organization tips for a stressed mom/wife/dancer?
Hey there, I was wondering if you all could help me out here. As you may or may not know from previous posts, I have 2 kids (2 yrs and 10 yrs), hubby house, etc. I was in school this past spring semester and passed with straight A's but hadn't started dancing at the time. Fast forward to this fall semester at school after starting dancing, I recently had to withdrawl from classes because I could not handle working, kids, household chores, etc. I am very dissapointed in myself and upset.
Now to point of my post...those of you who have very full schedules...do you find you have to literally schedule every moment of our day to have time for eveything? Should I get one of those daily calenders with the time slots of them and start with breakfast? I am just so overwhelmed.
My main problem is the fact that I cannot sleep during the day as I am supposed to when working a night shift. For example, there are a couple girls at my club who dont have kids or husband and work until 2,3 or 4 am and still have enough time to study and make it in school. Of course they can sleep during the day, like they have to with a night job, then study, etc. I cannot do that. I work until 2, 3 or 4 am and then have to be up at 7am and I am up all day long until I get a chance to sleep at night...thats if I didnt take a shift the next night. My daughter doesnt take naps anymore so I have to be up with her all day. I have no one to watchher during the day because my hubby works days.
I guess this is turning into a whining session but my main point is how do I fit everything in with being a busy mom, working, working out to keep fit for health AND having time to sleep and eat.
Thanks for letting me vent as always....much love and respect.
Re: organization tips for a stressed mom/wife/dancer?
Re: organization tips for a stressed mom/wife/dancer?
Quote:
Originally Posted by colleen
Colleen,
Thanks for the links! I will check them out. All other suggestions are still greatly appreciated!
Re: organization tips for a stressed mom/wife/dancer?
You oldest child is 10 and your youngest is 2? I found that my oldest (who is also 10, although I do not currently dance anymore) is ready to take on a little bit of responsibility.. so, have you thought about giving your oldest some responsibilities? Maybe for two hours in the afternoon after school having your oldest watch your youngest while you take a nap? You will still be in the house, maybe rent them a movie that they can watch, fix some snacks ahead of time to put in the fridge and Mommy goes and takes a two hour nap before Daddy gets home..
You could also use this for study time as well... then each week reward your oldest with something that they have wanted to do, or a shopping trip or something along those lines.
My daughter is 10 and there have been times when I have really needed her help.. this past summer with my husband deployed overseas, I utilized my daughter and her desire to be a bit more responsible, when I had surgery and she was home, I asked her to do simple tasks for me to help me out. Its never too early to start instilling some responsibility in your kids..
As for everything else, you need to talk to your hubby. Explain to him that school is important to you, as well as paying the bills and keeping the kids fed, clothed and cared for, but that you also need your rest as well.. maybe look into hiring someone who can come in during the morning hours, or have your husband take your youngest to daycare center for three hours in the morning while you sleep and your oldest is at school.. some will charge you an hourly rate... it all depends on how much all of this means to you.
Re: organization tips for a stressed mom/wife/dancer?
:hug:
Sorry it's making you feel disappointed in yourself.
What I think you need to do is delegate a little responsibility to other members of your household. Help your 10 year old learn to do some of the thing you do around the house and reward him for doing it. Ask in advance what a proper payment he thinks is. As well as give your two year old the opportunity for some social life. Take him to a drop in day care for a few hours every other day (or every day). That will give you a chance for a nap time, or have your hubby drop him off on his way to work.
If you are able to have someone come over and help you, maybe start looking at your colleges Early Childhood or Education majors. Some of them are looking for a few extra bucks so they don't have to work so many evening jobs. Some can even do it as internships.
Re: organization tips for a stressed mom/wife/dancer?
Thanks for all of your replies everyone. You are right...I need to delegate more responsibility on others. I may also look into a daycare for a couple hours a day. We'll see how it goes. Thanks again;D
Re: organization tips for a stressed mom/wife/dancer?
I put my 3 year old in "pre" pre-school at my local park district. She goes 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. It's a tiny fraction of the cost that most day cares charge. It gives me some mommy time, but it also gives me time to do things much faster (shopping, for instance).
You also have to make sure that you delegate some personal time for yourself. That is very, very important. You cannot take care of your family effectively if you are not taking care of yourself.