How Do You Remember to "Get It All Done"

Updated on March 24, 2011
J.A. asks from Schenectady, NY
15 answers

My LO is 22 months and I am pregnant with Baby #2 (due in 8 weeks). I look around every day and wonder how people remember to do even the little things. Bath time, brushing teeth etc...

Then it makes me wonder how people carve out time for things like potty training which scares me!

while I work full-time, this question isn't really about finding time, it is about how YOU make sure your kids are doing the things they are suppose to be doing?

Learning their ABCs, numbers, not watching too much tv, brushing teeth, etc???

What can I do next?

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M.B.

answers from Washington DC on

You don't.
You make choices.
You also double team -- practice the ABCs in the grocery store, in the car picking up the dry cleaning -- you'll be amazed about the extra time you can find in the day when you double team.

Sorry, I dont have better advice.

Good Luck!

4 moms found this helpful

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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

My first 2 were 21 months apart. When number 2 came, I quit worrying about getting it all done. I was happy if I could get ANYTHING done! Having 2 little ones helped me get my priorities straight. If they were both fed, clean (more or less) and healthy, we were doing great!

2 moms found this helpful

L.C.

answers from Washington DC on

It's simple - you don't.
You do what you can when you can.
Don't sweat the small stuff -- it will all happen.
I did have a very strict schedule when the kids were little -- they were in bed by 7. Sometimes I shifted it if we were out and about, but everything was always in the same order --- bath, teeth, stories, bed.
Keep your chin up.
I've never met a college kid who wasn't potty trained...
LBC

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

I stopped trying to be Supermom a long time ago. Between work, having a special needs child and household responsibilities, it's impossible to do it all.

There are days when my son goes to school without having brushed his teeth. The world doesn't come to an end. I've learned to pick my battles because sometimes it's just not worth 20 minutes of reminding and begging a child to brush his teeth.

Potty training, you just have to pick a weekend and get started when the time seems right. Make sure you have a lot of patience (and laundry soap!), particularly if you have a strong-willed child. :)

Other things, I agree with the pp who mentions combining them into other activities. I'll talk about colors and letters while at Target and shapes when we see street signs.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I had to reset my goals...
When they were both REALLY little, it was a successful day if everyone was dressed and fed. (often I forgot about me!)
Now it's more manageable...but frankly, there are nights the kids don't get a bath (they really don't need one every night) and yes, I've carried my sleepy preschooler to bed a couple times without making her brush her teeth.
She's a whip at her ABC's and numbers...and I've never sat and "drilled" them...we've just read some books and played some games and watch Sesame Street together and talk about it.
You relax your standards a bit and if you realize you forgot something...just catch up on it the next day! (P.S. If you forget to feed them...they'll let you know! LOL)

1 mom found this helpful

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

I like Nina B's response you don't. That is so true. Once baby #2 comes along things will fall into place. Just make sure you remember to spend enough quality time with #1.

To help me out. I pick up the little things every day and put them away and leave the hard core cleaning to the weekends. I clean the bathroom while the LO's take their bath so I can keep an eye on them and still get something done. I also try to wait until the kiddo's are in bed before I start to pick things up so I can spend more time with them. I do a load of laundry every day and usually 2 or 3 on the weeknds if time allows.

As far as learning, we like to work on our letter, numbers etc. while in the car or during dinner time. Most will disagree, but the TV will become your friend. LOL #1 will need entertained while you have to do something with #2 like clean up a blow out or a spit up per say. Don't never turn on the T.V., but don't always leave it on either.

Your going to have your hands full now even more than ever so always remember that "your house will never be perfect and it will always look lived in!" Any mother who says their house is spotless every single day is either laying or has a cleaning lady.

Congrats on #2. How exciting!

1 mom found this helpful
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N.S.

answers from Austin on

I am not sure how to compare, because although my job is full time, it's strictly the job of mom and wife....I CANNOT imagine leaving the house for work too-so bravo!

I often don't get it all done....and you have to pick and choose what's important. I am afraid of having another baby because I just cannot fathom that much energy. I try really hard to have structure and people always tell me that my house seems like it's always clean and are amazed that I cook at home every night, so I guess I am doing something right.....

Everything in this house has a place and we try to stay organized, that way, even if it gets messy, it's quick to put it all away. My sons playroom is like a preschool of colored, organized, sorted bins. He knows it and it makes putting toys away easy and I shudder to say, almost kind of fun. Usually once a week, I do a quick run through of dusting and vacuuming and sweeping the floor and about every other week, I deep clean the bathrooms and the kitchen.

We use the tv as a tool (right wrong or indifferent) my son watches educational programs like Sesame Street, Baby Einstein, a lot of PBS. I fold laundry and clean while my son sleeps usually or do it while he plays independently. I plan meals and set the coffee pot the night before, try to never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. Iron DH's clothing and make his lunch the night before. We do the bedtime routine all together, brush, flush, bathe. We don't go to bed until all the toys and books and movies are put back where they belong and everyone helps.

I set aside at least an hour a day for book time. We get a stack of books, curl up in the chair and read and review words and numbers. We make learning a game in all that we do, ask our son to point out colors, letters, numbers wherever we are.

I make a menu and thaw meats the night before, do the chopping ahead of time, etc.

