[*lightning]

I love being a parent but my life has become much more stressful and extremely busy. I was doing good and used to just go with the flow but now its starting to get to me.

I have SO much to do and the unknown about what this year will bring makes me nervous. I have one child who is acting out because he needs more attention (I wish it was easy because he is a wonderful boy), I have a child who isn't acting out but I miss the time we use to spend together. She's a great helper and helps if she sees we need a hand. I have a baby who is just so damn cute! Like all babies he requires a fair bit of attention. I have an autistic toddler and this makes the simple tasks such as shopping or bath time difficult.

This is the most challenging time so far for me as a parent. My house isn't organized, my beautiful toddler has to pull and throw EVERYTHING onto the floor and we have given up trying to clean it up. The washing is never ending! My house isn't organized and we need to do a massive clean out. I don't have the energy to constantly tidy and clean this house. Thank god all kids sleep 8-9 hours because some days just getting through the day can feel like a marathon.

We are getting a cleaner! This is going to be a massive help and I'm sooo excited.

What things make your busy life just that bit easier?

[cantstayaway]

chocolate

[poppypenny]

My roomba.
It has made so much difference to the amount of time I spend cleaning.
A quick 5 minute mop around the kitchen and dining table every night after roomba has done his thing.
The floors are clean all day every day not just a couple of times a week.
Love him!

[LittleMissPink]

A decent veggie peeler and can opener!

Oh, and my cleaner....bless her!

Most importantly, my respite carer...I wish I could marry her!

[Because]

Honestly... I have lowered my cleaning standards.

[Glorious]

Sliced mushrooms,grated cheese and if I had a Roomba my life would be complete

[bluecardigans]

Getting up an hour before the kids where possible to get organised.
Cooking on the weekend and freezing for weekdays.
Bathing all the kids at one time.
Supervising meal times to maintain the mess rather than eating with the kids.
Make a rule that you can't play with a new toy/game until you pack away the previous one.

[coolbreeze]

-big plastic bins from big w with labels on it to chuck toys in in at the end of the day. Declutter toys every couple of months and rotate toys.
-spending an hour in the evening getting everything laid out for the next day, clothes for each child, bags packed with snacks and water bottle at front door with my bag AND keys.
-Cook in bulk and freeze in smaller portions for later meals.
-Eat outside and in minimal clothing in warm weather. I think I feed my two in the nude for about a year...saves heaps of washing and getting food stains out!!
-quick whip around in the evening doing dishes and wiping benches down.
-washing is a hard one and my downfall, I try to fold in the evening and I try not to wash too much...sometimes I throw clean clothes in just to get rid of clutter.
-cleaner is good but not much use if they are trying to clean around mess. For me a cleaner makes me pack away the night before she comes which is good as she makes me regroup in the house. I cant tell you the pleasure of walking into a tidy house after the cleaner has been there...even if it last for about an hour!!!
CB

[rhino the hampst...]

A dish rack

[JRA]

Dishwasher - always empty first thing in the morning (DS's job), so dirty dishes go in there to put dishes out of sight, until it goes on at night

Tidy bench every night. Nothing like starting the day clear