Let me start out by saying that The Universal Pre-K process in New York City is totally insane. You apply online through the lovely Department of Education. You're allowed to select 12 choices for Pre-K and you aren't guaranteed a spot. Consequently I spent the months of April, May and part of June terrified that Ari wouldn't be going to school at all next year.
Thankfully, I got an email a week ago from the D.O.E. notifying me that my 4-year-old did indeed have a free place to go play legos next year.
But then it occurred to me that he still doesn't wipe his our butt when he goes to the bathroom, and I began to get nervous.
I started thinking about next year even more, which is a really bad idea for me to do (the thinking part I mean) and I realized that my house is a disaster. I'm going to have to have play dates here next year. I have to find a way to clean it up.
As of now, there is no set schedule around here with regard to daily activities and I'm kind of freaking out.
But then I thought about it...
And I realized that there are other parents out there with dirty houses that have kids in school and babies at home! They have to find a way to clean, take care of the babies, and have their kids ready for school every day, just like me!
So, how do you do it?
Tell me how it works!
Yes-- routines more so than "schedule." I have different routines when I'm working and when I'm home for the summer. Routines make things doable for me though.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning-- unload dishwasher/dish rack while making coffee/breakfast. Eat breakfast, do breakfast dishes and clean off table well before doing anything else (Jon doesn't do this one and I can see the difference it makes when he's home, cleaning is a big event and for me it's lots of little events).
House is clean since it was clean the night before, so can do 1-2 deeper cleaning jobs (bathroom, vacuuming, deeper kitchen, etc.) quickly before going out.
Then during the day, toys and dishes have to be cleaned as the mess is made. Stuff has to have a designated space, no clutter REALLY helps, so declutter now. ;-)
I don't put Sion to bed until all his stuff is clean. Dinner dishes are washed and dishwasher is run (when we had one and are hopefully getting one again) before his bath. Kitchen is wiped down so it's a clean slate in the morning.
When I'm working, a lot of it gets done after coming home and cuddling, then the deep cleaning.
Thank you! This is so helpful!! I need to establish those routines as habits. I can see how cleaning as you go would be more helpful than cleaning all at once. I LOVE the idea of cleaning as little events. That makes it seem less overwhelming!
Deletehouse being clean is something I just can't deal with. I do superficial cleaning almost everyday to give off the illusion that my house is actually clean. I don't go in hard until I am on break from school. If you do a little everyday i.e. washing dishes, cleaning the floor, and putting away all those damn toys that seem to be everywhere, you won't be so overwhelmed by a big mess all at once.
ReplyDeleteYes! You're so right! A little at a time is so much better. How do the toys get in the bathroom? It's so crazy!
DeleteOn my summer To-Do List is ... potty training! Gah! Peeing is all good by poo is a Farking Nightmare. All I can say is ... GO DAD!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Becky all the way. You two should write a book. It aint easy especially when you are trying to work at home as well as sub. Maybe it will get better when Ari is in school and Samara gets enough money out of your purse to go to nursery school!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! That's the best line ever mom!
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