I need to make my life significantly easier -- "hacks" to make life, and parenting life, easier?

[Anonymous]

I'm 1st tri pregnant and just could do it all anymore. So I started going to bed at 8pm when I put the kids down. I'd read a bit and then fall asleep. I just wanted to say that everything seemed to get easier. I felt less overwhelmed because I was getting 11 hours of sleep. I just overlook the mess everywhere...

So OP maybe you just need a break. I feel like if there's anything I need right now, it's a vacation to a tropic island where I just lay in the sun all day. Clearly that's not happening, but sleeping lots can happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't use paper plates as a default. Such a waste. It's not hard to wash 4 plates when other things are going to go in the dishwasher.

water isn't cheap either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please don't use paper plates as a default. Such a waste. It's not hard to wash 4 plates when other things are going to go in the dishwasher.

water isn't cheap either.

Do you run the dishwasher just for 4 plates? If you are going to run it then what's the big difference in adding the plates to it?

Using paper plates every day IS a wasteful hack. It's going to end in a landfill and do you think no water was used in the production and transportation of the plates?

[Anonymous]

OP, where are you experiencing the most stress? Meals? Cleaning? Paying the bills? Getting enough sleep? If you have a partner, is he/she sharing the load?

Some basic ideas: Same lunch every day, basic rotation of simple meals for dinner.

Figure out if you do better doing one load of laundry a day or picking one day a week to be laundry day (and getting everything put away that day, too).

On the weekend, take turns sleeping in/getting up with the kids. (Set a time limit if necessary!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People regularly suggest paper plates. That never sounds like it will make life significant easier to me, but I will try it. We already do a lot of screen time. Give me other suggestions, please.

I find that one of the most stupid suggestions. If you want to simplify your dishes, I would suggest buying several sets of Correlle, so you have enough plates, cups, bowls. It stacks without taking too much space, it washes easily and it is virtually unbreakable. Besides if you have enough place setting, you can keep loading up the dishwaster and run it at the end of the day. Washing dishes all the time because you only have 6 or 12 plates is a pain. You can also get divided plates if that will work with your family.

why would divided plates improve and simplify life?

[Anonymous]

Single mom here. I've always been a single parent so it doesn't bother me to do everything. I triage everything. If you've ever seen the Eisenhower grid, that's how I run my life. Here's a link if you haven't.
https://marketingworks360.com/2015/04/marketing-tips/prioritizing-your-work-the-4-square-method/
Everything I do falls into a square and I work from it. I put it on the fridge and add/delete stuff with a pencil. Guess what usually gets neglected the most? Cleaning. I have come to peace with the fact that my house will never be all clean at the same time.

Funny enough is that my son has ADHD. I do not. I'm the exact opposite. I use that grid to keep myself organized. Last year, my DS took an academic support class for 9th graders with ADHD. The teacher taught the students in the class to use the same grid for schoolwork, chores, etc. My son said, "My mom has that on the fridge!" Teenagers never want to seem to listen to their parents but he uses it now for school.

[Anonymous]

+1 on the cleaning service - we have a cleaner come every other week and it's the best money we spend, might up it to every week

Other ideas:
- super easy meals like frozen pizza and salad, etc. (cheaper than constant takeout)
- I bought DS more clothes so that I don't have to do laundry as often and bought DH and I more undies, more towels, etc.
- grocery delivery

Somewhat related - have you done a house cleanout recently? We recently went through every closet, storage space, and room and threw out a TON of crap. Less to straighten, more storage space opened up, less crap to look at.

[Anonymous]

Have a set two-week meal rotation, one grocery list for each week in an app. No need to think about meals or your grocery list.

Let your house be messy.

Don't fold laundry.

[Anonymous]

Throwing money at stuff if its an option for sure (more takeout/cleaning people/housekeeper that could do laundry)

But if its not, and most of that isn't in the cards for me! The answer IME three fold

1) This is the most important one. If you have a partner, make them an equal one. They pull their weight. Assign them a domain and then don't get involved in it. My husband does all laundry. I do not ever criticize the way something is folded or if he missed a load for a week. He makes a hole, he digs out of it.

2) Do a little every day and make the non negotiables a habit. I clean the kitchen every single night. It is the only thing that I do every day though. It builds up and I can't stand it so that I do every night. Then I use like 10 minutes to do 'something else'. Pick up the playroom, vacuum, whatever, something else.

3) Accept that it doesn't have to be perfect. When I'm just too tired, I just clean the kitchen and go to bed. Or go lie down and watch Bridgerton for four hours, whatever. I will lie on a sofa with stuffies and toys and watch Netflix and literally won't even see it, or the dog hair accumulating or the trash bag of clothes I haven't donated. If I don't have the energy then I just don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pffffft to "hacks". The things that have made my life easier are:

1) Nanny instead of daycare
2) Cleaning lady
3) Grocery delivery
4) DH who does his fair share
5) Short commute (this meant giving up space, paying more $$$ for our home)

The only "hack" type thing I'd say is dry shampoo, ha!

+1 to all of these, including the dry shampoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a set two-week meal rotation, one grocery list for each week in an app. No need to think about meals or your grocery list.

Let your house be messy.

Don't fold laundry.

This post made my palms sweat. What do you do with your laundry if you don't fold it?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. This is a little depressing. I already do grocery delivery and don’t wash my hair as much as I should! I have no commute because WFH right now. Usually have a housekeeper but she stopped coming for a while because she was sick and then sister was sick and then mom was sick and then we just never rescheduled, which seems ok to me given covid rates right now. So basically I am doing all of the hacks other than a nanny, and switching childcare providers is never easy. So I’m doomed!

OP, what do you feel drains your time? What is on your to do list that never comes off? Without knowing what the issues are it's hard to give advice as to how to handle those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have a set two-week meal rotation, one grocery list for each week in an app. No need to think about meals or your grocery list.

Let your house be messy.

Don't fold laundry.

This post made my palms sweat. What do you do with your laundry if you don't fold it?!?

DP. You leave it in a laundry basket and pull stuff out as you want to wear it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have a set two-week meal rotation, one grocery list for each week in an app. No need to think about meals or your grocery list.

Let your house be messy.

Don't fold laundry.

This post made my palms sweat. What do you do with your laundry if you don't fold it?!?

DP. You leave it in a laundry basket and pull stuff out as you want to wear it.

NP. I hang up all clothes that I wear. The rest just goes in their particular drawer not folded. Like the leggings drawer, the PJ drawer, the workout drawer, the underwear drawer, sock drawer. Laundry is super duper easy here. And hanging keeps everything looking nice.

[Anonymous]

I have a bin where all my family socks go that is by the door, rather than separating the out into the drawers upstairs.

I’ve also really let go of a lot. And continue to let go of more and more.