I make a lot of lists! I am not sure how I always stay on top of it, I guess I just do. I treat this as my job, so I try to put as much effort and dedication into it as I would a desk job.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Louisville on

Stop focusing on what you aren't doing and start focusing on what you are doing!!! You are nine months pregnant. You are growing a child inside you for the second time. There is no need to worry. I ampretty sure that if your two year old wasn't getting what he/she needed from you, that they would let you know. Most two year olds are pretty vocal about things like that. Take this time (being pregnant) to well..........be pregnant. Just relax. I think that you are underestimating your 22 month old, LOL. It is in my experience, that toddlers know how to take care of themselves more than what they let on.
And if it helps at all, talk to your toddler. Let them know that mommy wants what is best for them and that brushing their teeth, reading, etc is important and that part of being a big brother or sister is by doing these things without mommy's help. :) And if it makes you feel any better, buy some educational dvds. So that way, if you think your 22 month old is watching too much tv, at least they will be learning their ABC's while in the process of. Or fun cd's to listen to in the car are always a good idea. It's a fun way to sing and have fun and also interact with your child while getting other things done.

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D.M.

answers from Denver on

It can be totally overwhelming. Kids ( all humans actually ) are creatures of habit and thrive on routine. I find it's easier to set up a routine with clear expectations to make sure we get all the critical stuff done, and without too much protest. Some days you can't get to it all and the routine is off, but it's a good base. Set up dinner routines, bath routines, night time routines, time for "learning" fun games, and TV expectations - don't have it on all the time (ie. for us no TV at dinner, or while we are playing games together or having quiet play time). And be easy on yourself it's just a crazy time of life!!!

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J.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I certainly don't get everything done that I'd like to, but I have found that a weekly calendar helps me remember the things I used to always forget (trash night, baths, etc.) I found a neat printable weekly calendar online, and I print a few out for the month. Then each Sunday, I go through the next week and write down the basics (copying from the week before): bath nights, take trash to street, weekly meetings, church, etc. Then I look on my monthly calendar to mark events, birthdays, etc. There are also spaces at the bottom for "kids activities," "dinner," and "other." I try to have something for the kids in each box - from playdates to "special movie" to help me make banana bread. That way I know that they will get at least one "special" thing to do that day that breaks them away from the ordinary (and the TV).

I like having the dinners at least somewhat planned out too. Usually I just put "chicken" or "beef" and then decide more specifics after that, but just that much helps me make sure something is thawed out for dinner.

I got the printable calendar from mommytracked.com. She has lots of other neat ideas and printable things on the site too.

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A.F.

answers from Tyler on

You just take each day one by one. I do like the idea of double teaming and then I realized I did that : ) We learned our numbers by counting the steps as we went up them. Needless to say we count to 11 really well and I know exactly how many steps I have. We have window markers and we are now learning to write. We do our name well and I am trying to convince him to move on to some other word, but getting resistance. I will say I hate wiping them off the window, but he loves them. He helps pick up his toys because I say "put away x number of toys" he practices counting and my house gets cleaner. Frequently he will say I put them away now how many? On that note on my way to work this morning I realized that nope my 5 year old did not brush his teeth this morning, so don't expect every day to be perfect. Congratulations on your upcoming new one : )

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K.P.

answers from New York on

I don't try to be a "one woman show". Truthfully... we make sure that we hire the best "help" we can afford and let things "go" when they are not essential. Make as many things "routine" as possible and remember that it's okay to say "no" to things and commitments if you really don't have the time.

We have a housekeeper who is a god-send and we could not live the "family lifestyle" without her. We also have an amazing daycare provider who is able to enrich my son while we are both at work. At night, we watch very little television and spend time reading, doing puzzles, whatever... we have bedtime and bath routines that help us make sure that everyone is clean and ready for bed!

We are slowly potty-training, but I am taking a week off in early April for that exact reason. I want to be the one who does this and I have had several friends tell me that you need to just be home for several days in a row so that they can get used to it (and be nakey if needed).

Know your limits, stick with your priorities and don't beat yourself up over "forgotten things"... no real tricks, just reality-check once in a while for me about what's important.

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I had 8 children and am sure I missed many things that needed done, the times I said 'go brush your teeth' and didn't go check to see if they were done, etc., but I do know children do well with structure and schedules and routine. Some of us don't, I did. It was 'time to do....' all the time. We had bath time not every night but someone every night. We had to do it that way and if it didn't get done I finally learned that they were not ruined for life. I think also that every day and every time you have with your child/children is a teaching time. In the car I talked non stop about things, colors, trees, etc. I think you just have to use every opportunity to teach and yet it doesn't sound like teaching. Some of us are not that way naturally so you may need to work at it or find another way that works for you. I do know it's a full time job.

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

First of all routine, second get the first one potty trained before the second one comes, by 22 months we had already finished potty training our children. Get your husband to help, because you work full the responsibilities of the home family should be equally shared by both. As mom's we think we have to do it all, that that's our job, but in all actuallity it is both parents job. That's how we did it, i was a SAHM but my husband still was a helping with the responsibilities. J.

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T.F.

answers from St. Joseph on

In my house, there isn't any "wasted" time. :-) when i am giving baths, we sang our ABC's and counted to ten when they were pretty little (like 1,2,3 etc) now that they are older, i use that same time to work our address, phone number, count to 100, birthday's, etc.. kindergarten readiness stuff. When i am making supper, even from the time my kids were babies, they were sitting in their high chair coloring, etc.. we would make a game out of it. Now that they are 4 and 5, they sit at the table and color, work on their homework, write their numbers, read their books. In the car we work on all that stuff to. I have a 5 year old, 4 year old, 2 year old and a new baby due in July, so every spare moment is utilized! Good luck and don't stress out!

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