I have been a laaaaaaaaaaazy bum this holiday. Well, that's not entirely true, since caring for toddlers makes being absolutely lazy, well, impossible. But still, that first day I had off I was all, OHMYGOSH I'm going to get so much stuff done! It's going to be great! And like, huge projects too! And what did I do? I played with the girls. I watched movies.* I cooked, like... for pleasure! And I read a good book. But cleaning? Didn't happen.
I saw on Pinterest this person had a whole FLOW CHART for her weekend cleaning. A flow chart! For cleaning! How absurd! And beautiful, because oh how I love me a chart, but absurd!
Since the girls were born, it's really hard for me to keep the house as clean as I'd like. And I know that's normal, but sometimes just keeping up with the necessary mundane, MUST DO stuff is difficult.
At home, I am pretty darn laid back. But I do know that when it gets overwhelming at work, my organizational side kicks into overdrive. And maybe, just maybe, a chart isn't such a bad idea.
Also, this person mentioned doing laundry every time she accumulated two loads. Does anyone do this? I kind of like doing it in one shot, and then being done with it. But we have SO MUCH, that I then feel like I've devoted an entire weekend day to laundry. Which bites!
Does anyone have a set schedule or a plan for cleaning? Flow charts, anyone? Do tell!
Feeding Bits
So, we have made some progress in the feeding of the children. But I feel like we make two steps forward, and one step back... constantly.
Yesterday, (at their high chairs, in the dining room) my husband tried Uncrustables (PB&J), and they were having none of that! Even though, a day or two earlier, they gobbled it up. So basically, their lunch was fruit.
The night before, I made them plain cheese quesadillas, and they totally rejected it. This is what I usually order for them when we are out at restaurants, and it's usually a hit.
So after their lunch, I heated up my leftovers from the night before. It was these SO YUMMY Bacon and Jalapeno Jack Quesadillas. Notice, it has avocado (which I substituted store bought Wholly Guacamole because, it's easier!), and garlic, and spices. I went ahead and cut some up into bite size pieces. I marched into the living room and started eating. And you know what those stinkers did? They ate like three wedges of the stuff, complete with guac and sour cream and jalapeno goodness!
So this age, I've figured out, is ALL about "Asserting their Authoritaaaay (authority)" and exercising their independence. Seriously, like EVERYTHING they do has that whole psychology in it.
Stripping, for example. Good Lord, the stripping! Like, every day!!! How long does this phase last?
Anyway, better get back to cleaning... If I did a cleaning "plan", I'm not sure blogging should be embedded into it! :)
Happy New Year All!
*you know, it takes about 5 hours to watch a movie these days, IF we actually get through it. Last night, AFTER they went to bed, we tried from about 8:30 - 10:00 to watch the latest Harry Potter, and it did NOT happen! While on break, we actually got to GO to a theater (first time since, September?) and it was so good to actually get into the movie without any interruptions!
10 comments:
oh yes, the feeding bits. Mine are also doing the psychology on me - I can't take it to be honest. I invest a LOT of my valuable time cooking for these two children and then they tell me they don't like chicken and broccoli anymore. I nearly went mental the other day. Yes!
Ever since my babies have arrived, I try to do at least 1 load of laundry every night. That way, it never piles up too much. It works pretty well for the most part.
Oh, and the eating!!! My kids sound just like yours! I'll feed them something they loved they day before, and they want nothing to do with it. But if I am eating something (the same thing I just tried to feed them) they want bits of mine. What the heck? Kids are bizarre! That's for sure!
COlby's the same way! He won't eat anything on his tray, but if I'm eating-- even if it's something he JUST rejected-- he'll eat it! So it's more of a reverse psychology thing. Yeah, maybe he's not eating at the table like he "should" but at least he's eating!
