When I am not pregnant or exhausted from taking care of a baby, I am typically fine with with my normal housecleaning duties. I like cleaning, in general, because I love creating order in that manner.
But when my hormones are in knots, and I am tired, I hate two aspects of cleaning: dishes and keeping the floors clean.! As soon as I am done cleaning, the 4 year old (more often than the 2 year old) destroys the floor with crumbs, or dumps water, or whatever. This only annoys me when I'm pregnant or have a newborn.......usually I just see it for what it is, have my daughter clean it up, and we move on with the day. The other day, though, I YELLED at her! I am so sick of all of her messes. She seriously destroys the floor every time she eats or helps herself to food. Her little brother doesn't even do this. I ask her to sit up straight, to eat over the plate, etc. but she is a mover. She can't sit still and things go flying. She is generally good about getting the broom and cleaning up what she can, but I really need to figure out some way to get her to make less of a mess.Yesterday there was cottage cheese all over the floor. You can't just sweep that up. Ideas on how to teach her to eat more neatly?
Second question: I just cannot handle dishes. I know I am first trimester tired and everything just feels like an awful chore, but I really cannot handle dishes when I am exhausted. I feel like Sisyphus, rolling the same heavy rock up the hill over and over again, with no end in sight. Hubby has been helping out more with the dishes now that I am pregnant, but I am sure he will go back to his usual ways of only putting things next to the sink ;-) So I need ideas. How do I deal with this mountain that drives me crazy? I can't use paper products, because we are a paperless household (for environmental and economic reasons). So what can I do? I had thought about letting the 4 year old do the breakfast and lunch dishes, but then I'd have to mop the floor. She would love to do the dishes, however. She'd also love to wash the floor. I seriously want to only eat out so I don't have to do dishes or clean up the kitchen.
When the weather shifts, we can eat at least two meals a day outside, but meanwhile, I just want the dishes and crumbs to go away! Preventative suggestions? Or do I need to just acknowledge that this stuff gets to me, suck it up, and move on? And when I feel frustrated just say to hubby, "would you please clean up the kitchen? I just cannot do it right now."
I've been been thinking about buying processed foods that don't require using a million pots and pan to prepare! I usually cook everything from scratch (even my own broth), but I am seriously thinking of asking people for their favorite processed food recommendations!
I've got almost 2 years left of being this exhausted (I'm 10 weeks pregnant). Please help me figure out a way to make doing the dishes bearable. ;-) And suggestions for making my daughter neater would be great. I'd love to just love all of her, exactly as she is, but I really can't stand her crumbs right now ;-)
I have a very expensive Bosh dishwasher. I do need to rinse a lot of the dishes before they go in, and I never put pots, pan, or knives in. The problem is that I cook three meals a day. My kids love things like french toast and pancakes for breakfast, and while I do freeze pancakes and waffles, I get requests for french toast all the time, so it's like the pots and pans are never, ever ending! I think I need to change my culinary lifestyle. Thus why I mentioned processed foods. Buying a few boxes of frozen waffles ain't going to kill us! But it will make me happier ;-)
I already vacuum every night after dinner, and the kids use their broom after meals where they leave a lot of crumbs.
Maybe I will get some paper plates. It just seems silly to use paper plates with cloth napkins, if you know what I mean? I don't mind doing laundry, I have a great system in place, and it doesn't' really take up that much time. It's the damn dishes and kitchen...the crumbs everywhere!
I also have strict rules about where they can eat. They need to sit at the table, or go outside.
My advice? She's 4. Take your own advice and love just loving all of her.
Geeez.
A 4 year old sweeping, mopping and doing dishes?
You might be making your problems HER problems.
Or get a dishwasher. And a Roomba.
I totally get the 4 year old problem... my daughter is 4 1/2, and is quite possibly the messiest eater in the world.
I finally had to enforce the you only eat in once place rule, it can be the dining room or kitchen etc., don't really care so much about the where, as long as she stays in one place. Then there is only one spot she has to clean.
