Families with both parents working FT: what do you outsource and what falls through the cracks?

[Anonymous]

Also assume you don't have family close by or a nanny/housekeeper.

We have a 3 year old.

We outsource cleaning.

Our laundry falls by the wayside (we don't get to it until the situation is dire -- aka there's little in terms of clean clothing left). We also don't cook for ourselves as much as we should. DD eats balanced meals, but goes to bed before DH is done working, so we eat afterwards. Too often we eat whatever is around or we order in.

[Anonymous]

Why do you assume that more, if anything, falls through the cracks with both parents working FT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you assume that more, if anything, falls through the cracks with both parents working FT?

Why are you being antagonistic? It seems pretty obvious that if a family has a SAHP that it’s much easier to keep up with things at home.

OP, my DH and I both work full time. I’m home today with a sick kid, so I used this time to catch up on the things around the house that we can’t keep up with. I’ve barely taken a break all day. I’ve caught up on laundry that needs to be folded that was sitting in baskets, washed two more loads, went through a huge pile of school papers and artwork (one more huge pile to go), cleaned up random kids toys and junk that’s all over, watered my dying plants, broke down a zillion amazon boxes, wrapped holiday gifts, rearranged furniture to make room for a Christmas tree, and took a nap—because I’m always sleep deprived. I feel a huge sense of relief with things finally a bit more organized. My DH works 11-12 hour days and many weekends, so I’m often solo parenting. I imagine if he had a 40 hour per week job, it would be easier to manage it all.

[Anonymous]

Outsource cleaning and handyman stuff

Falls through cracks: social events ... I’d just rather spend time with my children or my H on a date.

[Anonymous]

Cleaning.

Laundry when we just feel overwhelmed like once a quarter.

Food, dinner order in more than needed, but that's ok it's just easier, less stressful.

[Anonymous]

PP again. As for what we outsource, we have every other week deep cleaners, a dogwalker, and a sitter to pick our kids up from school 3 times a week so their days aren’t so long. We need landscapers but DH won’t pay for it so we live in a jungle. We order groceries from Harris Teeter and pick up on weekends. Takeout once a week at most.

[Anonymous]

My free time falls through the cracks. I can't imagine the last time I watched TV.

We don't outsource anything other than childcare. We both work 8-4:30, work 7 and 15 minutes away. We eat dinner as a family with our toddlers every single night and we always cook. I do laundry on my telework day. House is pretty spotless and we've trained the kids to help clean. Even the 3 year old knows where her toys go.

[Anonymous]

Organization and decluttering falls through the cracks. Cleaning is ok, but there is too much stuff shoved into closets, or in a box to be dealt with later. Like my DC's school papers from second grade...umm, she's in 4th now.

[Anonymous]

We have a 5 year old and an 8 month old. We don't outsource anything, sadly. Once in a blue moon I get grocery delivery, but not routinely. And we pay for school lunch for the oldest. A lot falls by the wayside, especially since the youngest came on the scene. Our house is usually a mess.

[Anonymous]

We outsource nothing. I WAH and also care for DD. It’s complicated as I have no set hours.

In general, I fall though the cracks. Laundry gets done, I cook every night. Our floor could generally use a mopping, but it needs it even 15 min after I’ve done it.

[Anonymous]

Outsource cleaning, laundry, handyman stuff. Basically all household tasks except cooking, which I enjoy. Do most shopping online.
Sleep is the main thing that falls through the cracks, but generally all is OK - we both have fairly long hours at work, though can be flexible to work at home when needed, and we have decided to outsource a lot so that we can enjoy time with kids in the evenings/weekends, and have time to exercise, cook, eat healthily, etc.

[Anonymous]

16yo
12yo

This is the worst so far for us in terms of life craziness.

We outsource cleaning every 2 weeks and the yard spring-fall. We go in cycles doing Hello Fresh a few times a year, 2 meals a week, to supplement other dinners at home.

Laundry is kicking our asses. It's clean, but our guestroom has been the place where "clean laundry goes to die" LOL. We're outside the DC area now so I have not found a laundry service that would get us back to zero every once in a while, but I'm still looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We outsource nothing. I WAH and also care for DD. It’s complicated as I have no set hours.

In general, I fall though the cracks. Laundry gets done, I cook every night. Our floor could generally use a mopping, but it needs it even 15 min after I’ve done it.

Being a martyr is a choice.

[Anonymous]

We have a cleaning person once a week
We often outsource handyman type stuff
We have had a lawn service for the past 6-8 years but may cancel this year
We cook most nights but very fast / easy stuff - & do take out or go out for dinner once a week
One kid who has adhd has a tutor once a week
DH does dishes and I do the laundry but both pile up quickly!!!

[Anonymous]

Outsource cleaning and some of the handyman stuff that we handled DIY before kids (minor plumbing stuff we used to look up on YouTube and try to figure out if we could do it ourselves -- now it's straight to Len the Plumber).

What falls through the cracks? Date nights, meeting up with friends with any regularity, organizational stuff (this one is reaching a breaking point and likely to bite us in the butt soon).