Working mums tips and support!

[leannehurren]

Just finished my second week back at work. Only doing 3 days a week but I'm knackered as lo has been poorly and up for hours every night

am really enjoying being back in a routine but am looking for any tips on fitting in the housework, cooking etc I make a list of things I need to get done every night ready for the morning ie bottles, lunches bags packed. I also get mine and calebs clothes out ready - any more tips?

One thing I am feeling REALLY guilty about is the fact that when I get in from work I just want to sit for 5 mins and have a cuppa then I'm ready to do everything. I feel guilty that I haven't seen lo all day and still want to rest first feel I shouldn't be so selfish

 

[eclipse]

I just finished my third day back on overnights and I think my hubby is already ready to throw in the towel! All I do is try to get stuff done as quick as possible and try to sleep when she sleeps, but mine is a different situation. I'm doing four days a week myself, and it is really hard. I try to pack my lunch and get everything ready before I sleep or before dinner so I'm not stressed trying to feed the baby before leaving for work but I worry all night. I like being back with adults though and the ER is just so fun. You sound really organized and I don't have any more tips, but I am sleep deprived right now...

 

[hmcx]

You sound quite organised, i'm the total opposite i do everything when i wake up and rush around!!
Dont feel bad for sitting down for 5 mins, i'm sure you have enough stresses without thinking about that as well!
I work a bit from Home sometimes now too so i'll be out for most of the day come home, sit baby down with some toys while i continue working!

We all do the best we can, and we all need a 5 min breather every now and then!!

 

[leannehurren]

Thanks girls - I have to do stuff the night before as I have 2 dogs to walk before work and would have to get up at stupid o'clock otherwise!!

Yes I think I need to remember that a happy mummy = happy baby and stop feeling so guilty!!

 

[leannehurren]

Bump - and working mums got tips or willing to share their routines with me?

 

[kawaiigirl]

I think you are doing good, preparation really is the key! It really helps. When I went back to work after my first I just made sure everything was ready the night before so little stress and rushing in the morning. As for house work, just do a bit when you can and some at the weekends. I worked full time first time around so you are in a great position working 3 days a week.

It's fine that when you come in from work you just need 5 minutes to wind down. It's good also to follow a menu for meals the nights you are working or cook in advance the days you are not and then you just have to heat it up. It takes more time deciding what to have than actually making it sometimes so again knowing what you are going to have in advance really helps.

I just find that if you get everything done at the beginning of the night, then you can sit down and relax with your feet up for the rest of the night (without feeling guilty or putting off doing something that needs doing!)

You will be fine, just try not to stress too much Hun and do what works for you and your family and at the end of the day housework can always wait xx

 

[Lellow]

Cooking - Cook a double batch for a week everytime you make a meal, serve half and freeze half for those days you cant cook in the evening.

Im very much pro getting alot done the night before...lunches, clothes....i even shower at night then just freshen up in the morning...saves me at least 45 mins doing this!

If you do a bit of cleaning in the morning, then you'll be on top of things when you get home from work and wont need to do any of that!

If you FF, make sure all bottles are clean in prep for you to use straight away when your home!

Im home by 6pm max and i make sure that EVERYTHING i need to do is done by 8pm, includes cooking, seeing to Aymen, getting lunches done, bottles prepared, clothes out, showered etc.
That way i get 'me time'...and i get to watch EE and TOWIE in peace

 

[Cat lady]

I feel like I should have more tips but I dont have any more than any of the others!!!
I have a family calender and put everything on there, my shifts, dh's shifts and where Thomas is going to be on what day. That way I know where I am each week, as every week changes for us, if I didnt do this - I wouldnt know whether I was coming or going!!!
My dh feeds the pets every morning and I feed them in the afternoon. I always prepare dinners and lunches and I have a menu of easy food and more complicated food depending on how I am feeling.
Thats it!!
xxx

 

[amygwen]

You sound really organized which is a good thing, I am too!

I always shower the night before work and sleep w/ my hair wet. Which I would NEVER do before LO was born, but it's almost near impossible to wake-up in the morning and have a nice long shower/bath, do my hair, do make-up etc etc. So, it definitely saves time showering/bathing at night.

I get our clothes ready, EXACTLY what we will both be wearing, I also put a change of diaper/socks out as well.. so they're there and I'm not rushing about in the morning gathering everything together.

I pump so I have EBM in the fridge. I make sure there are 3 bottles ready to go the night before so all I have to do is put them in the diaper bag. I make them the night before otherwise I will NOT sleep!!

I only pump 3 x a day now, but usually I pump at 9am, 3pm and 7pm. I always immediately wash/sterilize my breastpumping bits at 7pm and put them in the bag ready for the morning. That way I'm not rushing around doing that in the morning either!

My lunch and breakfast is already packed and ready to go.

