2-year-old can wash windows without assistance. (I do not sell Norwex and I am not affiliated with them in any way. I just love their window/mirror cloths)
Thursday - Bathrooms. I clean my master bathroom: mirror, sink, toilet, tub. The girls clean their bathrooms: mirror, sink, and toilets. I help with their tub.
Friday - Vacuum day. The kids each need to have their rooms clean. I vacuum every carpeted surface in my house, stairs included. Kids know if their rooms aren't clean by the time Mommy gets upstairs, the hungry vacuum will eat their toys. Works pretty well :)
Saturday - Playroom and other odd jobs. Saturday is my day for extra jobs around the house like the occasional job which doesn't occur every week or working outside (though my hubby does most of the yard work). The kids have to have their playroom cleaned up every Saturday and they clean the fish's bowl.
Sunday - We take a break! No jobs on Sundays. We just enjoy the day together as a family :)
I hope this breakdown of tasks helps you find some more balance in your daily lives so you can clear more room to write!
Monday - Laundry day. I wash all the clothing and towels for the five members of my family. A timer helps me know when one load is done so I can start the next. And put away each basket as it comes out of the dryer! Otherwise, you'll end up with piles of wrinkled clothes and be overwhelmed and give up. On Mondays, my kids are in charge of bringing all their dirty towels from their bathrooms to the laundry room, and putting out fresh towels from under the sink. They also put their own clothes away in drawers after I've folded them. Occasionally they help with the simple folding.
Tuesday - Wash all bedding, dust house, empty garbage. The kids each get a duster and are in charge of dusting their own rooms. They usually like to help me in the main rooms too. We blast some Taylor Swift and rock out! They also are each in charge of emptying the garbage in their room and replace it with a clean bag.
Wednesday - Mopping, windows, plants. I sweep and mop my entryway and kitchen floor. The girls mop their bathroom floors. If there's time, we clean windows around the house and also water plants. I highly recommend Norwex cloths for window cleaning. No chemicals, no streaks ever, super fast, and even my 2-year-old can wash windows without assistance. (I do not sell Norwex and I am not affiliated with them in any way. I just love their window/mirror cloths)
Thursday - Bathrooms. I clean my master bathroom: mirror, sink, toilet, tub. The girls clean their bathrooms: mirror, sink, and toilets. I help with their tub.
Friday - Vacuum day. The kids each need to have their rooms clean. I vacuum every carpeted surface in my house, stairs included. Kids know if their rooms aren't clean by the time Mommy gets upstairs, the hungry vacuum will eat their toys. Works pretty well :)
Saturday - Playroom and other odd jobs. Saturday is my day for extra jobs around the house like the occasional job which doesn't occur every week or working outside (though my hubby does most of the yard work). The kids have to have their playroom cleaned up every Saturday and they clean the fish's bowl.
Sunday - We take a break! No jobs on Sundays. We just enjoy the day together as a family :)
I hope this breakdown of tasks helps you find some more balance in your daily lives so you can clear more room to write!