I do have a chart for chores... seriously because I was forgetting to brush teeth and give vitamins! With Colby and the girls and working I knew I needed something to look at. SO I created a 7 day chart (duh, seven days) and first listed under each day things that had to be done EVERY day (like brushing Colby's teeth AM and PM, bottles, vitamins, sweeping) and then I divvied up the rest of the chores into days it made sense. Like baths are M/W/F for all the kids, bathroom cleaning is Saturday (which I usually do in the PM when they're sleeping). I even had to add "Lesson Plans" and "Newsletter" for school so I'd get those done. I then laminated the chart and stuck it in the cabinet. When a chore is done for that day, I cross it off with a dry erase marker. It works for 2 things... 1 it reminds me what needs to get done and 2, my hubby can actually help because he can visually see what still needs to get done. Honestly though, a lot of the "extras" (dusting, mopping) may get skipped and pushed off for a day. (Or a week...)
And yes, I do laundry EVERY SINGLE DAY. If it accumulates it never gets done.
I also do laundry on a nearly daily basis. I like to only have a load or two waiting. I was just thinking about doing a "spring cleaning" chart or assigning a room to each day of the week (just to feel more caught up on things).
I can't believe the food issues get so complicated with toddlers. Not looking forward to those days and they are coming quickly :P I like the reverse psych thing of eating what you want them to eat though. And interesting they liked the spicy stuff. Sounds like you are having some fun and I enjoy hearing about it.
Yeah, my cleaning "routine" is that we clean before someone comes to visit because we have to. Otherwise, I mostly let it go- because what working(TEACHING) mama to twin toddlers has time for that??? I doone kid load midweek usually because we get on average one blow out at daycare a week and I'm not letting that sit. I do 3-4 ish loads each weekend day, and then it doesn't feel like I lose a day of the weekend to laundry if I break it up.
As for the feeding bits, yeah, exactly. I went out to dinner with a friend over break just because I needed a break from the toddler mealtime tango. Exhausting!
At 17 months my twins eat the same way one day they Love something two days later won't touch it but to be fair my 4 yo is still that way! She has days I look back and wonder if any of them ate at all and other days they eat non stop it's just kids. As long as they are growing no need to worry! :)
Cleaning I Just (as in about 3 weeks ago) started a chore a day I put it in my phone as an alarm Monday floors(sweep vacuum mop),Tuesday dust, stairs and take out trash, Wed Bathrooms, Thursday Madison's room (yeah it need's its own day lol),Friday Kitchen dishes, counters ect Sat is catch up day if I missed a day and Sunday is my day "off" . I also do clothes about every other day or so and I do quick clean every day as in pick up toys and sweep in high dirt areas such as under high chairs and around the bar. It all it take me about 20-30 a day to do what needs to be done and I normally do it during nap.
Happy new year!
I'm working to make a cleaning schedule and would love to see what you come up with. Somehow we have a lot less laundry than everyone else seems to have ... I often wonder what people are washing so often. We probably have 2 adult loads and 2 kid loads every 1-2 weeks, plus sheets and towels which I don't wash as often as I should. I do them somewhat randomly. It's actually the folding that takes me forever, I usually do it while washing TV at night after the kids go to bed.
As far as eating - mine are exactly the same. Tadpole is a little better, less picky, but yes, they constantly change their minds about what they like and I often try something new, they love it, then refuse to ever eat it again. So frustrating!
Oh, the food thing! Almost every day, my toddler announces "Don't like FOOD!" And she means it. Anything I offer, she rejects. Until she sees me eating it. Some meals are just a glass of milk for her, but that's entirely her choice. We can't force them to eat, right?
I'm a Flylady girl when it comes to cleaning. I do like to do the laundry when the hamper in the bathroom gets full, as I know that's about 2 loads of laundry. I like to take one 1/2 day to get the dusting, vacuuming, changing sheets and towels done. If not, I'll do one task a day over the week.
On eating, I never know what the boys are going to eat or not eat. We can usually guarantee that if it involves beans or cheese they will eat at least those parts. I figure if they are hungry enough, they will eat. They do love pancakes. I think I have to make them pancakes tomorrow for breakfast, as they have been missing them.
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