Do you ever feel caught up/on top of things?

Virgo17 · May 2014

I feel like I try so hard to stay on top of things and as soon as I cross one item off my list, another appears. I just feel like I'm on the hamster wheel today...

jf198400 · May 2014

Oh I can completely relate. Especially when a bunch of stuff all happens at once. Sometimes I need to delegate things out to DH- basically anything related to the car or home repairs. Can you take care of errands and stuff during your lunch break? Sometimes I'll just stay up late one night to try and get a bunch of stuff done, or maybe try to drop the kids off with the grandparents for a few hours on the weekend. It would be awesome to take a day off work and send the kids to daycare. I did that for a week when I was changing jobs and it was awesome. Beyond that I just need to prioritize and let some things go or outsource them.

TheBorg7of9 · May 2014

The trick is to reduce the number of things you feel you need to be on top of. I basically feel good because we are all fed, clothed and loved. Everything else is just extra.

But the best thing I do is that on Sunday I grocery shop and cook 2 meals with for 4 days. That way dinner is done for the week. If I don't have a meal cooked for a particular night, I have no problem with grilled cheese for dinner.

itsmevkb · May 2014

Yes, mainly when my kids aren't in school. Something about adding in another calendar, random days off, random treat days, homework, reading goals, Christmas and spring concerts, bake sales, lunch menus, etc. really gets hard for me to keep track of. I love their breaks as I just seem to have so much less to keep track of and deal with and things just seem to flow better. Is it summer vacation yet?

mae0111 · May 2014

Short answer - Nope.

Especially lately. I was in tears because I'd dropped the ball on something at DD1's school. I'd asked my nanny to take care of it for me. I told her what to do/where everything was. She texted me 2 hours later asking what to do/where everything was, and I responded and told her again. Apparently she's having phone issues, never got my text, and didn't do what I'd asked. I didn't know until I found everything last night. And I cried.

It's silly, but I feel like there are so many balls in the air all the time, and I'm dropping them all. Work, extended family, kids, home projects, financial stuff, marriage stuff. There aren't enough hours in the day or space in my brain to keep everything straight and on track.

Virgo17 · May 2014

mae0111 said:

Short answer - Nope.

Especially lately. I was in tears because I'd dropped the ball on something at DD1's school. I'd asked my nanny to take care of it for me. I told her what to do/where everything was. She texted me 2 hours later asking what to do/where everything was, and I responded and told her again. Apparently she's having phone issues, never got my text, and didn't do what I'd asked. I didn't know until I found everything last night. And I cried.

It's silly, but I feel like there are so many balls in the air all the time, and I'm dropping them all. Work, extended family, kids, home projects, financial stuff, marriage stuff. There aren't enough hours in the day or space in my brain to keep everything straight and on track.

The bolded is how I'm feeling. It is no one thing, but on occasion when I allow myself to think about all of it, I feel completely overwhelmed and defeated. The day to day stuff isn't so bad, it's the extra crap...schedule the kids doctors appointments, registration for summer camp, call about dentist bill, etc. I know it will only get worse when they are school-aged, I don't know what the heck I will do then.

cecilyandgautam · May 2014

When both DH & I are fully functional, then yes we have days when we feel on top of it, but it's been months since we've both been 100%. I'm 32 weeks pregnant, had some early labor signs that are forcing me to take it easy, and DH was a disaster at the start of spring - eyes swollen shut & such. So, for the past couple months, we've just been making due and probably will continue as such until the fall at least, because once the new baby comes, it will surely take awhile for me to recover and for us all to find our new balance.

dashofreality · May 2014

Um no, especially not lately. DH and I are super stressed with the pending deployment with no date, plus moving, a huge project at work for me, and DH working 80+ hours a week. Our coping mechanism has been to pretty much shut down, which is not super fantastic.

Generally day to day though I feel like I usually just get by. My house is never super clean, but I maintain a level that it wouldn't be horribly embarrassing if someone dropped by, just mildly. I also know that it is going to get tougher when the kids are in activities and have their own schedules I need to keep on top of. Overall though we are happy so that is all that really matters.

Mustardseed2007 · May 2014

Yes but it's a fleeting feeling, over almost as soon as it begins.

jlaOK · May 2014

I get caught up on things.....but only one at a time and usually with a never ending list of things to do behind it. I have accepted that not everything that I want done will get done. I choose the most important ones and let the ones slide that can afford to.

Doubletrouble12 · May 2014

I always feel like there is something I should be doing. It's definitely stressful being a working mom. I feel like at some point you just have to realize everything isn't going to be perfect and just accept that your house may not always be clean (especially with kids!).

Tink112011 · May 2014

TheBorg7of9 said:

The trick is to reduce the number of things you feel you need to be on top of. I basically feel good because we are all fed, clothed and loved. Everything else is just extra.

But the best thing I do is that on Sunday I grocery shop and cook 2 meals with for 4 days. That way dinner is done for the week. If I don't have a meal cooked for a particular night, I have no problem with grilled cheese for dinner.

Exactly. I am not a frazzled working mother. It's not because I have it all figured out, I'm just really good at not letting little stuff bother me.

mittensonkittens · May 2014

For me, it depends on how much sleep I'm getting. If I'm not getting enough sleep, I feel like I'm failing at everything and have no control over my life. If I'm sleeping well enough, then I feel like supermom and I think I can do anything.

litzo27 · May 2014

Like others said - it's about lowering the bar to what is essential and doable. Yes, most days I feel like I'm doing fine - we (mostly) eat home cooked food, house is picked up between biweekly cleaners, the kids are clean, dressed and read to every day. So we are fine. I have a list of one - time projects to do and I try to tackle one per week but I don't stress if they don't get done. My car has been due for an oil change for a month and some pictures have been waiting for two months to be hung up. Oh well.

kimmee1997 · May 2014

No. My house is a mess. And I'm not being one of those people that says their house is a mess when there is only one or two items out of place. My house is a mess meaning it is an obstacle course when I'm navigating through the living room! Trains, mini trampoline, cash register, Legos, shopping cart all in the living room at this moment. Not to mention a bumbo chair, swing and activity mat. I'm happy if I get the clothes washed and folded and the dishes washed. However there could be moments when people drop by when I struggle to find an empty spot on the counter, which is ridiculous considering all the counter space we have. There have even been times when we eat on the coffee table because I haven't cleaned the table off. It's been this way off and on for about 7-8 months or so. I'm drowning, I know it. Between work, dr appt, physical therapy appointments, family functions, I just have learned to ignore as best I can and not have new people over for right now. I might end up in a straight jacket before they are grown but at least the kids seem happy!

Soon2BMrsN · May 2014

No way!

laurakaz13 · May 2014

Yep, I feel this way. It's the reason we outsource cleaning, cook extremely simple meals and do laundry every night to avoid to the huge loads.

ricekez · May 2014

Every once in a while, I feel caught up. This feeling is quickly replaced by panicking over what I'm forgetting.

emberlee3 · May 2014

Of course, no one ever really catches up. The to-do list is ever growing. That's the nature of life. You have to figure out how to prioritize and how to be comfortable with "good enough."

litzo27 · May 2014

@CTGirl30 - I really like how you put it. Why am I so busy? Because I have three awesome little kids, a big house with lots of potential at various projects and a demanding job that I like. Perspective

btw. Where in CT are you?

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