Stretched Thin! How do you manage?

sweetsunnyc

Hi All-

I am just feeling overwhelmingly stretched thin....I work 40 hours a week, plus have a 50 min commute each way. On top of that, I am back in school for my Masters and taking an online course that is very demanding. My daughter are 6 months and almost 5 and I just feel like I never get enough time. My husband works from home, so he doesn't really get how I feel as he gets to be with the girls more and he doesn't spend two hours a day in the car-

Plus, I went to a concert this weekend and then felt guilty for being away from my family for the night- I still have to do things for myself, right?

Would love to hear how other busy moms manage their time.

BabyHope2013

I may not be the best role model, I actually feel this way myself. It helps to know that there are other people out there in my shoes. I work 40 hours a week and have over an hour commute each way during the week. I pick DS up from daycare at 5:30 and he becomes my whole world. Outside of making dinner, I spend as much time with him as I can. I have been learning to break up some of the chores during the week instead of leaving them all for the weekend. If I can spend 15-20 minutes a night while DH plays with DS or I fold laundry with DS rolling around my bed while I do it during the week, it is that much less to stress about and have to do come the weekend. I was also doing really good on Sunday preparing an extra meal or two for a while. I would make a meatloaf or lasagna or casserole before or immediately after dinner. Then I could have an easy meal to just throw into the oven when I walked in the door. That meant more time for me with DS. Now that the weather is getting nicer, I try to use our grill when possible. Throw some veggies and chicken on the grill and maybe make a quicker salad or toss some crescent rolls into the over. Presto, dinner!

 

Most of all, I am learning to take things one day at a time. I may not have the cleanest house, like I used to or spend as much time experimenting with new recipes and cooking---but the smiles and laughter from DS outweigh any of that.

NicoleWI

With your hours, commute and school, I'm not surprised at all that you are stretched thin! that's a lot. Can anything change or be dropped? If not, it's probably just going to be a tough time until the baby gets a bit older and/or your classes change.

sweetsunnyc

Thanks for the advice everyone- sometimes it helps just to hear that other moms are going through the same thing. My class is over at the end of June and then I am not going to enroll again until the Fall. I work for the University that I am attending, so I can go at my own pace as tuition is free. 

I have also put in for a transfer to a campus that is closer to home- the downside is that I would have to give up my 7:00-3:30 hours and go back to 8:30-5:00. The upside is that it would cut my commute from almost an hour to about 20 minutes. I do love getting off early, but I am up at 5:00 am and pretty much non functional by 8:30.

LoCarb

You have a lot on your plate. Keep in mind it's temporary until you graduate school and maybe you can look for a job closer to home. Plus, the kids will be older and easier to care for. The temporary thought of mind and libations would get me thru it. GL!

pickle82

ItsAllGravy7:

Lots of wine. Then I don't care how dirty the house is cause I'm drunk.

Really though..I feel ya. I work FT, commute an hour and a half minimum each way, and DH works 6 days a week. This is life I guess. The one thing I can say is do not under any circumstances feel guilty for taking time to yourself. You need to stay sane. Go enjoy a concert or a pedi every once in a while. If you don't you'll end up in the looney bin.

I was just going to say this  I don't know, I tell myself that it will get easier with time and such.  Still waiting