Hats off to you for preping everything from scratch... I have never had the time to do that! As much as it may pain you, it might pay for you to buy a small pacakage of paper plates for those days you feel really badly. You may find that since you really do not want to use them, you will always find the energy to wash the dishes. Also, saving for a dishwasher, especilly with so many people in the house might be an option. Some of the more efficient ones out there actaully use less water than doing the dishes by hand (it is on my wish list, because hand washing dishes is NOT my favorite thing to do).
Vacuuming, I wish I had an answer, that is probably my most hated task! It seems to be never ending. Between the crumbs, general mess, and why oh why won't he take his shoes off at the door.... it never ever ends... My sister has one of the little things that run around on thier own and vacuum, but it seems like a lot of money. ANd of course I would want to vacuum after it si done to get any spots (real or imaginary) it would miss. But if you are not as silly about that as I am it might be an option to make your life easier as well.
Finally - keep reminding your husband he needs to help. SOmehow, they tend to forget and go back to the same old, same old.
It will get a bit lest frustrating once you get ot your second trimester and your hormones regulate a bit. SO there propbably is a bit of suck it up in there too...
Good luck!
Only allow the children to eat in one place...pick it and stick to it...even if you have to strap her in a high chair again. But she should be able to learn that she only eats at the table...or the food goes up.
Before you go processed foods...go paper!! It is the only thing that saves my sanity some days and I am not even pregnant. Paper is recycle-able...processed foods just mess up your kids taste buds to crave salt and sugar. Oh the amounts of nastiness in processed foods....no no no!!!
We drive all our paper to one of two paper recycling bins in our neighborhood...our kids school makes money from paper recycling.
Just pick one time a day...like maybe right before your husband comes home and sweep all the crumbs then...don't do it over and over all day, just once...maybe right after dinner...
Sending you a huge HUG!!
Hefty basic paper plates, they are green, and biodegradable. Heck, I would use paper plates for a while, if it's that much of a chore!
My kids are 5, 7, and 9. They all have chores. We rotate on a weekly basis and they have to either wipe the table and counters (3x daily or as needed), vacuum the living room (2 times per week or as needed), and bring the laundry downstairs and start the washer. They are all easy tasks that make a huge difference in how the house looks.
My boys (5 and 7) fight over who gets to clean the toilets and bathroom counters and my daughter (9) loves to mop.
They are also responsible to keep their rooms tidy (sometimes they are and sometimes not), as well as pick up after themselves in the house in general. They all know how to work a broom for if they make a big mess they can sweep their area. My daughter is like me and hates to sweep, but will do it when I ask her once in a blue moon. Normally the floor is swept by my husband or I before she mops.
I look at it this way...my kids help make the messes in the house, and their chores take a max of 5 minutes each. It helps my husband and I be able to shuttle them to and from their activities and get dinner on the table. They also really don't mind to help and take pride in the house being presentable as well.
So I say get your kids on a chore plan. We tried several different things before we found what worked for us...but maybe something like ours will work for you too.
The 2 year old and 4 year old can probably both clear the table, set the table, pick up toys, etc. Find age appropraite things that they both can do so they can rotate. They can both unload the dishwasher too. Have the 2 year old unload the silverware and the 4 year old do the cups. (I have my older two pick top or bottom before they open it and they put away that section...the 5 year old does the silverware). Sit down with them and make it fun! It will help you and get them in the mindset that M. and daddy are not there to clean and pick up after them.
My kids have also caught on to the fact that if they help with the house stuff, they get more M. daddy time because the chores are done much faster :).
ETA: Learn to use and love the crock pot :). I know I am this fall with my kids in 3 different activities and needing a healthy dinner ready when we get home from work/school. We use paper plates!! Laundry seems to be easier to keep up with than dishes for us...sometimes :).
Definitely get your daughter to clean up the crumbs where she ate, the spilled cottage cheese (you might have to finish the job after her) Buy a small broom, or give her a dust broom. I don't think paper (not styrofoam) plates are that bad. They are biodegradable, and the plants making them will need to keep up the supply of trees. To me, be willing to switch to processed food and eating out but being rigidly unwilling to use paper plates sounds like hormones talking.