I try to do everything as soon as I get in from work. I always wash whatever bottles need washed and just put on the TV and LO will play for about 30 minutes while I finish everything up and get ready to relax. I hate rushing around and not having playtime with LO immediately, but I know if I finish everything and prep it for the next day I don't have to worry about doing as much at night if that makes sense

 

[leannehurren]

How do u manage to get all your jobs finished so early? I start calebs bath at 7 and either me or oh puts him to bed. Then I start the bottles as I make them in advance and need to make sure that they will still be ok for bedtime the next day (ie not more than 24 hours old)

I'm finding that I'm not finished until 9 / 9.30 and then I only have a little time before I go to bed or as is usually the case, I go to bed too late!

 

[Lellow]

What is it you need to do exactly, its probably similar to me. My DH is at work til 10pm so i do it alone during the week.

I get in at 6.
Put kettle on.
First thing i do is put TV on, get toys out, LO will sit and play/watch for say 45 mins, maybe an hour if i get the walker out.
Put water in the bottles from the kettle id just boiled.
So say 6.10, i get the dinner on....always something SIMPLE when im working, 30 mins max cook time, like pasta, tagine, jacket potato, oven chips and an accompaniment like sausages, chicken pieces and salad. OR like i mentioned before ill defrost something out of the freezer that i cooked a double batch of.
Whilst its cooking ill go and get LO's stuff ready for nursery the next day and his bed clothes/bath stuff.
Ill also get my stuff ready. So thats about 6.45pm.
Get LO in the bath, no playing really just in wash then out. Leave play time during baths for the weekends and the days i dont work ALL day [3 days].
7.10 - Make milk up into bottle. Give it to LO in his cot [he holds his own bottle]. He falls asleep whilst drinking his milk usually.
7.15 Check dinner and finish off.
7.20. Clear toys up.
7.25ish get in the shower.
7.45 Put my dinner down.
8pm, put eastenders on and chill............

 

[kawaiigirl]

Sorry OT but I had to laugh at Lellow mentioning TOWIE! It's such trash but I cannot stop watching! Ah my eyes.... X

 

[Jolinar]

I work 5 days a week and it's tough but doable

DH gets LO up in the morning and ready for nursery, he takes him on the way to work. I get up take the dog for a walk, get back get my breakfast then prepare anything I can for dinner and do one job of housework (I whizz around in 10 minutes!). Then get ready for work. I also shower the night before.

Evening, I pick up LO and get home ayt 5 play/feed/bath/bed usually before 6.30 as he's shattered from nursery! I then finish off dinner and shower while its cooking. DH comes home we eat. We do the dishes and make lunches for the next day, pack bags and get clothes out ready. Then flop in front of the TV by 8pm or sometimes we take some "me time" each doing something they like. I'll then toss a load of laundry in the washer before betime to save doing it all at the weekends and hang it up in the morning.

Weekends we have family time and sunday afternoons we batch cook things like chilli, spag bol etc for the freezer so we've got easy food when we're both shattered and cant be bothered. It makes life much easier if you meal plan for the week.

That said I absolutely hate housework and although have ample time to do it I want to get a cleaner eventually.

 

[Lellow]

Sorry OT but I had to laugh at Lellow mentioning TOWIE! It's such trash but I cannot stop watching! Ah my eyes.... X

If you need a trash TV buddy....im here.
If its crappy and chavvy then i watch it....

 

[lisa9999]

do your food shopping online.

 

[babyerin]

Lellow you're so organised I feel like I should marry you

I work 4 out of 7, some early mornings 7-1 or an evening 2-6 so I have a mixed bunch.

Showering the night before is a good tip, and having a good bath bottle and bed routine is a godsend! Usually one of us cooks and the other washes so we take it in turns with that (when we get home at the same time)

I usually do the bulk of the housework when I'm on an early shift or when me and the OH are off together the house gets blitzed. In the week its just dishes, dusting, quick hoover if desperate n clean toilet and sink.

Just do what you can manage x

 

[Lellow]

Lellow you're so organised I feel like I should marry you

Its a deal - As long as i recieve a diamond to mark the occassion, im anyones

 

[clarsair]

I pretty much do everything the night before as well - clothes ready, nursery bag packed and bottles made. Dinner is either something with a max 30 minutes cooking time or something I've made and frozen previously. I get up at 6am so I can be ready for work before LO gets up at 7.

 

[leannehurren]

Thanks everyone and was especially helpful to see your routine Lellow. On nights when OH home we have to fit dog walking in as well but otherwise pretty much what u all do.

Think the problem is I'm leaving things too late ie I don't start chores til after Los bath - between 7.30 and 8!! Going to look at having dinner earlier or starting lunches etc earlier. Thanks really appreciate!! Especially knowing that I'm not the only one to come in and pu kettle on first!

 

[leannehurren]

Forgot to add that I LOVE trashy tv!! Got into TOWIE this series and record it to watch on my days off!!