That all too pervasive feeling of always being behind, never catching up with all that needs doing, is so common for parents today.

Late, I’m Late!


That all too pervasive feeling of always being behind, never catching up with all that needs doing, is so common for parents today. I know I fall into bed at night around 1 AM, mind still reeling with things yet undone. Sigh. Then up at 6:30, to try and catch up. Feel familiar? I know I’m not alone in this. Friends tell me they are getting 4 hours sleep a night, so as to take care of e-mail, school affairs, household chores and other daily tasks. This is insanity. You know it and so do I. How can we get ourselves off this endless circle of run run run?


First is to get organized and prioritise things that need doing. We are trying something different to see if it helps ease the load I carry. First is, How I deal with household tasks. One of the things I do now is to straighten the house before I go to bed. Vacuuming, washing and clearing up clutter are done in 15 minutes, leaving me time now, to take a long soak in the tub. My husband puts the clothes in the dryer, and we fold them, placing in the basket until morning. Bowls are set out for cereal and the coffee is set to automatic start. I am amazed at the easing of early morning stress. We wake up to a neat, orderly environment, no one is rushed, and we have time to look over current bills before work, or talk to the boys about different issues.

Every other week, I set aside a day for mass cooking. I prepare a weeks worth of pancakes, divided into daily portions, that can be rewarmed in the microwave. I usually make a huge pot of soup, and spaghetti, which are put in the freezer for quick meals during the next 2 weeks. This frees up at least 2 nights per week, and still gives my family a home cooked meal. If you have a breadmaker, you can make 6-8 loaves and freeze for toast. Those extra free nights are a great reward for this one day of cooking.

Buy and use the new cleanup cloths. They are a wonderful tool for busy parents. Have the children empty the dishwasher and take out the trash. With a clean, well run home, comes less stress and more time to spend as a family.

Before we know it, Holiday time will be here. This year, I’ve started my shopping early, taking advantage of great online buys. Instead of gritting my teeth when my other well organized friends tell me in APRIL, they’ve done their Christmas shopping, I can now look at them and say, oh really? Me too. This Holiday season is going to be more relaxed and calm because of this. My kids will have Mommy home doing things with them, instead of being hauled off somewhere while Mommy goes crazy shopping.

All of these steps have improved my life in so many ways. And my children have much happier, less stressed parents as a result. If something doesn’t get done, tough. Life is too short to live on a treadmill, running to nowhere. What is most important are the children, my marriage, and our family life as a whole. Anything else has to, for me, come way down the list. So, when you find yourself lying wide awake in the dark hours of the morning, ask yourself- Is it worth it?