Go to Whole Foods. Get ready made stuff that is still good for you! My husband I made an agreement that this is the time to adjust the budget to allow for things that make life easier for both of us (we are about to have baby #3). I went online and found all these chefs that will come to your house, cook meals from scratch and put them in the freezer. They aren't much more expensive than going to the grocery store all the time for ingredients - do a search for a personal chef. I found many that would come once every two weeks, make 3-5 meals for each week for $275/300. No processed food, no clean up! AND - since you seem to be a pretty amazing cook yourself, maybe invest in a babysitter for 4-5 hours and cook the meals yourself for the freezer....or have your husband watch the kids on a Saturday and cook up a storm. My friend does this with her girlfriends - they go one person's house and cook meals together then bring them home to freeze...one day of cooking and pots/pans for a week of food!
Also, remember that just because your children request french toast doesn't mean you have to COOK french toast! Your job is to keep them eating healthy meals...this can consist of things like raw veggies, fruit etc...not things that take a lot of pots and pans to prepare. Kids don't need a four course meal...
I am 39 weeks preggo right now...I have gotten to the point where I clean the area the kids eat once, sometimes twice a day. I refuse to do it four/five times a day after every meal and snack...I've resigned myself to the fact that there will be crumbs on the floor most of the day and when they go to bed I can do a final cleaning.
our dog always took care of the crumbs, and pre-washing most of the dishes. (I know, 'yuck!" Thats why there is a sanitize setting on the dishwasher I guess) She also entertained the kids so I could rest a moment. And laid next to my feet and provided comfort when i was cranky. She forced us outside a few times a day to walk her, providing fresh air, a change of scenery and a little exercise. It usually was JUST what we needed. Of course getting a dog creates a whole 'nother set of problems. Lucky for us she was our "practice child" ;-)
other than that, buy some hot doge, frozen waffles, fruit and cereal and take it easy for a few weeks.
I know you want to be green but for now I really recommend getting biodegradble paper plates. Use paper napkins for now as the idea of having to do more laundry (cloth napkins) got to me for awhile.
You can go back to being uber green after while.
Put a large plastic tablecloth under dear daughter's chair & vacuum crumbs or take outside & fling them off.
Don't think 4 yr old can do dishes so I'd go w/the disposable kind.
As far as food, the processed food is going to be much easier now while you are pregnant. I'd go for that. They are easy, quick & convenient while you are pregnant, tired & overworked. Lasagnas (w/salad & garlic bread), spaghetti w/meat, rotisserie chicken w/potato salad, bbq chicken (cooks outside....my fave for clean up), enchiladas in the oven (make your own or buy pre-made), grill some steaks on the bbq, add corn & mashed potatoes (not the box...the real kind. Easy & quick).
Try to let it go! I know it's hard but it's worth your health, your sanity & for peace in the home! Good luck, hang in there & try to relax just a little. Your blood pressure will thank you for it1 ;)
Sounds like theculinary lifestyle you want to keep isn't fitting in very well for you as a mom, and a pregnant mom to boot. You are going to have to make some changes in your kitchen and be okay with them until the baby is born/your hormones calm down/you can get some rest.
You have to monitor kids when they eat. I know you are tired and pregnant - we've all been there. But you can't just let kids handle themselves. At 4 and 2 you still have to monitor them. And if you do that esp while they eat, then you can teach them how to eat properly, and how to clean up anything they drop.
Don't let your kids get their own food. Fix their snacks and meals by putting the food on a plate or bowl yourself. And only do that during meal times...let them know the kitchen isn't open 24/7. When its time to eat, then they should eat. All other times, they need to stay out of the kitchen. When they do eat, use a towel as a placemat. That way you can just shake it out or throw it in the washing machine.
I highly suggest getting a hard floor vaccum. Then all you have to do is wipe down the table and then run the vaccum for food and crumbs. Keep it plugged in in the kitchen and clean up should be a breeze.
Just to let you know I helped out with my son's preschool and the 2-3 year olds and they weren't very messy when they ate, probably because we monitored them while they ate and we were able to teach them how to eat neatly.
