Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Messy Mittwoch: No time to clean

I wish the little boy was doing more of this.  But I guess growing up means shorter naps...

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth

empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

( lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
( pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
and out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
but I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
( lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
- Ruth Hulburt Hamilton, Lady’s Home Journal (1958)


~~~~~~~

(Just a little poem I found, that helps me to refocus every time I start to fret about the messy, dirty condition of our home.  Do you find it difficult to balance household chores and parenting duties amidst everything else?  For us, its been tough these days getting the usual housework done with the boy sleeping less, so I'm off to do some tidying now.  Meanwhile, do you have any tips to share on getting your home cleaned and your chores done while still juggling parenthood?  Aside from hiring maids and cleaners that is!)

14 comments:

  1. I finally make an effort to google "Mittwoch"^^, hehehe.

    U r not alone, I'm frustrated at juggling parenting, house chores & other things. So I out-source, by getting fortnightly help to do cleaning. I m just too tired to think of another other alternative.

    Anyway, what I can think of: cook 1 pot dish for a meal or get a magic floor wiper/mop helps me save time.

    Life seems interesting when you start thinking all sort of cutting corner to do work:).

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  2. Hi!! I feel exactly the same! I think all of us: loving and caring mothers we do!! I have no answer!! I think I never do any chores really properly !! the house doesen't look too bad though: I do a bit of this and that whenever I can!I think babies must learn to play on their own too! this morning I had my shower while the kids were doing some painting! it lasted about 15 minutes until they started screaming "mum"!!!! but hey!! that is life! I do find it hard though, at times...like you do! also when your boy will have a brother or sister to play with, it will be easier for you!!

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  3. Oh i love the poem! Thanks for posting it up! Makes me feel better n less grumpy now. :)

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  4. No worries, Jus. You are not alone. It’s a mad rush everyday. I try to work with a mental schedule so I know what chores to do when Allysa naps. She takes 2 naps in a day and I find it tricky. I can’t imagine when those naps are reduced to once a day. And I’m sure we also want to focus and give our kids the quality attention when they are awake instead of busy washing/tidying the house.
    I can’t imagine how you teach, clean, cook and blog and is preggie. ALL at the same time. A big pat for your effort.

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  5. I'm facing the same thing. The moment I step into the kitchen to do some chores my boy will follow the next mint, only to dig in the fridge or rack my shelves for snack :( Often I found myself trying to get the kids to play on their own to buy some time to clear some messes, but only return to find new messes created...
    Recently I try to negotiate with the kids to help out on little chores telling them I'll be able to play with them sooner with their help. So far success rate is only 10% but will keep trying.
    Anyway thanks for sharing the poem, will share it with hubby when he starts to nag about the clutters again hehee.

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  6. I love this poem!!! THank you. :)

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  7. PC: Wow you did? Thanks for the tips, we also use the magic floor wiper! ;)

    Sophie: You have a point there, that kids do need to learn to play on their own too... Hopefully when number 2 comes, it does get easier in a way!

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  8. Ahjune: That's great to hear! Hang in there...

    Yvonne: Thanks for sharing... Thankfully the boy is able to play on his own while I frantically cook, and hubby chips in with vacuuming and washing up so I guess that helps... :) But like you said, its crazy everyday!

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  9. CE: Its the same here... I would leave to cook, then find that the boy has messed up something, but thankfully nothing major or irreparable. :p Hang in there, and yes, flash that poem at the hubby!

    Sharon: You're welcome! :)

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  10. I love this poem to bits! And I am not even a SAHM! But I find every morning, evening and weekend turning out the way the poem does! Thank you for this little gem of a poem! xoxo

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  11. My house is a perpetual tsunami, i swear cuz i realised that when i'm cleaning up a mess he made, he's behind me, making another mess..and when i cook, everything is on the floor - BOOKS, TOYS, CLOTHES, etc..I also don't have any tips... i just do the best i can and think that this will only be a short time cuz he'll grow up soon and move out..so i just have to treasure whatever little mess that comes my way..i mean, soon, the house will be quiet, and empty when he grows up...*sniffle sniffle*

    love your poem, btw.

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  12. what a lovely poem! i think i read it ages ago, and forgot about it, till now! my helper has just gone home for a month of home leave, and my house is slowly deteriorating into a mess! thankfully the husband is good at cleaning and packing up. i've got no tips i'm afraid, i'm a lousy housekeeper! but i'd much rather spend my time with my kids :)

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  13. I'm not much of a cook but I can be quite anal about messes!

    Here's my tip: Masking tape!

    I use it to pick up hairs, bugs, and other pesky things that don't belong on the floor when I'm too lazy to drag the vacuum cleaner over. Or I'll just hand the roll to Layla and get her to help me!

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  14. Euns: Thanks for dropping by! :) And glad you liked the poem...

    Just Me: I agree, we just do the best we can! Hang in there...

    Beanbean: Hang in there! Must be challenging juggling both kids plus work and housework, but at least hubby helps out...

    E: Haha... that's a great tip, thanks! :)

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