Working parents and household chores
One of the hardest things about being a working parent is keeping up with the household chores. I’ve been working for so long, I’ve learned there’s some things I can put up with, while other things must be attended to no matter what.
There’s lots of advice, I’ve even dispensed it here at Career and Kids, that tell us to do a little each day instead of letting chores pile up. I know it’s true, but there are many nights where we’re doing well to get the kids fed and in bed, housework just doesn’t get done.
I do, however try to get the dishwasher loaded each night and the laundry at least gathered and organized. Although keeping up with the laundry was my New Year’s resolution, there have been times, (like, oh, say right now) where I’ve gotten out of the rhythm and everything piles up.
I’ve been compensating by digging things out of the clean clothes baskets for the next day for everyone, but I hate it that the kids now assume what they need is in the laundry basket rather than their drawers or closet.
Tomorrow’s another day. Maybe after work I can get to the *mumble*six baskets of laundry that need to be folded and put away.
After all, the kids ate dinner tonight, it’s not like they’re gonna need it tomorrow, too.
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2 opinions for Working parents and household chores
DBN
Apr 15, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Amen to this post! I will say that one of my special luxury items is the weekly housekeeper. We were trimming the budget recently and I just found every other way to save rather than cut back on having her. My own little cleaning fairy.
midlife mommy
Apr 16, 2008 at 3:30 am
One word — Roomba. Otherwise, honestly, we would never vacuum. And we only have one child. It’s the long days with commuting for me, which means that around 12 hours every day is devoted to work things — getting ready, commuting, and actually working. And, on Saturdays, my day is filled with swimming lessons, miscellaneous kid stuff (hair cutting, shopping for shoes, etc.), then 5 hours of my own errands. I lose a good chunk of Sundays because I have to spend time at my father’s house going through my mother’s things (she died in September and was a horrible, horrible pack rat). So, housework? Eff it. I’d rather spend time with my little girl, when I have it. Of course, she’d like to have her own room (still co-sleeping), so I have to figure out time to clean out my office, set it up elsewhere, and decorate the room. Ugh.
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